Fabulous Alberta Golf By Bob Fagan
If you weren’t already aware that the Canadian Province of Alberta features some extraordinary golf, you soon will know it. In fact, there are approximately 280 golf courses in total. I recently journeyed to Alberta and played more than thirty outstanding golf courses, mostly ones open to the public. Among them are courses that will provide any discriminating golfer all the variety and superb scenery together with wonderful challenges that one can hope for. While you may not attempt to play as many golf courses as I did, I will offer you a menu of selections that are bound to whet your golfing appetite, and leave you quite satisfied.
As a geography refresher, Alberta is a huge province that spans mainly a south to north orientation situated just north of western Montana. In size, it dwarfs most of our States and features a variety of interesting land features. To the west are the Canadian Rockies, the “big brothers” to the American Rockies. There are also flat plains like Texas or Central California, and river valleys, and tumbling forests akin to Northern Michigan. The two metropolitan areas of Calgary to the south and Edmonton to the north are located a couple of easy driving hours north along Highway 2 where the population is concentrated, as well as the preponderance of good golf courses. Both are a million plus people settlements with lots of commerce, and many other interesting attractions, but here the story is golf. What’s more, the golf is affordable, the accommodations comfortable and clean, and all the destinations are exceedingly easy for Americans to travel to. Best of all, the Alberta people are a very friendly, hospitable, and downto- earth sort.
The province is in the midst of an economic boom fueled by the oil and gas businesses. All the supporting service industries have likewise been positively affected and the real estate market is white-hot. As you might imagine, new golf courses have been built, and older ones have been improved. The same goes for the lodging and eateries as well. The service at all of the mentioned facilities is uniformly excellent. When you add the easy travel within and the easy access from without, together with affordable pricing, it all makes for a great golf getaway!
The Links at Gleneagles – Par-Three 16th with its 130’ Drop.
The largest city, Calgary, has splendid golf in all directions. To the southeast, I recommend the Heritage Pointe Golf & Country Club. This 27-hole facility sits on hilly terrain affording some wonderful views. You would swear that you are playing some exclusive private facility as the conditioning and amenities are easily the equivalent to any private clubs. Having played more than 2,000 courses, I make quite a statement when I say that the putting surfaces at Heritage Point compare with the best anywhere, Augusta and Oakmont included. They are incredibly smooth at this layout that has hosted the Canadian Tour. (www.heritagepointe.com) Only ten minutes away is the D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club that features attractive, extensive sprawling bunkering, and some hilly terrain. The holes move above and into some green valley areas. D’Arcy is definitely a stout though playable and attractive test of golf (www.darcyranchgolf.com). In the opposite direction, northwest of town is the Links at Gleneagles. Don’t let the fact that this is “cart-golf” or a residential development deter you. The views of the river valley and the Rockies further to the West are simply spectacular, and you will want to use your camera if not for those views, for the bold elaborate bunkering. (www.gleneaglesgolf.com) Northeast of town you will find the most unusual Dinosaur Trail Golf Course (see featured Golf Today article) that makes for a wonderful day trip though the layout is only a 90-minute drive from Calgary. (www.dinosaurtrailgolf.com) If you head south from Calgary about two hours, you will also encounter another splendid layout, Paradise Canyon. Situated just outside of the town of Lethbridge, the course plays along the banks of the Oldman River (great name) and features many good holes and a few spectacular ones. Paradise Canyon is scheduled to host the 2008 Canadian Amateur Championship. (www.playinparadise.com)
Looking back on the Wolf Creek’s South #8.
Heading north from Calgary a couple of hours along Highway 2 to Edmonton is another easy drive with a plethora of good golf easily accessed along the way. You could easily make a vacation simply from the following four golf facilities as you approach Edmonton. First, about an hour north of Calgary you would encounter the 27-hole Innisfail Golf Club. Pick any of its three 9-hole courses make for an equally attractive 18-hole combination. The rolling terrain tumbles naturally and is judiciously guarded by thick woods together with water and the attractive bunkering that guard its smallish terraced greens. (www.innisfailgolf.ab.ca). Next up Highway 2, you will encounter the 27-hole Wolf Creek Golf Resort. This was one of the first works of the rising design star, Rod Whitman, one of many Pete Dye proteges. Its wooded and meadow meanderings definitely have a Scottish air and a Dye resemblance to them. A fourth nine is in the process of being built while the East/West combination is one of Canada’s Top 100 Courses and highly recommended. (www.wolfcreekgolf.com) Continuing north toward and considered part of the Edmonton golf scene, you will encounter another Rod Whitman design, the Blackhawk Golf Club. This semi-private club is slated to become totally private probably in 2009 so you had better not delay to play here. This is of more recent vintage and reflects Whitman’s work with Bill Coore (of Coore & Crenshaw fame). The bunkering has wispy edges and the fairways are expansive while the course traverses some strong elevation changes and concludes in the Sasakatchewan River Valley. This is another architecturally superior course that I heartily recommend. (www.playblackhawk.com). Finally along Highway 2 is the Edmonton Airport and the adjacent RedTail Landing Golf Club. Conveniently located, RedTail should be either the first or last course you play if you fly into Edmonton. This course is understandably situated on flat plain and like many courses in California, Florida, or Texas completely manufactured via a cut and fill method to provide links-like mounding. As such, it is hardly unique, but RedTail is nonetheless very well executed with lots of length for the bombers, but very playable for the novice golfers. The service and conditioning together with the fun design make it a course to include in you Edmonton itinerary. (www.redtaillanding.com)
Tooling around Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, if you want to play a Jack Nicklaus design, try the Northern Bear Golf Club. It features friendly folks, a comfortable clubhouse, and a trademark Nicklaus design built on flat wooded land that is not too difficult provided you choose the proper tees for your skill level. (www.northernbeargolf.com) Right in the center of town is the older semi-private Highlands Golf Club. It is mandated to be open to the public on weekdays so here is a chance to play a venerable older private layout. The driveable par-four fourth hole features not only a splendid river view, but also a remarkable vista of the Edmonton skyline. Staying in Edmonton, I found the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald to be very comfortable and well situated to head out in any direction. (www.fairmont.com/macdonald).
West of Edmonton, Cougar Creek Golf Resort and The Ranch Golf & Country Club were recommended, but I did not visit them. Likewise, north of town Goose Hummock is popular with its abundance of water hazards.
Interesting in learning of all the great courses, there are many interesting private ones as well. Some may be accessible if you belong to private club and your professional calls ahead to see if they will accept outside play. Quickly, in Edmonton, I count the Stanley Thompson-designed Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club (2007 Canadian Women’s Open site), Windermere Golf & Country Club (an outstanding finishing 11 holes, and the venerable Edmonton Golf & Country Club as the premier private club courses. In Calgary, Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed 36 of the 45 holes at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club of which the Glen Forest ranks among his best flat designs anywhere. Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club is a fabulous facility boasting two terrific courses and a very active membership, while Calgary Golf & Country Club is a most respected and highly rated parkland venue. Advanced approval is required to play these courses.
No review of Alberta golf can be complete without mention of the Kananaskis, Banff, Canmore, and Jasper resort areas that I will pursue in more detail in a separate Golf Today article. Suffice it to say that they are uniquely special with backdrop scenery that is second to none – maybe the best mountain golf in the world! Kananaskis and Banff are both easy 60 to 90-minute drives from Calgary while Jasper is more conveniently accessed from Edmonton. The 142-mile long Icefields Parkway between the Banff-Lake Louise region north to Jasper is considered one of the most beautiful auto treks on Earth! (www.icefieldsparkway.com) If heading to Alberta, you really owe it to yourself to try to combine one or both of these stops together with either a Calgary or Edmonton one.
Fairmont Banff Inn – Course Plays Around Mt. Rundle on the Right (Courtesy of Travel Alberta)
Here are a couple of travel and golf tips related to Alberta. Driving is exceptionally easy and the travel almost a seamless transition from the States. The golf courses are usually well marked with road signage. However, using the Internet services for directions is hazardous. About a third of the golf course directions I received had truly critical errors in them. Had I not used my cell phone to call the golf courses, I would have missed playing them because I would have been so lost. In other words, call the golf courses for directions. Secondly, there are far fewer gas stations with which to fuel up (or get directions) than we Americans are accustomed to. So, if you plan off-hours or extended travel, you will be well-advised to keep your tank full. Finally, when approaching highway construction or congested town areas, slow down and obey the speed limits. Otherwise, you are likely to be quietly photographed and fined, unaware until later!
Golfwise, you can expect an altitude assist for hitting the ball further in Calgary, Kananaskis, and Banff, with a slightly lesser effect in Jasper and little or no help in Edmonton. While you can play golf earlier, do not expect the putting surfaces to be smooth or fast in the mountain regions early in the season – May or June. I found that as I headed south toward Calgary, the growing season was just a bit longer and the grass conditions just a bit better. Some of the courses, particularly the mountain ones, have hidden breaks that the mountains obscure. Check with the golf shop before you play to see if that particular course has any prevailing way putts break. Also, especially for low laying areas around Edmonton and Calgary, bug repellant should be part of your golf kit.
There is so much more to Alberta than golf. There are a host of cultural and seasonal events, and places to see such as the world’s largest shopping mall, The West Edmonton Mall or the Calgary Stampede. The problem is that with so many beautiful and fun golf courses, it makes for so much to do. However, if you play golf in Alberta, you can’t go wrong!
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