Courtesy of the club
Laurence Casey Lambrecht
Courtesy of the Club
Tributary
Driggs, ID • Private
Overview
David McLay Kidd built Huntsman Springs Golf Club for billionaire Jon Huntsman on an old cattle ranch in tiny Driggs, Idaho, on the west side of the Grand Teton Mountains. The site was originally flat and lifeless, between a highway and a river, with lots of wetland bogs. Kidd’s solution was to recess the entire course into the landscape to screen out undesirable buildings and generate some interesting topography—no small feat of imagination and engineering. Digging down meant the holes filled with water, so he designed a course with acres and acres of lakes, ponds and interconnecting streams. If all that sounds more like a Tom Fazio design than a David Kidd one, that’s understandable. For a Scot who loves bump-and-roll, Huntsman Springs, with bluegrass fairways and rough, is a radical departure. It also demonstrates his range as a designer.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2017.
Highest ranking: 134th, 2017-'18.
Previous ranking: 199th.
2025-'26 ranking: 177th.
Best in State: Ranked third, 2013 to current.
2025-'26 ranking (and previous): 3rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A very nice golf course that has been improved by recent renovations. However, it could use some more work to make it more playable and strategic."
Read More2025
Review
“Tributary is a nice club on the western side of the Grand Tetons. Almost every hole plays along a creek...thus the name "Tributary". Since its original construction, David McLay Kidd has done several renovations to the golf course to make it more playable, including the reduction of over 40 bunkers. I applaud the club for making these changes. However, the club should do more. Too often driving areas were tight with bunkers and water on both sides of the fairway and greens were overly protected without opportunity to use the ground for approach shots."
Read More2025
Review
“Mclay-Kidd build a course that is decidedly his style in a place that is definitely not his norm. Tributary is immediately surrounded by flat farmland and marshes, but he was able to create an interesting routing where a level lie is difficult to find. The amount of work that this required must have been substantial, but the golfer would never know that the course was "built' and not "found.""
Read More2025
Review
“A visual stunner....extremely challenging first several holes with lots of tributary streams and forced carries. Wonderful conditioning and immaculate greens."
Read More2025
Review
“Visually stunning.. extremely challenging start (they refer to the first 4 holes as "the gauntlet") and it's not at all unlikely that an average golfer would lose a dozen balls before reaching the back nine. There are a lot of forced carries and tributary streams seem to come into play almost everywhere. The back nine is more forgiving and fun in a meadow like setting. An aerial assault is often the only real option into the greens as Kidd placed large pot bunkers right in front on numerous holes. Beautiful driving holes with strategic andwell framed bunkers. Apparently they recently removed about 50 bunkers and it seems like this produced better playability and more options for play and recovery. Conditioning was immaculate and you would be hard pressed to find better greens anywhere-- firm and true and running 11.5. They were also quite varied and exciting to putt on. The architect also added some interesting classic touches- a reverse redan that goes uphill, a Biarritz on a par 4 orientated on the X axis, and a stellar short par 3 17th hole."
Read More2025
Review
“Tributary is a par 72, 7,268-yard mountain course located in Driggs, Idaho and framed by the majestic Tetons mountain range. Designed by David Kidd in 2010, Tributary is situated on a flat piece of land just northwest of the more famous Jackson Hole in Wyoming. While not actually in the Tetons, Tributary benefits from awesome views of the nearby peaks, especially the par 4 16th with Grand Teton in the background. Tributary offers a majority of dogleg rights which certainly favor a fade off the tee but open looks allow any shot shape from the tee except for the dogleg right par 4 6th where water and a waste area right discourage a draw. Due to being in a flat valley, only two holes, the par 4 12th and 14th provide a downhill elevation change. Tributary has a nice mix of hole lengths with 6 short (par 3 5th and 17th, par 4 2nd, 3rd, 13th, and 18), 5 medium length (par 3 8th and 11th, and par 4 6th, 14th, and 16th), and 7 long (par 4 1st, 7th, and 12th, and all 4 par 5s including 3 beasts over 600 yards). Sitting at 6,100 feet of elevation, club selection is extremely important, especially for high ball hitters. Located on open, virtually treeless wetlands, Tributary contains copious water hazards and penal waste areas which can come into play on most tee shots and approaches. All but the par 5 4th and 15th, and the par 4 14th demand lofted approaches to many pins on the well protected greens. In fact, 7 holes (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, and 17) all have some form of forced carry before accessing the green complexes. There is almost always a well-positioned bunker or meandering creek preventing a low runner from reaching the putting surface. Tributary is a challenging course but can be tamed by players with good accuracy, distance control, and a hot putter. At 7,268 yards and 6,100 feet of elevation, the ability to bomb the ball is not a prerequisite but precise control is a must. Fairways are generous and greens are very large but quite undulating with some significant slopes, especially above the hole, making two-putts from the wrong spots very difficult. If you spray the ball or cannot play to the “safe” areas on the greens, bogey or worse jump out very quickly. The Lilliputian par 3 17th is a perfect example. At only 125 yards long but with a shallow green severely sloped back to front, hitting and staying on the green is no easy task. Two putting from above the pin will almost certainly require making a minimum 7-foot comebacker. Tributary is in pristine condition with very firm, fast fairways. Greens are large, firm, and quite quick while rolling very true. If you can read the breaks and judge the speed, there is only operator error to blame for missed putts. The abundant bunkers are all consistently well sanded and offer good opportunities to advance the ball or attempt a sand save. Located in the shadow of the Tetons, Tributary is a very pleasant round of golf with beautiful views of the mountains. Kidd’s brilliant use of the natural topography lets the course flow undisturbed across the landscape. Challenging and fair, the course is a very enjoyable experience for all golfing abilities, although players who cannot negotiate well protected greens will struggle. If you bring your “A” game, you will be rewarded but even a bad-golf day at Tributary is a treat."
Read More2024
Review
“Magnificently designed golf course and greens. Challenging to say the least, strategically placed tee shots and high, soft approaches to elevated and very undulated, fast but fair greens are needed in order to score decently on this course. Superb condition of the tees, fairways and greens makes it a very enjoyable day."
Read More2023
Review
“David McLay Kidd design on the west side of the Teton Mountain range away from the hustle and bustle of Jackson Hole. Thoughtful design that weaves in and out of wetlands and has numerous well-placed bunkers. Great staff and wonderful conditions make for a nice round. A "Must Play" if invited."
Read More2022
Review
“Tucked along the west side of the Teton mountain range, you will find a gem. Tributary routes along crystal clear waterways incorporating split fairways and numerous fairway bunkers. A wide variety of tee options allow players of all skill levels to be challenged with varying shot options. You are in for a wonderful golf experience at the “TRIB”!"
Read More2022
Review
“Interesting, target golf. Beautiful setting, and a challenging golf course. I look forward to the opportunity to play the course and expect a good test. Great imagination around the greens will pay dividends."
Read More2021
