Golfing in Alberta
Golf is an activity that's fueled by not only a competitive streak but a love of nature too, so it's no wonder that Canada—with its abundant wilderness and majestic landscapes—is a prime destination for golfers both avid and amateur. And while all corners of this massive country can boast amazing golfing experiences, it's Alberta that offers the most diverse and dynamic scenery, encompassing rich prairie farmland, dramatic desserts, rolling foothills and thundering mountain ranges within its borders. With nearly 300 golf courses offering a mixture of easy beginner courses and award-winning golf challenges, it's easy to see why Alberta has been attracting golfers from around the world for decades, and its momentum continues to grow.
WHEN TO GO
Summer is Alberta's prime golfing season, with July and August typically offering the most favourable weather conditions. As Alberta covers a large land mass, specific golf season dates vary depending on the region and the course in question, but generally courses open in April or May and close in October. Rain is always a possibility but thankfully it's not quite an inevitability like it is on the coast—the Alberta summer has a tendency to be dry and sunny. Temperatures can reach as high as 35ºC (95ºF), but generally tend to hover around the mid-20s.
THE DETAILS
For avid golfers, golf tours are a great way to make sure all the details are taken care of, from accommodations to equipment to transportation to green fees. But luckily, those who want to go it alone won't have any trouble—most golf courses are located in or near major towns and cities where accommodation options are plentiful. What's more, Alberta's large golf resorts even offer on-course accommodation, not to mention world-class dining and other facilities. As for equipment, visitors are welcome to bring their own, but if that's too much to carry, rentals are almost always available.
WHERE TO GOLF
The Rockies
Dominated by mighty snow-covered mountains, stunning blue-green lakes, fragrant pine trees and occasional wandering wildlife, Alberta's Rocky Mountains are this province's most popular destination for golfers, and, well, just about everybody else. Banff is a popular stopping point for visitors to the area and in golfing terms, the mountain town is famous for the Banff Springs Golf Course. Designed and built in 1928 for a then-record-breaking $1 million, the pristine course and castle-like resort has attracted some of the top golfers in the world with its challenging holes and endless panoramic views. Luckily, it's open to anyone who wants to golf there—for a price, of course.
Not far from Banff, Kananaskis is another prime golfing destination with a scattering of challenging courses spread through the dense wilderness of the area. The nearby town of Canmore is also known for its proximity to world-class golfing facilities and resorts. Heading north, visitors will find themselves at the pretty resort town of Jasper, where the Jasper Park Lodge Resort offers one of the most well-known golf experiences in Canada.
Down at the southern end of the Rockies, another historical course attracts visitors from all over. The Waterton Lakes Golf Course was built at the same time as the Banff Springs, and while it's not nearly as opulent, it's still well worth a visit. And, as an added bonus, the drive between Banff and Waterton is littered with a plethora of courses of all sizes that each have one thing in common: amazing mountain views, particularly in the Crowsnest Pass area.
City Golfing
Alberta's two largest cities—Calgary and Edmonton—each have something to offer the seasoned golfer. Both can boast a mixture of municipal courses within city limits, as well as a generous selection of sprawling courses that lie just outside the urban cityscape. Albertans love to golf, and that's why there are easy public courses, challenging semi-private courses and plush private golf and country clubs to choose from in and around either metropolis. Both cities provide impressive golfing experiences, but with different landscapes—Edmonton offers access to the lush grasslands and wilderness of central Alberta, while Calgary's cityscape and golf courses are bordered by mountain views and rolling foothills.
The South
Along the southern border that Alberta shares with the USA is a largely rural area populated by two small cities, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. A wide selection of small 9-hole courses dominate the golfing landscape, but don't assume there's nothing for experienced putters. A few 18- and even 27-hole courses and golf resorts have properties in and around these cities. Unlike courses in the Rockies, they may not offer the splendour of the mountains but they do have a kind of serene charm that one can only find off the main tourist track.
The Heartland
Encompassing the middle-to-eastern section of this vast province, Alberta's heartland is a combination of golden farmland and dramatic pre-historic landscapes. Drumheller is one particularly popular destination here, mostly because of its sun-burnt hoodoos but also because of its challenging 18-hole golf course that offers natural scenery that visitors won't find anywhere else.
Alberta's heartland is also known for its abundance of natural and man-made lakes. Not surprisingly, several golf courses take advantage of this landscape with holes at popular vacation destinations like Pine Lake, Sylvan Lake and Pigeon Lake.
The capital of Alberta's heartland is Red Deer, where visitors to the area will find all the comforts of home, plus three full-service golf courses. Smaller towns in the region like Hanna, Coronation, Sundre, Wetaskiwin, Innisfail and Three Hills all offer a municipal course that will satisfy people looking to get some practice in.
The North
Northern Alberta isn't generally considered to be a tourist hotspot, but it's certainly no golfing wasteland either. Major business hub Fort McMurray offers two 18-hole courses, while on the other side of the province, Grand Prairie is surrounded by both small 9-hole courses and sprawling 18-hole ones. The nearby Peace River area has over 10 courses of varying degrees of difficulty, and even remote places like Rainbow Lake, High Level and Fort Vermillion offer a municipal course to play on.
WHEN TO GO
Summer is Alberta's prime golfing season, with July and August typically offering the most favourable weather conditions. As Alberta covers a large land mass, specific golf season dates vary depending on the region and the course in question, but generally courses open in April or May and close in October. Rain is always a possibility but thankfully it's not quite an inevitability like it is on the coast—the Alberta summer has a tendency to be dry and sunny. Temperatures can reach as high as 35ºC (95ºF), but generally tend to hover around the mid-20s.
THE DETAILS
For avid golfers, golf tours are a great way to make sure all the details are taken care of, from accommodations to equipment to transportation to green fees. But luckily, those who want to go it alone won't have any trouble—most golf courses are located in or near major towns and cities where accommodation options are plentiful. What's more, Alberta's large golf resorts even offer on-course accommodation, not to mention world-class dining and other facilities. As for equipment, visitors are welcome to bring their own, but if that's too much to carry, rentals are almost always available.
WHERE TO GOLF
The Rockies
Dominated by mighty snow-covered mountains, stunning blue-green lakes, fragrant pine trees and occasional wandering wildlife, Alberta's Rocky Mountains are this province's most popular destination for golfers, and, well, just about everybody else. Banff is a popular stopping point for visitors to the area and in golfing terms, the mountain town is famous for the Banff Springs Golf Course. Designed and built in 1928 for a then-record-breaking $1 million, the pristine course and castle-like resort has attracted some of the top golfers in the world with its challenging holes and endless panoramic views. Luckily, it's open to anyone who wants to golf there—for a price, of course.
Not far from Banff, Kananaskis is another prime golfing destination with a scattering of challenging courses spread through the dense wilderness of the area. The nearby town of Canmore is also known for its proximity to world-class golfing facilities and resorts. Heading north, visitors will find themselves at the pretty resort town of Jasper, where the Jasper Park Lodge Resort offers one of the most well-known golf experiences in Canada.
Down at the southern end of the Rockies, another historical course attracts visitors from all over. The Waterton Lakes Golf Course was built at the same time as the Banff Springs, and while it's not nearly as opulent, it's still well worth a visit. And, as an added bonus, the drive between Banff and Waterton is littered with a plethora of courses of all sizes that each have one thing in common: amazing mountain views, particularly in the Crowsnest Pass area.
City Golfing
Alberta's two largest cities—Calgary and Edmonton—each have something to offer the seasoned golfer. Both can boast a mixture of municipal courses within city limits, as well as a generous selection of sprawling courses that lie just outside the urban cityscape. Albertans love to golf, and that's why there are easy public courses, challenging semi-private courses and plush private golf and country clubs to choose from in and around either metropolis. Both cities provide impressive golfing experiences, but with different landscapes—Edmonton offers access to the lush grasslands and wilderness of central Alberta, while Calgary's cityscape and golf courses are bordered by mountain views and rolling foothills.
The South
Along the southern border that Alberta shares with the USA is a largely rural area populated by two small cities, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. A wide selection of small 9-hole courses dominate the golfing landscape, but don't assume there's nothing for experienced putters. A few 18- and even 27-hole courses and golf resorts have properties in and around these cities. Unlike courses in the Rockies, they may not offer the splendour of the mountains but they do have a kind of serene charm that one can only find off the main tourist track.
The Heartland
Encompassing the middle-to-eastern section of this vast province, Alberta's heartland is a combination of golden farmland and dramatic pre-historic landscapes. Drumheller is one particularly popular destination here, mostly because of its sun-burnt hoodoos but also because of its challenging 18-hole golf course that offers natural scenery that visitors won't find anywhere else.
Alberta's heartland is also known for its abundance of natural and man-made lakes. Not surprisingly, several golf courses take advantage of this landscape with holes at popular vacation destinations like Pine Lake, Sylvan Lake and Pigeon Lake.
The capital of Alberta's heartland is Red Deer, where visitors to the area will find all the comforts of home, plus three full-service golf courses. Smaller towns in the region like Hanna, Coronation, Sundre, Wetaskiwin, Innisfail and Three Hills all offer a municipal course that will satisfy people looking to get some practice in.
The North
Northern Alberta isn't generally considered to be a tourist hotspot, but it's certainly no golfing wasteland either. Major business hub Fort McMurray offers two 18-hole courses, while on the other side of the province, Grand Prairie is surrounded by both small 9-hole courses and sprawling 18-hole ones. The nearby Peace River area has over 10 courses of varying degrees of difficulty, and even remote places like Rainbow Lake, High Level and Fort Vermillion offer a municipal course to play on.
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