Why the Canadian Rockies might be North America's most underrated golf trip

Article by Zachari Gotmy

Snowcapped mountains and glacier-fed lakes are not often the first images that come to mind when planning a golf trip away. However, hidden within the Canadian Rockies of Alberta and British Columbia lies one of the most underrated golf destinations in the world.

For most travellers, Calgary serves as the perfect starting point for the trip. The city offers daily international flights, a strong food scene, vibrant local culture, and easy access to the Canadian Rockies. Although Calgary itself has several excellent golf courses, the real draw lies just outside the city limits where the mountains begin to rise.

Where Your Canadian Rockies Golf Trip Should Begin

(Image Credit: Explore Kananaskis)

The first stop should be Kananaskis Country Golf Course. Kananaskis Country features two courses, Mount Kidd and Mount Lorette, both of which are consistently ranked among the top public courses in Canada. Originally designed by legendary architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., the courses later underwent a major restoration led by Canadian architect Gary Browning following the devastating Alberta floods in 2013. The rebuild preserved the original character of the courses while modernizing them for a new generation of golfers. The setting alone makes the experience unforgettable. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks, dense forests, and wildlife roaming throughout the property, Kananaskis feels completely different from almost any golf destination in North America.

The golf itself fully lives up to the scenery. Mount Kidd offers a more open layout with wide fairways and dramatic mountain views throughout the round, while Mount Lorette plays tighter through the trees and rewards precision off the tee. Both courses feature elevation changes, glacier-fed streams cutting through fairways, and greens framed by some of the most incredible mountain backdrops imaginable. It is the type of place where it becomes difficult not to stop every few holes simply to take in the scenery.

A short drive from Calgary and Kananaskis brings you to the mountain towns of Banff and Canmore. Using either town as a base opens the door to some of the best mountain golf in the world. The area is home to four world-class golf courses, all located within roughly thirty minutes of one another.

Discover Incredible Mountain Golf

(Image Credit: Baff Springs Golf Course)

The most famous course in the region is undoubtedly the Banff Springs Golf Course, originally redesigned by legendary Canadian architect Stanley Thompson in the late 1920s. Banff Springs has earned worldwide recognition for both its history and scenery, and for good reason. The course sits directly beneath the mountains with the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel overlooking several holes. The signature Devil’s Cauldron par three is one of the most photographed golf holes in the country and remains one of the great bucket list shots in Canadian golf.

Although Banff Springs receives most of the attention, the lesser-known courses nearby arguably provide the most memorable golf experience in the region. Stewart Creek Golf Club and Silvertip Golf Resort combine elite course design with some of the most dramatic scenery found anywhere in golf.

Stewart Creek winds through forests, waterfalls, and mountain valleys while offering a layout that remains both challenging and enjoyable for all levels of golfer. Several holes play alongside streams and natural rock formations, creating a course that feels completely immersed in the landscape around it.

Silvertip offers an entirely different experience. Perched high above the town of Canmore, the course features massive elevation changes, cliffside tee boxes, and panoramic views from nearly every hole. Many of the tee shots feel as though you are hitting directly into the mountains. The dramatic terrain creates some of the most unique and memorable shots you will ever play. Between the scenery and course design, Silvertip is the type of course golfers remember long after the trip ends.

For a more traditional golf experience, Canmore Golf & Curling Club offers a much more local feel. Instead of dramatic elevation changes and cliffside fairways, Canmore Golf & Curling Club follows a walkable parkland layout routed through forests and alongside the Bow River. The atmosphere is more relaxed and understated, but the setting remains spectacular. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the course, with elk, moose, and mountain goats often seen wandering near fairways and greens.

There is More Than Just Golf to Enjoy Here

(Image Credit: Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course)

Beyond the golf itself, Banff and Canmore are popular destinations in their own right. The area is filled with hiking trails, natural hot springs, local breweries, and small independent shops and restaurants. Even for non-golfers, the region offers more than enough to fill several days. Whether it is spending the evening in downtown Banff, hiking through the mountains in the morning, or simply sitting on a patio overlooking the Rockies after a round, the entire experience feels different from a traditional golf holiday.

Golfers with additional time should also consider continuing further north toward Jasper. Home to the Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course, Jasper offers another Stanley Thompson masterpiece that is regularly ranked among the top golf courses in Canada. Compared to Banff, Jasper feels quieter and more remote, with the course routed through lakes, forests, and mountain valleys inside Jasper National Park. The combination of isolation, scenery, and classic design makes it one of the most memorable rounds anywhere in the Canadian Rockies.

Explore Some of Canada's Best Golf Courses

(Image Credit: Greywolf Golf Course)

For those looking to extend the trip even further off the beaten path, the small town of Invermere sits roughly two hours away along one of the most scenic drives in Canada. Despite its size, Invermere has quietly become one of the premier golf destinations in Western Canada. Within a thirty-minute drive are several exceptional courses, including Eagle Ranch Golf Course, Copper Point Golf Club, Greywolf Golf Course, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, and Radium Resort, home to both the Springs Course and the more traditional Resort Course.

Greywolf is perhaps the standout among them, famous for its dramatic cliffside par three known as Cliffhanger, one of the most recognizable holes in Canadian golf. Meanwhile, Eagle Ranch and Copper Point provide a mix of mountain golf, resort atmosphere, and relaxed hospitality that perfectly suits a golf break in the Rockies. Many of these resorts also offer stay and play packages complete with fine dining, spa facilities, and luxury accommodation, making the area ideal for a longer golf getaway.

Whether you stay around Calgary, Banff, and Canmore, continue north toward Jasper, or venture further into British Columbia toward Invermere, the Canadian Rockies offer one of the most unforgettable and underrated golf trips imaginable. From towering tee shots that force players to club down more than expected to glacier-fed waterfalls cascading beside fairways, golf in the Canadian Rockies delivers scenery and experiences that few destinations in the world can match.