Review - Pierce Park Greens

As a father of three young boys, finding golfing opportunities that are both affordable and family friendly are high on the list. Pierce Park Greens fits the bill. Nestled near the Boise, Idaho foothills, the par three golf course is perfect for beginning golfers.

The price is right: $9 for adults and $6 for children. The Course does not take tee time reservations, but due to the shorter length of the course, there is never a lengthy wait for your turn to tee off. Plus, while you're waiting there's a putting green, chipping green, and bunker in which you can warm up. Further, the Course sports a top notch driving range so you can work in the woods after a round otherwise comprised of wedge shots and putting (for the more experienced golfers).

The longest hole is around 120 yards. For kids, this means they can find their way to the green, even with some mishits and errant shots in a handful of strokes. The more my sons (6, 4, and 18 mo.) play the course, the closer they get to par opportunities. This has been a great course to help my sons build up their endurance so that as they improve in the game they can transition to a longer course.

As for the more experienced golfer, notwithstanding the shorter holes, the Course still presents a challenging wedge shot off the tee. Sporting small, table top greens with steep side slopes, the course forces you to dial in your wedges and work on putting the proper spin on your ball. Although I always play the Course around three to four shots better than my handicap (as expected), it's still an enjoyable challenge. Plus, you get nine out of nine chances to try for that elusive hole in one!

With respect to condition, the Course is generally well taken care of. Although it has some rough edges, especially in the winter time, the greens are usually pretty well-watered. Although the grass is not cut as regularly as a more expensive course, the Course is still in sufficient shape to get a good roll on the greens. 

In sum, if you live in Boise or are passing through with your kid-golfers, I highly recommend making your way over to Pierce Park Greens. One of many golf courses Boise has to offer, it is probably the most family friendly of any in the city or surrounding area.

Just Golf: Golf for Beginners

I write occasionally on other golf blogs, and here is one I wrote for Bird Golf Academy with some suggestions for beginning golfers.

Golf and Law: Liability for Errant Shots

Hopefully no one's behind that tree....

Last fall I wrote an article that was published by Golfblogger.com, discussing who may be liable for errant golf shots. It was fun for me as an attorney to research, and any golfer has probably wondered about at least one of the questions answered. You can read the post here.

The Genesis

Me and the boys enjoying Riverside Golf Course.

Getting bitten by the "golf bug" is so commonplace it's cliche. And yet, I cannot argue with truth. I started playing golf in earnest after I finished law school (cue lawyer jokes), while studying for the bar exam. Initially intended as a means to clear my head before hitting the books for six to eight hours a day over a summer, I quickly realized why to some, golf is much more than a pastime.

Since then, I have tried to play the game right, working on my technique, mentality, and knowledge of golf and its history. In time, as my young children have developed some hand-eye coordination, and shown some interest in golf, I have set myself to the task of introducing them to the game.

When I say task, task is what I mean. Taking young children out to play golf is not easy! Although taking youngsters anywhere can be a challenge, the myriad rules of etiquette, the importance of taking care of the course, and the difficulty in mastering the technique of a golf swing, all amplify the amount of patience, time, energy, and innovation required to give children a taste of this great sport.

One particular time my wife and I took our boys to play golf sticks out in my mind as the real genesis of this blog. We were playing a kid-friendly par three course (check out Pierce Park Greens in Boise, Idaho). After probably thirty shots on the third hole by my four your old, who then tried to putt on the green with his seven iron, I was fighting my own battle. My shot off the fourth tee had gone left. I was frustrated, but tried to encourage my six year old son as he burned a few shots down the fairway towards the green. When we got to my ball off to the left of the green, I attempted a downhill flop shot that would have made Phil Mickelson proud (think this). But mid-swing one of the boys shrieked; I flinched and my bladed golf ball flew into the group on a neighboring green. Can you believe it? I had to yell "FORE!" at a par three course! I only just barely didn't lose it.

Since then, I have been thinking, "There must be other dads like me." Guys trying to be good fathers, trying to spend time with their kids doing something they love. Especially where a round of golf takes a lot of time to play, killing two birds with one stone on the golf course is essential to every golf-bitten dad and his family. So, there it is. That's the story. Can you help me out? I envision this blog becoming a place where we share ideas about how to successfully manage our responsibilities as fathers and our love of the game. Cool golf products that are helpful for dads and kids. Ideas about how to make the game fun for everyone. Inspiring acts of fatherhood. Life lessons learned on the course. You catch my drift. The more we can contribute, and the more we can reach, the more we can grow this great game, our families, and our skills as fathers.

As for content, I love to write and write often, so I'll bring in some content I've written for other golf-related blogs, in addition to the original posts here, but I also welcome guest submissions.