While Canada’s Banff Springs Golf course doesn’t have the stature of the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland or even some of the great international golf courses like Pebble Beach or Royal Melbourne, perhaps it should. It has never hosted a major golf tournament, not even the Canadian open. It has rarely been seen on TV, which is what make this signature golf course a bit of a hidden gem.

Design History

The course dates back to 1910 when William Thomson, a Scottish golf professional was brought to Banff from Winnipeg to build a nine-hole golf course. In 1916, Duke of Connaught along with her Royal Highness and Princess Patricia were the first Royals to visit and play the course.

In 1919, Donald Ross was brought to Banff to design an 18-hole golf course which opened in 1924. However in the same year the Stanley Thompson designed Jasper golf course opened to great reviews and stole Banff’s limelight as the best golf course in the Rockies, so Thompson was given the task to design the finest golf course in the world in Banff. The new Stanley Thompson Banff Springs Golf course, which winds along the Bow River under the snow-capped peaks or Sulphur Mountain and Mount Rundle, opened in 1929.

In 1989, 9 holes designed by Cornish and Robinson were added to create a 27 hole championship layout.

Devil’s Cauldron a Par 3 is Banff Spring’s Signature hole.

The mountains and the Bow River are integral to Banff Springs’ unique sense of place.

History Lessons

I love it when golf courses name each hole. It gives you something to read and think about while you wait for the group in front of you (who invariably play slower than you do) to hit. In Banff Springs case not only does each hole have a name, but there is a little history lesson attached to each yardage sign.

Here are some samples:

On #3, called Gibraltar, the sign reads; “The cliffs of Mount Rundle’s face resembles the famous Rock of Gibraltar after which this hole is named. Course architect Stanley Thompson blasted the rock in front and to the right of the tee in order to create the hole.

On #4, called Devil’s Cauldron, the sign reads; “Named one of the World’s top 18 hole by Golf Magazine, this hole is one of the most famous of Canada’s holes. Stanley Thompson was quoted as saying of this creation in Banff ‘I was commissioned to build the last word on golf.” Indeed, it is the golf courses signature hole.

On #6, called Fairholm, the sign reads “The Fairholm Fountain range is the backdrop to this hole. Donald Ross designed a course that opened in the summer of 1924. This hole was left relatively untouched by Thompson when he redesigned the course in 1928.

On #12, called Big Bow, the sign reads; “This hole was name for the Big Bow River that comes right up beside the green. The Golf Course Superintendent’s home is located behind the green and was the original clubhouse when Parks Canada constructed the course in 1911. This hole was selected as the most outstanding Par 4 on a Canadian course in a 1949 poll of Top Canadian Professional and Amateur Golfers. FYI: The father of one of my buddies playing with me stayed in the home when he was the Chief Accountant for Banff Springs Hotel in the early ‘70s.

On #14, called Wampum, the sign reads, “Wampum, meaning ‘the prize’ is aptly named as the original finishing hole of Thompson’s design.

It also tells you “some 150 yards to the left of the tee is a plaque identifying the remains of the building that Marilyn Monroe used as a change room for the movie ‘The River of No Return” filmed in Banff and Jasper National Parks.”

On #17, called Sarcee, the sign reads “From the tee deck on this hole to the area behind the #12 green, up to the River, 11 Pit Houses were found.

Pit Houses were traditional aboriginal housing dug in the ground and covered with thatch and date back more than 2,500 years. The Pit House was designated as the first officially recognized archaeological site in Canada in 1911.”

On #18, called Windy, the sign reads “This hole was named ‘Windy’ because as you turn the corner to the green it is where the wind will pick up and become noticeable. The Clubhouse erected in 1989 and designed to resemble a teepee, awaits as you finish your game. Standing with the tradition of teepee construction, a fireplace is the centerpiece of the facility”

Trophy Room

Last Word

Is Banff Springs Golf course “Canada’s signature golf course?” I am guessing “signature” is in the eye and mind of the beholder.

Note:

If by chance you are looking for a custom Banff rail tour, give Martin Flanigan at Canada Rail a call and tell him the Everyday Tourist sent you.

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Reader’s Comments:

DI emailed: I would like to add some comments to your review of the Banff Springs Golf Course.

The status of the Golf Course changed when they decided to add the third nine holes.
The original Golf course designers, in addition to designing great golf holes with great vistas and great golf hole design also consider the placement of holes to add to the golf experience.
When they added the third nine they changed the best opening hole and closing holes in Canada. They are now #13 and #14.
The first hole originally started at the hotel, across the Spray River with a slight dog leg to the left. This spectacular opening hole had two tee areas with the Champion tees near the hotel and the Tourist tees just short of the Spray River. Both Tee Boxes offered an outstanding start to a great round and the Canadian Golfing communities recognized this opening vista as special in the top 5 in Canada.
The next 5 holes brought you to the Devil’s Cauldron. The tourist tees are where they are today but the Pro tee box is level with the green and can be seen by looking over the edge to the west of the existing tees. It is a 203 yard carry all over water. This tee box has not been played since the 70’s.
From there we went to the next outstanding designed hole which was #14 which is the Par 3 ninth hole now. The original tee boxes were closer to the river and your drive was all over water and always into the wind.
Finally the 18th hole. The vista was the Banff Springs Hotel. Always into the wind. It again was recognized by the golf community as one of the top 5 finishing holes in Canada.
As a side note to the opening hole..Malcom Tapp the Pro made more money than his salary by betting golfers that he could kick the ball over the Spray River than certain tourist golfer could hit it over the river. What he did not tell the golfers he had a steel cap in his shoes and never lost..a fun fact.
Starting from the old #5 hole spoiled the Banff experience for me. People book Banff most people want to play the Thompson course. My only wish you could play it as originally designed.

I grew up playing one of the greatest golf course in North America with celebrities from all over the world making it an annual destination. Today the golf course today falls well behind Jasper due to the changes made to accommodate the third nine. If you like this blog, you will like these links:

Old Course St. Andrews vs Augusta National Golf Club

StanleyThompson's Golf Courses

Calgary: History of golf course makeovers

Banff Springs Golf Course: Canada’s Signature Golf Course?