Peter,
The proximity to Banff & Jasper are a definite bonus for those attending the tournament. I can unbiasedly attest that Blackhawk is a fantastic golf course, and once a few more people on this forum get the opportunity to play there, Jeff can tone down the enthusiasm.
The bunkering is a perfect blend of stategically placed and artistically constructed, while the greens offer some fascinating internal contour. Further, the green surrounds on a number of holes can be used skillfully to get the ball nearer to the hole, thus offering both the aerial & ground routes for golfers. And the views are out of this world, an enjoyable and exhilirating walk, even without clubs.
I've driven past Red Tail Landing at least a dozen times to and from the Edmonton airport, and while I'm sure the golf is good, the mounding looks quite unnatural. They do appear to be blocking both unsightly views and noise from the adjacent Calgary Trail Highway, and that in and of itself is not a crime, but from the road the mounding does not appear to engage with the fairways & greens - hence, containment mounding (a la Rees Jones) that everybody here seems to dislike.
Finally, Mayfair G & CC may be originally the work of the great Stanley Thompson, but the renovation by Les Furber seems, to my eye, to have eliminated (or not restored) a little of that artistic flare. The bunkering, compared to Jasper, Banff & Capilano does not feature the intricate series of capes and bays that help give his bunkers a hundred different looks depending on your angle. Further, the two large lakes near the clubhouse are glaringly artificial and detract from the experience.
Tyler Kearns