Banff and Jasper Park - Year 3 of the 10 Year Plan

[Mike Hendren]

Preliminarily, 2015 will focus on Stanley Thompson's work.  What other courses in the neighborhood (hopefully some old untouched gems) should I visit?

Bogey

[Mark Saltzman]

Calgary and Blackhawk.

[Tyler Kearns]

Bogey,

Halfway between Calgary & Edmonton (Blackhawk) you can stop in Red Deer and play Rod Whitman's Wolf Creek. 
I'm not sure how much Thompson is left at Royal Mayfair in Edmonton, but I've toured the course and wouldn't have guessed it was a Thompson track - so it may not be worth your time given the criteria stated.

TK

[Pete_Pittock]

Bogey,
Please define "neighborhood".  Would Capilano fit?

[Mike Hendren]

Bogey,
Please define "neighborhood".  Would Capilano fit?

Maybe for road warrior Ed Getka, but not me - I'll be traveling with my sweetie.

I'm hoping to hear about an obscure, quirky nine holer thereabouts.

Thanks.

Bogey

[Pete_Pittock]

Stewart Creek in Canmore. Silvertip is for photographers, not golfers. Make sure to stay at Lake Louise.

[Ian Andrew]

To be frank - there is more to life than golf.

But to give you Golf options first (in the order of my preference:

Calgary G&CC (1.5 hrs. from Banff)
Blackhawk (Edmonton - 4 hrs. from Jasper)
Greywolf GC - Invermere (3hrs. from Banff)
Wolf Creek (1.5 hrs. north of Calgary)
Stewart Creek (15 minutes from Banff)

Options that I would choose instead:

We happen to be hikers and have made multiple trips to both National Parks
I've only brought my clubs twice.

Banff
Sightseeing at Lake Louise (stunning glacial lake) is popular
but I would recommend you hike "The Plain of the Six Glaciers" - one of the more spectacular single day hikes - it's a must
Morraine Lake is the most beautiful place in Canada
If your really adventurous they re-opened the "Via Ferrata" routes above Banff! - half day or full day routes are available for those not afraid of heights ...  
Johnston Canyon is really cool - higher up is even better but a long hike

Yoho
I'm personally fond of the hike to Yoho Falls in the adjacent (15-20 minutes West) - quiet - pack a lunch
Emerald Lake Lodge is also recommended for a place to stay
Go see Takakkaw Falls - our highest waterfall and pretty cool

Jasper
Morraine Canyon is a must - cool "narrow" canyon
Maligne Lake is great to get away from people
The Gondola or even low key Rafting on Athabaska is low stress

Also go to:
Kootney National Park (nearby Banff and beautiful)
I happen to like the adjacent Columbia Valley a lot
Kicking Horse River has world class white water rafting

Awesome area of the world - almost moved there

[Mike Hendren]

Now we're talking!   Thanks, Ian.

[Garland Bayley]

To be frank - there is more to life than golf.

But to give you Golf options first (in the order of my preference:

Calgary G&CC (1.5 hrs. from Banff)
Blackhawk (Edmonton - 4 hrs. from Jasper)
Greywolf GC - Invermere (3hrs. from Banff)
Wolf Creek (1.5 hrs. north of Calgary)
Stewart Creek (15 minutes from Banff)

Options that I would choose instead:

We happen to be hikers and have made multiple trips to both National Parks
I've only brought my clubs twice.

Banff
Sightseeing at Lake Louise (stunning glacial lake) is popular
but I would recommend you hike "The Plain of the Six Glaciers" - one of the more spectacular single day hikes - it's a must
Morraine Lake is the most beautiful place in Canada
If your really adventurous they re-opened the "Via Ferrata" routes above Banff! - half day or full day routes are available for those not afraid of heights ...  
Johnston Canyon is really cool - higher up is even better but a long hike

Yoho
I'm personally fond of the hike to Yoho Falls in the adjacent (15-20 minutes West) - quiet - pack a lunch
Emerald Lake Lodge is also recommended for a place to stay
Go see Takakkaw Falls - our highest waterfall and pretty cool

Jasper
Morraine Canyon is a must - cool "narrow" canyon
Maligne Lake is great to get away from people
The Gondola or even low key Rafting on Athabaska is low stress

Also go to:
Kootney National Park (nearby Banff and beautiful)
I happen to like the adjacent Columbia Valley a lot
Kicking Horse River has world class white water rafting

Awesome area of the world - almost moved there

Ian,

How could one travel that far and not visit Waterton and Glacier National Parks?

[Ian Andrew]

I thought about Waterton - amazing lodge - went to even post it - and got tossed off the site ...
Obviously Ran telling me to go back to work ... 


One of my favorite places in Alberta is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta.
Took my boys, loved the museum - worth the drive - but made more sense heading to Saskatoon ....


Lots of places to go if you love to drive ... very long distances.
I'd rather go the other direction and head West - Kelowna for great wine springs to mind immediately.

[Tim Bert]

As Ian said, The Plain of the Six Glaciers is amazing but it is no easy feat with the thin air and the length of the hike.  Probably my favorite hike I have done if you are up for it. 

Moraine Lake is stunning and great place to see a sunrise. Lake Maligne is great as well. The short trip to Spirit Island is excellent.

Columbia Icefield is a good stop between the two parks.

There's a short hike up a hill in Banff (can't remember the loop or the trail name) that takes you up to overlook the town and also the Banff Springs golf course and the river. There is a distant shot of the Devil's Cauldron from up there that is pretty neat.

As Ian said please don't play too much golf on this trip. The courses are excellent but if you haven't had the pleasure of making this trip before spending too many hours on golf courses is not the way to go.

[Steve Lang]

Bogey,

When Ms Sheila & I went with the GCA'ers to play Banff and Jasper back in 2004 we flew into Calgary, there was a lot of driving as mentioned, but not unlike any western road trip...  Are you flying to Calgary or Vancouver or doing a massive road trek from TN??

As I remember, the ride to Banff was filled more with anticipation than anything, we stayed near and played Kananaskis G&CC (and survived 36 holes of RTJ, Sr.  and some nice views), staying at the Banff Lodge and going to Lake Louise on an afternoon were very touristy but worth the  one time adventure.. and spending time to look and enjoy a little is still memorable.  I also remember taking in another small lake south of lake Louise..

OF all, we most enjoyed the drive up to Jasper, which was great, you feel like you can almost reach out and touch the mountains (much different feel than the Tetons, US Rockies, or Alaskan mountains) and we hung out too much along the road enjoying the mountain scenes at turnouts and lookouts and almost missed the dinner that night., but did see the Supt’s slide show.

Remember a moose or elk walking around the little cabins at jasper, and the golf setting was fun, aiming at far away features. And dealing with The Bad Baby!  

The ride over to Edmonton from Jasper was  flat and boring highway drivin,  Edmonton was fun to explore and find eats and entertainment..   and the ride back south  is nothing to write home about other than taking in Blackhawk and do take in Wolf Creek, where “Canada Meets Scotland”


Make friends at Banff


Devils cauldron


and another  of the Cauldron with better perspective of mountain back drops at Banff



A couple of snaps from a highpoint at Blackhawk





Have you considered airplane and helicopter rides??  Great way to see the max perspective
Have a fun '15

[Jeff_Mingay]

Michael,

If you're in Edmonton and have time, stop by the new Derrick Club ... opening early summer 2015.