When comparing Jasper Park and Banff Springs, I would argue that Banff offers more consistent quality in its golf holes, but less often does it achieve the fun, quirk and complexity of Jasper's best holes. The 7th, though not a bad hole, is among the least interesting at either course and though routed in a different direction, is similar in playing characteristics to the par-3 12th. The mid-length par-3 requires an all-carry tee shot to a green protected by a fronting bunker / false front combination. The back-to-front pitch of the green will help to contain tee shots, though those that carry a tee shot too long will leave a treacherous recovery.
The 440 yard, par-4 8th hole is a wonderful combination of quirk and challenge. Set into the side of the mountain, the hole falls from right to left, and requires the golfer play a perfect tee shot along the right side of the fairway should he wish to have any view of the flag. Tee shots too far right will find the hillside and tee shots too far left will fall to a lower portion of fairway. The approach is played, often blind, through a chute created by two hillsides to a fantastic and simple bunkerless green, set at an angle to reward the golfer that had challenged the right side from the tee.
From the tee, with a mountain peak immediately in line with the green (unlikely a coincidence!), the 230 yard ninth is a stunning golf hole. But, it's not until the golfer reaches the green and sees the severity of the surrounds, does he realize the true challenge of this golf hole. A bit like Ross' famous Volcano hole at Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania, merely building a hole such as this one, especially so long ago, required some serious bravado. Short bunkers are cleverly aligned to give the impression that an all-carry tee shot is required to reach the putting surface, but there is considerable yardage between the right and left sets, and a further 15 yards of fairway between bunker and green. Golfers able to keep their ball on a straight line and make the 200 or so yard carry over the bunkers are rewarded with a funnel to the green. Golfers that are offline, even slightly, or even worse, long of the green, are met with 30 foot drops to grass and flat bottomed sand bunkers.