Calgary: A Hidden Gem For Golfers?
When you think of great golf destinations in North America I expect Calgary isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Arizona, Florida, California, Nevada and the Carolina’s are probably top of mind. Especially for Canadian golfers who are desperate to play in the winter.
Did you know there are 60+ golf courses within an hour’s drive of Calgary – public, semi-private and private? And many can be played for less than $100 Canadian or about $70 US.
A big bonus for golfing in Calgary in the summer is the 18 hours of daylight, which means it is easy to golf 36 holes a day and if you are ambitious you can even golf 54. That is impossible to do in the winter in the southern states.
This summer I developed a better appreciation for the diversity of golf courses in and around Calgary as a result of my home course (Redwood Meadows) getting a face lift.
By the middle of July, we were playing on 18 temporary greens, which gets pretty boring after the second or third round.
As a result, my golf buddies and I decided to book tee times at various golf courses within an hour drive of Calgary. I was also fortunate some of my golf buddies with memberships at private courses, were kind enough to invite me out to play their course.
As result of COVID many of us didn’t get to go south this past winter so we were eager to golf as soon as snow disappeared in Calgary. This resulted in us getting out to play some different courses in March and early April east of the city, where the snow disappeared. Yes, you can sometimes play golf in Calgary in March.
I thought I’d share with you some of the fun golf courses I played this summer. Perhaps I will see you in Calgary next summer for some golf and some of our award winning craft beer.
Semi-Private Courses
Strathmore Golf Club
The Strathmore golf course a typical prairie course i.e. flat with a mix of natural ponds and bush, supplemented with planted trees. It plays 6,813 yards from the tips. It was the first course I played as the snow melts faster on the east side of the city.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the course especially the decorative, statue-like sandstone rocks next to some of the greens and in the larger fairway bunkers. It isn’t Stonehenge, but it does add some character to the course.
I was most impressed with the friendliness and professionalism of the pro-shop staff. The two young gentlemen could easily have be GQ magazine models.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Friday $45 / Seniors 55+ $35
Weekdays & Holiday $60 /Seniors 55+ $50
Easy walking course
Canal at Delcour Golf Club
If you are into links-style golf courses, you will love the Canal at Delcour. While the fairways, rough and greens are lusher than a links course in Scotland, visually the course looks like a links style course and the wind can blow just as hard. As the name implies there is a canal that run through the course, as well as a large pond in the middle. There is even a rock bridge that I expect was inspired by the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews and a train that run adjacent to the course, like Carnoustie.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Wednesday $55 / Thursday & Friday $65 / Weekend & Holidays $75
They have same day replay rate that includes a cart Monday to Wednesday $35, Thursday & Friday $45 and Weekends & Holidays $55.
There are also many special rates. If you are over 50 ask for the senior rate and you will probably get $10 off.
Water Valley Golf & Country Club
Water Valley is truly a hidden gem as it is off the beaten path. As the name would imply, this course is played up and down a dramatic valley in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. You can walk the course (we did, but I was playing with some finely tuned athletes) but most take a cart.
This is a very enjoyable course to play, with some very picturesque holes, specially the par 3s. While the yardage from the tips is only 6,610 it plays a lot longer with the elevation changes.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Fridays $50
Weekends, Holidays $65
Murfield Lakes Golf Club
Just a few minutes east of Canal at Delcour is Murfield Lakes, a shorter par 70, link-style course that is 6,400 yards from the tips. As the name implies there is lots of water on the course with 8 ponds and adjacent creeks. It will be memorable for me as I got an eagle on the par 5, lucky 13th hole. The fairways are generous, but be sure hit them as the rough and water are penalizing.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Wednesday $35 / Seniors $30
Thursday & Friday $45 / Seniors $35
Saturday & Sunday $60 / Seniors $55
Very walkable course
D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club
Located on edge of the town of Okotoks, D’Arcy Ranch is a real treat. We hadn’t played it for many years and had forgotten what a great course this is. The course not only offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, but almost every hole has dramatic elevation changes, especially the first Par 3, the signature hole with its 100-foot drop from tee to green. The course was in perfect condition and we had an ideal day to play, however, it can get nasty when the wind is up or if you choose to play from the tips at 6,903 yards. Highly recommended, treat yourself.
2021 Green Fees
Weekdays $85 / Weekends $90
Checkout special deals for twilight, happy hour, early bird.
We walked it, but I would recommend you take cart
Mickelson National Golf Club
Yes this course was designed by Phil Mickelson. Yes it is a challenging golf course with lots of water, elevation changes, deep bunkers everywhere and tricky greens. I was disappointed by the condition of the golf course, with many of the bunkers having less sand than required to make the shot required to hit the green. In one case there was no sand in a green side bunker. I also found the collection areas around the green were dry and hard making it almost impossible for the average golfer to chip up onto the green. I was also surprised the golf carts didn’t have GPS to give you yardage.
It is definitely a course you need to play a couple of times to get a feel for how to play it. It is perhaps the longest course in the Calgary area at 7,412 yards from the tips.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Thursday $120
Friday / Weekends $140
Yes you will need a cart.
Redwood Meadow Golf & Country Club
I know I am bias as this is my home course, but many avid Calgary golfers think Redwood is one of the area’s best courses. It isn’t particularly long at 7,238 yards from the tips, and there isn’t a lot of elevation change (none to be exact, it is a flat as a pancake), but the fairway bunkers are well placed. The fairways are extremely narrow, with dense forest along the edge of most holes. The greens are guarded by bunkers, and often one or two strategically placed trees. It has perhaps the best collection of Par 3s in Alberta.
Redwood hosted the Nationwide Alberta Classic in 2004 and 2005 (now the Korn Ferry Tour), with the likes of Bubba Watson playing the course. It was won by Peter Tomasulo in 2005, at 9 under par and by David Hearn in 2004, at 15 under par.
2021 Green Fees
Because of construction the Green Fees in 2021 were reduced due to temporary greens. Expect to pay about $95 in 2022.
Public Courses
There are several great vacation oriented golf course in the Canmore area just an hour east of Calgary. While I didn’t play Stewart Creek this year, I would highly recommend it.
Kananaskis Country Golf Course
Kananaskis is where I fell in love with golf in the late ‘80s. My sister, brother-in-law Charlie and family were visiting and when I asked my sister what would Charlie like to do, she said “golf.” So I asked around and was advised that Kananaskis had a new 36-hole golf course. I got us a tee time at 8:12 am and off we went - me with a set of old clubs borrowed from a colleague at work (something you couldn’t sell at your last garage sale). I think we played from the tips (thought that was what guys do). Had a great time so went into the pro shop and got a tee time for the next day. Had another great day (moved up one tee box) and so thought let’s do this again. Got another tee time had another great day so did it for a fourth day in a row. Only this time after the round, instead of booking another tee time, we went into the pro shop and asked to try out some new clubs, which we did and we each bought home a set of new clubs. And that was beginning of my obsession with golf.
Kananaskis is a golfer’s paradise. The two courses are very different with Mount Lorette (7,232 from the tips) being flat along the Kananaskis River flood plain and Mount Kidd (7,136 from the tips) being more of a mountain course with lots of elevation changes. The juxtaposition of the green fairways, white sand, rugged mountains and blue sky is magical. It is hard to concentrate on the golf. In my mind, it is the best value for your money in North America.
2021 Green Fees
Monday to Thursday $118 / Alberta Residents $88
Friday to Sunday $125 / Alberta Residents $95
We walked Lorette, but most people take a cart
Banff Springs Golf Course
Banff Springs Golf Couse also offers spectacular scenery as it plays along the Bow River on one side and the Rocky Mountains on the other. It has lots of history
While the golf course was a pleasure to play the cost in 2021 was high given the lack of services you would expect from a high-end resort golf course. The food service was poor, as was the food. Perhaps this was a COVID issue, as we heard from a lot of Banff attractions and restaurants they were short staffed due to COVID. That being said they should have adjusted the price accordingly. Fortunately we paid only $129, as one of my golf buddies is a Willow Park member and they had a made a deal with Banff Springs.
2021 Green Fees
Stanley Thompson 18 holes $299
Tunnel Mountain 9 holes $109
Alberta residents are eligible for green fee discounts if booked 7 days in advance. Discount varies with time of year.
Private Courses
While these courses aren’t open to the public, perhaps you have a membership and can get a reciprocal, or if you are visiting family or friends, perhaps they know someone with a membership who would be kind enough to take you. I am fortunate to have some good golf buddies who are willing to do a home and home exchange, so they get to play my home course Redwood Meadows and I get to play theirs. I can’t wait to show them Redwood’s new greens next year.
Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club
Priddis Greens is one of Canada’s premier golf course, offering 36 holes set in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. It has been home to the Canadian Women’s Golf Championship several times. The course is always in great condition, the greens are fast and undulating, which makes them tricky to read. There is lots of elevation changes, which result in great views and challenges.
Be sure to leave yourself time to dine in the restaurant appropriately named The Grandview as it offer great food and great views. FYI: The restaurant is open to the public if you happen to be driving by.
Willow Park Golf & Country Club
Willow Park is like a walk in a garden. Upon arrival you are immediately impressed by all of the huge planters and hanging baskets, which continues along the course. The course winds around a mid ‘60s estate housing development, but because of all the large trees and flower gardens you hardly notice them. This parkland course is an easy walk and very enjoyable to play.
It has an excellent restaurant. I particularly liked the sticky toffee pudding. I was told that I can order a pan of the pudding for takeout. Luckily I live on the other side of town, as I don’t think I could resist the temptation to have their pudding for dessert every day.
Carnmoney Golf & Country Club
The Carnmoney golf course is located on the southeastern edge of the city along Dunbow Road which is also home the Heritage Pointe Golf Course (27 holes, public) and Cottonwood Golf & Country Club (semi-private). Carnmoney is a hybrid between a links and parkland course. I am not sure if there is a relationship to Carnmoney, Ireland which is best known for its large graveyard.
It is a very playable golf course with lots of elevation changes and challenging Par 3s. FYI: I don’t think I have ever hit the green on the first Park 3 that is only about 110 yards. There are several Par 5s that tempt you to go for the green in two, I think I might have been successful once, maybe twice.
Last Word
The Calgary golf season lasts from early May to early September, with frost delays common early and late in the season. Even when there is a frost in the morning, it can quickly warm up by 10 am for a very pleasant day of golf.
Whoever said “golf is a good walk spoiled” is wrong. For me “golf is always a good walk with friends, enhance by a game.”
If you like this blog, you might like these links:
Old Course St. Andrews vs Augusta National Golf Club
Irish Golf: The Good, The Bad, The Bold, The Beer, The Beauty