Named for the Portneuf River that runs alongside the course, Riverside Golf Course lies on choice real estate in a protected valley on the southern end of Pocatello. At an elevation nearly 500 feet lower than the Highland Golf Course, Riverside enjoys a longer playing season. The course features large, mature trees throughout, and smallish greens that crank up the challenge. Relatively modest in length, Riverside stretches the measuring tape to 6366 yards from the tips and just over 6000 yards from one tee box up.  The shortest tees on the course are just under 4800 yards to accommodate players with slower swing speeds.

Riverside sits on property with modest changes in elevation which makes it a favorite for golfers that prefer to walk.  Factor in the shade that the towering trees offer, and it can never be a good walk spoiled.  The sporty layout started with just nine holes with the Portneuf River running through it.  These holes were designed by Pete Hiskey and today act as the back nine.  In the 1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers rerouted the river as part of a a flood prevention project that carried into downtown Pocatello, and now the river runs along the railroad tracks and creates the northeasterly boundary of the golf course.  A former bridge next to the par three 11th hole is a signature feature on the golf course and players enjoy teeing off from the top of the bridge on the double-dogleg par five 18th hole.

The front nine, developed more recently and designed by Pete's brother Babe, is laid out on a smaller parcel of ground and consists mostly of straight holes: seven par 4s, one par 3, and a single par 5.  When asked about the design, Babe said that the limited amount of property available made it critical to design smaller greens that would act as a defense to the layout.  The size and slope of the greens on Riverside's front nine are its distinguishing feature with the 90 degree dogleg right 3rd hole and the uphill par five 4th hole to a two-tiered green acting as the most memorable holes on the outward nine.  First time players at Riverside will show great skill if they can manage less than a three-putt on the short par four 9th hole that finishes near the clubhouse, but plenty of birdie opportunities exist throughout the course. - Billy Satterfield

Riverside Golf Course
3500 Bannock Hwy.
Pocatello, Idaho 83204
Phone: (208) 232-9515