Canada’s Top 100 Public Golf Courses, Part II

50. Lakeview

Mississauga

15th in Ontario

Architect:

Herbert Strong

Year Built:

1922

Max Rate:

$75.66

Photo credit: Sky Snap

Courtesy of Herbert Strong’s brilliance/madness, Lakeview provides one of the best daily-fee options for golfers looking to experience Golden Age architecture. While Toronto Golf Club plays above and over its meandering stream across Dixie Road, Lakeview seems to get up close and personal, benefitting from the interactions on the 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th, and the closing three holes. In fact, Herbert Strong’s routing is so clever that one might not even realize that the layout interacts with the stream early in the round.

The real stars of the show, as is typical with Herbert Strong’s golf courses, are the wickedly contoured greens. On one’s maiden voyage, the three tiered 9th, or even the turtleback 5th may stand out, but the 15th, which falls away from the golfer, or the 18th perched high above like a Knoll template, are some of the recurring favourites. As one of our panelists mentioned: “Incredible greens. In my opinion that is a major trump card which vaults this course ahead of those with just great views.”

49. Predator Ridge

Vernon

12th in British Columbia

Course:

Predator

Architect:

Les Furber, Doug Carrick

Year Built:

1991

Max Rate:

$225

Photo credit: courtesy

The land between Kelowna and proper Vernon is quite hilly and rocky, yet the Predator course manages to find a small parcel of land that seems suitable for golf. In fact, Predator Ridge’s Predator course sticks out amongst the other British Columbian golf courses because of its distinct identity. Gone are the towering evergreens and mandatory carts, traded in for wispy golden brown natural grasses and a (mostly) walkable golf course (it gets difficult at times, but is do-able). We will not call it a faux-links, but there is something idyllic about standing on 10 green and taking in the surrounding natural grasses and holes.

Among the collection of Les Furber’s best golf holes, the bunkerless short par 3, 13th, has some wicked contouring that makes for some devilish pins, and the par 3, 17th tucked into the hillside is inspiring. Doug Carrick’s work in recent years has softened some of the extreme features found on the opening four holes to make for a better experience.

48. Château Montebello

Montebello

3rd in Québec

Architect:

Stanley Thompson, John Watson

Year Built:

1929

Max Rate:

$90

The term “good bones” is often tossed around, yet it perfectly summarizes Château Montebello, once considered Thompson’s sixth-best course. Years of neglect have kneecapped this great course, and now, there is likely not a more exciting candidate for a proper restoration in Canada.

Even amidst all of the overgrowth, deterioration and the out-of-place remnants of dreadful renovations, Thompson’s brilliance continues to shine. Among the standout holes, the unique 1st with two large rocky outcrops that shield most of the fairway from the tee is an exciting opening hole, the rugged par 4, 2nd with a wild quasi-hog’s back fairway and a devilish green set perilously against another rocky outcrop, the brilliantly deceptive par 4, 11th, and the par 4, 15th with a clever bunker complex along the inside of the dogleg all vouch for why “The Toronto Terror” is Canada’s greatest architect.

47. Black Bear Ridge

Corbyville

14th in Ontario

Architect:

Brian McGee

Year Built:

2005

Max Rate:

$100

Photo credit: courtesy

One of the few homemade efforts in the country, owner-turned-architect Brian Magee put his own vision in the dirt.

Magee’s first and only foray into architecture is commendable, though somewhat of a mixed bag. On holes such as the 4th, 7th, 14th, and 15th he practiced exemplary restraint, allowing the tumbling land to be the prominent feature; however, on holes such as the awkward 1st with a tree that overhangs the right half of the green, the 6th with a centre-line hazard that is entirely off-scale, the strange 11th, which was originally a par 6, and the sharply-climbing 16th where Magee painted himself into a corner with the routing, one wonders if consulting a professional architect would have greatly enhanced the overall product. Nevertheless, Black Bear Ridge is still an excellent option, and among Canada’s best.

46. Bear Mountain

Langford

11th in British Columbia

Course:

Mountain

Architect:

Jack Nicklaus

Year Built:

2003

Max Rate:

$265

Photo credit: Marriott Hotels

The original of the two golf courses at Bear Mountain, the Mountain golf course lost the fight with housing developments, which eventually led to a re-routing and the 19th, or the betting hole, being included in the proper routing (now the 14th hole, pictured above).

As opposed to the Valley course, which goes for the more rugged, blown out bunker style, the Mountain is slightly more polished, instead electing for grass face style bunkers. As such, some of the “stadium” aspects of the TPC Network are used here, such as the island green par 3, 10th and the difficult uphill finishing hole.

The uphill par 5, 13th, and par 3, 16th, round out a very impressive finishing six holes among the “best in class” of the Golden Bear’s catalog.

45. Dundarave

Cardigan

3rd in Prince Edward Island

Architect:

Dr. Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry

Year Built:

1999

Max Rate:

$95

Photo credit: SCOREGolf

On an attractive property near the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Dr. Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry’s Dundarave was known for being overly difficult, with a large surplus of bunkers and heavy costal winds. Thankfully, bunkers have been filled in, and the remaining red sand bunkers continue to intimidate.

Aside from the difficulty, the golf holes themselves are pleasant. The routing takes the golfer out to the Brudenell River for the par 3, 5th, signature 8th, and demanding 9th, then oddly turns inland. Regardless, the gamble-inducing par 4, 16th, is among the better short holes in the Maritimes.

44. Clear Lake

Wasagaming

1st in Manitoba

Architect:

Vic Creed, Stanley Thompson

Year Built:

1928

Max Rate:

$70.48

Routed through the hilly terrain of Riding Mountain National Park, Clear Lake is a great representation of our National Parks: adventurous, yet beautiful; peaceful, but with something to see around every turn.

Perhaps those who yield difficulty as one of the main merits might not find Clear Lake as appealing as others on the list. After all, it is only nine yards over 6,300, and has rating of just under 70. Those who assume, well, we all know the saying.

The collection of short 4’s here is excellent, with the clever 1st tilting away from the golfer, the devilish 8th deceptively narrowing around the green, the revealing 9th, and home bound 18th all creating chances for great scores. Beware: the brute 2nd, with its rumpled terrain, and the demanding par 5, 13th will keep everyone honest, but not without a few birdies. Perhaps the lesson of a wonderful place like Clear Lake is that match play reigns supreme, and scorecards be damned.

43. Green Gables

New Glasgow

2nd in Prince Edward Island

Architect:

Stanley Thompson, Robbie Robinson, Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

1939

Max Rate:

$120

Photo credit: Evan Schiller

Set near the Gulf of St. Lawrence on the Lake of Shining Waters and in the Greenwich Prince Edward Island National Park, Green Gables is just one of a couple times when Thompson got to work near (or on) the ocean, but unfortunately the oceanfront holes have since been lost.

What remains is an interesting mix of Thompson, Robinson, and McBroom’s heavy-hand, but nonetheless, chock full of quality. The routing itself is quite interesting: the front nine wraps around itself on some mildly undulating terrain, while the back wanders out to the Lake of Shining Waters before climaxing on the epic par 3, 16th, with Thompson’s own version of C.B. Macdonald’s fingerprint template.

To round out the strengths at Green Gables, it is one of the few golf courses to end on back-to-back gambling par 5’s.

42. Crimson Ridge

Sault St. Marie

12th in Ontario

Architect:

Kevin Holmes

Year Built:

2000

Max Rate:

$79

Photo credit: courtesy

One of two Northern Ontario golf courses to make the top 125, Crimson Ridge is small-time architect Kevin Holmes best work. The routing is set into the rocky hillside to the north of Sault Ste. Marie, which is immediately evident on the dramatic 1st tee shot playing directly downhill over the East Davignon Creek.

The golf course has a plethora of holes worth noting, including the 2nd, a bending par 5 that slings itself down the hillside, the gambling 8th, and the two short 4’s at the 9th and 11th. Those with a camera dare not leave it in its bag for the signature par 3, 17th.

With all that is positive about Crimson Ridge, perhaps the most impressive aspect is that the golfer begins their round and also finishes it on a downhill tee shot. Not only a compliment to the routing, but Kevin Holmes vision.

41. Copper Creek

Kleinburg

11th in Ontario

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2002

Max Rate:

$185

Photo credit: Carrick Design

Yet another Doug Carrick golf course in the GTA, although distinctively carrying its own identify separate from the trio at TPC and Eagles Nest (a compliment and highlight). Copper Creek’s routing initially takes us down into the East Humber River valley on the outward nine, before finishing in the flats above the valley on the inward nine.

We prefer the opening nine, where the short and clever 3rd entices the golfer, the 4th toboggans down the hillside, the narrow 5th offers reprieve from the width, and the par 3s at the 6th and 8th are equally engaging. The 12th and 15th are both interesting par 4s to highlight what makes Copper Creek great.

40. Northumberland Links

Pugwash

4th in Nova Scotia

Architect:

Robbie Robinson & Bill Robinson

Year Built:

1964 & 1988

Max Rate:

$75

Photo credit: courtesy

Set on a gorgeous site on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and down the road from the popular Fox Harb’r Resort, Northumberland Links benefits from affording of the Gulf (and PEI) on almost every hole.

While not a traditional Links, there are certainly elements Robbie & Bill tried to recapture, such as many low-lying greens, and of course the interaction with the coast. Although limited to “Lobster Pot,” the 204 yard par 3, 4th—an odd choice to come that early in the golf course—the interaction with the coast sticks in the golfers mind throughout the round.

Our panelists identified the 441 yard par 4, 16th, which is flanked by a creek up the entire left-hand side and works its way back towards the Gulf and PEI, as one of the better holes on property.

39. Bear Mountain

Langford

10th in British Columbia

Course:

Valley

Architect:

Steve Nicklaus for Nicklaus Design

Year Built:

2009

Max Rate:

$265

Photo credit: The Golfing Canuck

Sites as hilly and rocky as Bear Mountain’s valley course shouldn’t produce such great golf, and yet, Steve Nicklaus’ creative problem solving provides an exhilarating loop outside of Victoria.

The use of rocky outcroppings is sparsely seen in British Columbia (outside of maybe the Ridge at Predator Ridge), and draws more inspiration from the Canadian Shield of Northern Ontario. Paired with the elevation change of a mountain golf course and you get a rocky roller coaster of a golf course—in the most fun way possible.

The golf course climaxes on the long “S” shaped par 5, 15th hole, which climbs slightly back up against a pond left, but the par 3s are also particularly noteworthy throughout.

38. Lachute

Lachute

2nd in Quèbec

Course:

Thompson

Architect:

Albert Murray, Stanley Thompson

Year Built:

1923

Max Rate:

$60

Photo credit: courtesy

An unusual ensemble for Stanley Thompson, featuring six par 3’s, six par 4’s, and six par 5’s, Lachute stands out amongst his large catalog for that exact reason, and likewise a part of why Lachute is worthy of being amongst Canada’s Top 100.

The par 4 cast, while slightly thinner, is a strong grouping nonetheless. From the opening 460 yard brute, to the short 358 yard 12th, there is a bit of everything mixed in. A handful of par 5’s, including the gargantuan 3rd immediately followed by the short 4th, are particularly of interest.

Like a majority of Thompson golf courses, the one-shot holes are always good, and the same rings true at Lachute. Among the group, the 2nd, long 5th, and short 13th are the most enticing to our senses.

37. Friday Harbour

Innisfil

10th in Ontario

Architect:

Doug Carrick & Scott Vanderpleog

Year Built:

2018

Max Rate:

$190

Photo credit: Bringfido

The second-newest course on our list, and a great representation of Doug Carrick’s ability to change with the property, The Nest at Friday Harbour is mostly played in the manufactured rolling hills and then concludes in the forest.

The golf course attempts to base its style off the links land across the pond, but instead ends up being closer to what you might find in the TPC Network south of the border. Regardless of minor discrepancies, the rumpled terrain provides some excellent golf. The short 2nd, for example, cut above its surroundings and narrowing towards the back, is not only an exquisite par 3, but among the “first in class” short 3’s in Canada. The same could be said for the par 5, 7th, a gamble-inducing hole with bunkers seemingly eating into the fairway before ending at the base of the Friday Harbour lighthouse.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of Friday Harbour is the bunkering, which is directly cut into the fairways and seems to draw inspiration from the Melbourne Sandbelt.

36. Chateau Whistler

Whistler

9th in British Columbia

Architect:

Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Year Built:

1993

Max Rate:

$199

Photo credit: Golfpass

Perhaps more than any other golf course on this list, Chateau Whistler’s bracing start—highlighted by the ridiculous par 4, 3rd climbing up the mountainside—provides the most difficult opening four hole stretch on the top 100. Yet it’s once Robert Trent Jones Jr. transports us to the top of the mountain that we see the benefits. That is not to say, however, there is no difficult golf to be found coming home. The par 3, 8th, with a massive rock outcropping right and water left, is incredibly demanding, but the par 5’s on either side provide an interesting juxtaposition: the 7th slides downhill, while the short 9th climbs abruptly. The inward stretch of golf is much more friendly, working its way down the hillside back towards Whistler Village, but we are partial to the one-shot holes, which offer two distinctive looks at downhill par 3’s.

35. Terra Nova

Port Blandford

2nd in Newfoundland & Labrador

Course:

Twin Rivers

Architect:

Robbie Robinson & Doug Carrick

Year Built:

1981 & 1989

Max Rate:

$66.50

How many golf courses can lay claim to playing over an active waterfall? That’s the case at the par 3, 18th at Twin Rivers. A benefit of being in the lesser-populated Newfoundland & Labrador allows the golf course to interact with nature more than perhaps any other layout on the list.

There is some tranquility taken away from the Trans-Canada Highway running through the middle of the layout starting at the 6th, yet the golf course continues to provide notable features. Indeed, one would be hard-pressed to find another golf course other than Cypress Point that features back-to-back par 3’s and par 5’s—the 11th & 12th beautifully spread apart at 157 and 243 yards, while the 15th/16th offer chances to make up strokes at 510 and 543 yards respectively.

Those who make the 2-hour drive must avoid “Mary, Joseph, and Jesus,” a group of three bunkers near the 16th green that can wreck a scorecard.

34. Stewart Creek

Canmore

9th in Alberta

Architect:

Gary Browning

Year Built:

2000

Max Rate:

$235

Photo credit: Breaking Eighty

Following in the footsteps of golf’s great architects like Stanley Thompson and Robert Trent Jones Sr.—who each built courses nearby—is never an easy feat, but that reputation is even harder to live up to when it is in the Canadian Rockies. Calgarian architect Gary Browning managed to rise to the occasion with his magnum opus.

Holes such as the par 5, 6th, with its incredibly canted fairway bleeding into a split upper/lower layup area, have a one up on the flatter golf courses in the valley, while the 11th, with its centre-line tree, and the ability to play left or right, is unique in its own way. The opening par 4 is among the single best ways to start a round of golf in the Great White North.

33. Redwood Meadows

Redwood Meadows

8th in Alberta

Architect:

Stan Leonard & Phillip Tattersfield

Year Built:

1976

Max Rate:

$99.75

Photo credit: courtesy

Owned and operated by Tsuu T’ina Nation, Redwood Meadows is hewn through the pines and foothills of southern Alberta. The golf course is most noted for the consistency of the golf without any major offences or quirks, while the personality of the routing comes from the contrast between the forested hills on the front nine and the interaction with Bragg Creek on the back nine. In particular, the golf course concludes with a brutish pair of holes that make for an unforgettable finish starting at the 614 yard par 5, 17th—a three shot hole for all but the longest of hitters.  The finishing long two shotter, maxing out at 14 yards under 500, with bunkers on the left guard the best angle to the green, is a classic finish that leaves a good, yet stern taste in one’s mouth.

We submitted our ballots before any of us could lay eyes on Gary Browning’s work, but we hope the renovation has only added some shine to this unassuming golf course. -Ben Malach

32. Kananaskis

Kananaskis

7th in Alberta

Course:

Mount Kidd

Architect:

Robert Trent Jones Sr., Gary Browning

Year Built:

1983

Max Rate:

$144

Photo credit: courtesy

Following the devastating floods in 2013, Kananaskis was completely washed away, and as a result, its pair of Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf courses were gone. Thankfully, the provincial government was keen on restoring what had been lost, and controversially, local architect Gary Browning was selected to handle the job. Browning’s work mostly brought back what had been lost, but softened many of Trent Jones’ features for the sake of playability (something RTJ Sr. was not particularly known for).

Fans of the old layout will remember the excellent stretch of golf starting at the par 4, 3rd, until the wild par 5, 6th, as the routing prances its way between the Kananaskis River and an assortment of small creeks. The golf course closes on a long, risk-reward par 5, where matches can be won or lost with a variety of shots.

31. Talking Rock

Chase

8th in British Columbia

Architect:

Graham Cooke & Wayne Carleton

Year Built:

2007

Max Rate:

$90

Photo credit: courtesy

A routing from Les Furber and a golf course from Graham Cooke and Wayne Carleton is not only a unique collaboration, it is the only original project they both worked on. And yet, Talking Rock provides such a fun joyride through the mountains of the Interior, we almost wish there were more opportunities for future projects.

The golf course itself has fallen victim to the more intensive marketing schemes of other golf courses in the nearby resort towns of Kelowna and Kamloops, to the point where Talking Rock flies way under the radar. Similarly, the town of Chase is like the golf course: subdued, yet pleasant; almost hidden to anyone who has not been, but a favourite among those who have.

The closing four holes provide one of the most rambunctious third acts of any golf course our panel has seen… in the most exciting way possible.

30. Whitewater

Thunder Bay

9th in Ontario

Architect:

Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

2005

Max Rate:

$90

Photo credit: Visit Northwestern Ontario

Perhaps separation from most of McBroom’s catalog in the Muskokas and the Greater Toronto Area helps provide a more clear outlook on Whitewater, but there is no denying the quality of golf he left on the shores of the Kaministiquia River. The routing brings the golfer to the river twice: once on the front nine for the demanding par 4, 4th, and again using the river as the backdrop for the par 3, 13th. While most will remember the interactions with the water, the 2nd, 6th, and 15th all provide inspiring inland holes that keep the golfer engaged.

What is perhaps most striking about this northern Ontario golf course is McBroom’s bunker style, which is somewhere between Tobiano’s and Öviinbyrd’s in terms of how dramatic it is. Yet, the balance between those two extremes, and the added artistry in what shapes, patterns, and groupings he chose, make them, as a set, not only among the best in his own catalog, but in Canada.

29. Dakota Dunes

Whitecap

2nd in Saskatchewan

Architect:

Graham Cooke & Wayne Carleton

Year Built:

2004

Max Rate:

$72

Photo credit: Saskgolfer

In a country dominated by the Canadian Shield and the Boreal Forest, sandy soils ideal for golf are difficult to come across. Thanks to a surplus in Saskatchewan, Dakota Dunes has the privilege of grounds ideal for golf, and as such, the golf ended up being of quality.

Astutely, our panelists were fond of the strong set of par 4’s: the tumbling long par 4, 4th through the pseudo dunescape; the blind 5th; the maze of bunkers at the 8th; the demanding 12th; and the gambling, drive and pitch 13th are all incredibly diverse.

Interestingly, the course ends on a 3-5-3-5 finish, highlighted by the signature drop shot 15th and a massive blowout bunker behind the 18th green.

28. Big Sky

Pemberton

7th in British Columbia

Architect:

Bob Cupp & John Fought

Year Built:

1993

Max Rate:

$169

Photo credit: Whistler Wired

As opposed to other British Columbian courses, which most commonly dance up in the mountains on rather hilly terrain, Big Sky sits at the base of Mount Currie in the marshy flatland below. As a result, comparisons to the Low Country in South Carolina or Florida are apt, though sitting in the base of a beautiful mountain range certainly provides a pretty spectacular setting.

Given how flat the property is, the talented duo of Bob Cupp and John Fought relied on their green complexes to shine. For example, the 5th, a short par 3, is a devilish little one shot hole on the banks of the Green River with rolled edges surrounding the green. The 8th has a wonderful kicker slope over the bunker short, while the 16th repels balls off the left (with water right). Isn’t it impressive what two great architects can do with a flat site?

27. Waterton Lakes

Waterton National Park

6th in Alberta

Architect:

Bill Thomson, Stanley Thompson

Year Built:

1929

Max Rate:

$59

Photo credit: Toronto Golf Nuts

Perhaps the most shocking inclusion if one has not been to Waterton Lakes, it can be difficult to describe what makes this windswept layout such a joy to play. Indeed, the saying “if you know, you know” applies to Waterton Lakes in the purest sense. The joys of playing in the mountains of southwest Alberta—practically in Montana—cannot be understated, but the rambunctious nature of the layout gives way for the most entertainment. In just the four opening holes, the golfer is met with two drivable par 4’s (one of which plays to a Dell style green) and a long, blind par 3. From there, it is easy to see how this layout, winding its way around the meadows and the forested property high above the valley, is different.

If there is one takeaway from Waterton Lakes, it is that golf is supposed to be fun. Gambling, addictive golf courses like this should be celebrated.

26. TPC Toronto

Caledon

8th in Ontario

Course:

North

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2001

Max Rate:

$125

Photo credit: SCOREGolf

The north course at the very popular Osprey Valley facility is almost overwhelming, where the theme is big, and then even bigger in the scale of the fairway width, bunkering, and greens. Given the sheer size of the golf course, a lesser architect might lose the plot or perhaps built golf holes devoid of strategy, yet Doug Carrick’s work here is almost textbook in how it uses lines of play, angles, and concepts.

Holes like the par 5, 13th, with its heavily canted fairway to the right demonstrate this perfectly, or the long par 4, 2nd, with bunkering cut into the hillside left and the green accepting shots better from (you guessed it), the left. The best golf comes when the land talks, as it does on the blind tee shot over a ridge at the 16th, or the gentle drop to the par 3, 14th, said to be inspired by Alister Mackenzie’s Royal Melbourne.

25. Cobble Beach

Kemble

7th in Ontario

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

1999

Max Rate:

$199

If a golf course has an “Eden” and a “Redan” template, one would likely think it’s a C.B. Macdonald or a Seth Raynor. And yet, Cobble Beach is a Doug Carrick design with both. The “Redan” par 3, 8th and “Eden” par 3, 17th are of course notable golf holes that stand out amongst the crowd, but many of the holes that play away from the Georgina Bay are charismatic as well.

The 7th, tumbling down towards the Bay and cresting over the hill, is a beautiful par 5 entrenched in its surroundings. Likewise for the long par 4, 13th, which also works its way back down towards the Bay and crosses a ravine. As expected on a Carrick, the green complexes are good, if a rather subdued to match with the pseudo-links style of Cobble Beach.

24. Ridge at Manitou

McKellar

6th in Ontario

Architect:

Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

2005

Max Rate:

$106

The Ridge at Manitou is much more reserved than earlier McBroom efforts, but the little more dramatic terrain posed a difficult routing question. As a result, the routing is much more if a wandering soul, working its way through the rocky, swampy terrain.

The par 5’s are something of an anomaly with five total, but rarely do golf courses have such a good collection of three-shot holes. The 1st, playing through a rocky outcroppings, and the par 5, 18th tumbling towards Manitouwabing Lake bookend the golf course brilliantly, while the 10th covers some of the more undulating terrain in 578 yards.

Of the collection of par 4’s, the drivable 2nd and long, rolling par 4, 8th seem to be the most common standouts amongst our contributors.

23. Tower Ranch

Kelowna

5th in British Columbia

Architect:

Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

2008

Max Rate:

$159

Many of the modern golf courses in the Okanagan Valley are draped over the hillside high above the flatter valley bottoms, but the majority are poorly executed and unsuitable for golf. That may have applied to Tower Ranch had Thomas McBroom not found flatter portions of the mountainous terrain to route golf holes on.

The peculiar choice to route the initial three holes directly down the slope is unique, but the routing benefits from it by allowing golfers to ease into the round. Most of the middle portion of the golf course climbs uphill, best highlighted by the long par 4, 6th, and short uphill 11th, which then sets up the drama coming home.

The two tee shots on the 13th and 15th play across a canyon and are certainly dramatic, but we tend to be partial to the par 3, 12th with an attractive bunkering scheme, and the par 5, 17th which side-winds its way to an infinity green. The par 4, 18th, playing around a bunker reminiscent of the Himalayas bunker at St. Enodoc, is a great way to end a thrilling round of golf.

22. Waskesiu

Waskesiu Lake

1st in Saskatchewan

Architect:

J.K. Atkinson, Stanley Thompson

Year Built:

1935

Max Rate:

$77

Golf in the British Isles feels as if they just laid a blanket of grass over the rumbled, sandy terrain and enjoyed playing over the natural contours. Sans the sandy base, Waskesiu provides the same excitement—a true rarity in Canada. In fact, it would be difficult to find a golf course that ties into its surroundings better than Waskeiu as it so elegantly dances in Prince Albert National Park.

Whether Stanley Thompson actually contributed to the design remains contested to this day, but if he did, a handful of holes would fit right in with some of his best. For example, the dramatic short par 4, 11th plays up and over a ridge before falling sharply downhill to a green cut on grade. For most, a wedge awaits, but the green’s severity insists that the ball must land short.

If one is not a fan of rumbuctious terrain, blind shots, fun, drama, and of course, good golf, they must avoid Waskesiu, but to our liking, it fits right at home on a Top 100 list.

21. Grand-Mére

Shawinigan

1st in Québec

Architect:

Albert Murray, Walter Travis, C.H. Alison

Year Built:

1917 & 1922

Max Rate:

$45

The duo of Hugh Alison and Walter Travis are not exactly likely to turn up in Shawinigan, Quebec, but given its placement on our list, Canada is lucky that they did. In fact, their collaboration here is among the few properties that they both touched, including Milwaukee, Sea Island, and oh, Pine Valley.

Walter Travis was the first to lay hands on this originally Albert Murray designed golf course, and when Alison showed up five years later, he had to figure out a way to interweave Travis’ seemingly polar opposite style with his. What remains is a master class in compression and release: Travis’ fierce style opens the golf course with the first five bruisingly introducing the golfer to Grand-Mere, before Alison offers a reprieve at the 6th. Travis is back from the 9th & 10th before Alison brings us home starting at the 11th.

Of the notable highlights, the 4th is among the best short fours in the country, while the stretch from 13 through 17 seems to draw inspiration from Alison’s time at Pine Valley.

20. Tarandowah

Springfield

5th in Ontario

Architect:

Martin Hawtree

Year Built:

2007

Max Rate:

$70

A pseudo-links experience in the rolling hills near London, Tarandowah is rightfully coined “Tarandowah Golfers Club.”

The rugged nature of the golf course is accredited to Dr. Martin Hawtree, who brought his consulting and design experience from many storied Irish and Scottish links courses to this rural Ontario farmland. As expected, many trademark links characteristics can be found here. Small, distinctly difficult pot bunkers coupled with firm fairways and whipping fescue in the wind would grant an exemption for anyone who thinks they’re in the United Kingdom.

Some of the best moments occur when the landscape appears to trick the eye, such as the par 3, 3rd, tucked behind a small ridge, the par 5, 15th, which seemingly goes on forever, or the slew of bunkers on the final hole. Upon repeat visits, one realizes the secrets in the dirt are part of the charm of Tarandowah. -Alex Hunter

19. Wolf Creek

Ponoka

5th in Alberta

Course:

Old

Architect:

Rod Whitman

Year Built:

1987

Max Rate:

$90

Canada never got a Pete Dye design in his illustrious career, but if he ever ventured north, Wolf Creek’s Old course helps us visualize what it might have looked like. In truth, Rod Whitman built the Old during his tenure under Mr. Dye, and a result, small, heavily-contoured greens and railway ties define the Old.

Granted, the benefits of such a captivating golf course are far bigger than Mr. Dye’s shadow. Rod’s own perspective on golf architecture is evident. The golf course effortlessly balances the two landscapes by weaving its way in between: the open, links-inspired landscape on the 1st-3rd, 5th-10th, 15th, 17th-18th, and the tight tree lined golf holes at the 4th, 11th-13rd, and 16th. Among the many standout holes, the par 5, 5th playing over a ravine, the demanding par 4, 9th, and the short par 5, 11th stand tall in Rod Whitman’s impressive body of work.

18. TPC Toronto

Caledon

4th in Ontario

Course:

Heathlands

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

1991

Max Rate:

$125

A longtime favourite of many, the Heathlands is oldest of the trio of Doug Carrick designs at this highly popular public facility about forty-five minutes north of Toronto, in Caledon. Big, brawny, and difficult, the set of par 4s here is particularly strong, with the strategic 2^nd featuring a cleverly placed fairway bunker that must be contended with in order to gain a view of the green, the downhill 3rd with a perched green featuring a troublesome false front, the sweeping 15th with a green guarded by sprawling bunker short and to the left, and the low-lying 13th being most noteworthy. 

What elevates the Heathlands to the upper echelon of Carrick’s catalogue, however, are the putting surfaces, which are among the most undulating, devilish, and interesting he has produced, the kind we wish he had not omitted to build on most of his later courses. 

Common criticism has centred primarily on the out-of-place holding pond that guards the greens of both the par 5, 9th and the dramatic drop-shot 10th, and our contributors agree that it interrupts the flow and feel of the course, though the holes, themselves, are not weak. A minor criticism in the grand-scale of what’s good at this fan favourite.

17. Crowbush Cove

Morell

1st in Prince Edward Island

Architect:

Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

1994

Max Rate:

$125

Few architects get the opportunity to truly work seaside, and that in itself is an advantage over its contemporaries, but Crowbush gets the privilege to fly the flag for Thomas McBroom.

Weirdly enough, Crowbush is a bit like The Ocean Course at Kiawah in that it plays by the sea, but the interactions with the ocean are fleeting. In fact, only the 8th and 16th play directly by the ocean, but the ocean is not in play or even directly a factor.

Instead, the golfer feels the effect of the ocean with the coastal winds, putting a heavy-toll on the golfer’s ball-striking. Forced carries become difficult around the swampy hazards like the 11th, while even the shorter holes like the par 3, 17th, playing to the top of a knob fully exposed to the wind, become much more difficult.

Such limitations of an Oceanside property with limited coastline require an out-of-the-box approach, but McBroom was up to the task and Crowbush Cove remains one of Canada’s great places for a round of golf.

16. Eagles Nest

Maple

3rd in Ontario

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2004

Max Rate:

$220

Admittedly, Eagles Nest is a bit of an odd golf course. So much so that there are a few different styles of bunkers, large hummocks built from fill and excess materials, and a mix between some hilly parkland and faux-links holes. For this reason, Eagles Nest is a bit polarizing, not only among our panel but the public too.

Even with different bunker styles scattered throughout, we would argue that the mix between sod wall bunkers and massive blow out bunkers is tastefully done. When a bunker is built into the faux-dunes or stadium mounds, it’s a blowout style ; anywhere else, and it’s a revetted pot bunker. An underrated part of Eagles Nest is the journey, which beautifully meanders through the various landscapes to produce one of Canada’s most interesting modern layouts.

15. TPC Toronto

Caledon

2nd in Ontario

Course:

Hoot

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2001

Max Rate:

$225

“Hoot” feels like a mix between No. 26 North and No. 18 Heathlands, blending the strategic elements of the Heathlands with the scale of the North. As a result, Hoot remains the king of the fan-favourite TPC facility.

The actual ethos of the course lies in the sandy waste areas scattered throughout that direct traffic, and the tall pines that control the vibe. Holes such as the par 4, 3rd and par 4, 7th meander through the topography with bunkers seemingly at the perfect angles in order to affect the ideal lines into the greens. Sharp doglegs like at the 5th, 6th, and the 12th tempt golfers to take the aggressive line to gain an advantage over their playing partners.

In truth, the Hoot is one of the countries great match play courses, capped off by the risk-reward drivable par 4, 17th split by a water hazard in the middle.

14. Mickelson National

Springbank

4th in Alberta

Architect:

Rick Smith for Phil Mickelson Design

Year Built:

2019

Max Rate:

$130

Canada does not have a surplus of massive stadium-style golf courses, but Mickelson National is not only the newest of the bunch, but the best also.

Minimalists potentially will scoff at literally sculpting a golf course out of the prairie land, a valid criticism, but what Rick Smith, with input from Phil Mickelson, built here is full of strategy. The drivable 7th, for example, is better attacked from the upper left fairway, even though it’s much skinnier. The 10th and 11th elect centreline bunkers to direct traffic, while mounding allows bunkering on the outside edges of holes like the 2nd and 15th steer the golfer down the middle.

13. Wolf Creek

Ponoka

3rd in Alberta

Course:

Links

Architect:

Rod Whitman

Year Built:

1992 & 2012

Max Rate:

$90

It is hard to imagine a better suited site for golf than that of Wolf Creek’s Links course, which meanders gently through wooded forest before emerging into the vast expansiveness of the sandy prairie landscape for the back nine. On the front nine, Whitman’s style is consistent with No. 56 Wolf Creek’s Old course. Small, wickedly contoured green complexes and devilish angles (such as the par 4, 3rd) are eventually replaced for a modern rendition of Whitman’s work that is closer to Blackhawk, Sagebrush, and Cabot Links on the back nine.

We prefer the back nine, featuring a collection of some of Mr. Whitman’s best holes. The matching par 5’s at the 11th and 15th both play around a shared “Hell’s Full Acre” sandy waste area, while the 13th, titled “Kansas,” rises to a green tucked up on the hillside to the left, while the fairway sits below on the right. In truth, those looking to learn about Rod Whitman’s progression as an architect might find the most interesting case study at Links.

12. Algonquin

St. Andrews by-the-sea

1st in New Brunswick

Architect:

Donald Ross, Thomas McBroom, Rod Whitman & Keith Cutten

Year Built:

1922

Max Rate:

$140

Following Thomas McBroom’s work in the 1990s, virtually all of Donald Ross’ 27 holes no longer existed. Some for the better—the addition of the par 3, 12th—but the resort had to stay competitive in an increasingly difficult market thanks to Cabot Cape Breton. The natural reaction? Hire the firm responsible for Cabot Links. Rod Whitman and then-associate (now partner) Keith Cutten came in and renovated the Thomas McBroom holes in the style of Ross.

The creation of the new 10th, a quasi-redan infinity green overlooking the Passamaquoddy Bay and the rock & rollin’ par 5, 11th are by far the best golf holes on property.Fans of the old layout will find comfort knowing that the par 3, 12th remains, just improved, and that the short par 5, 13th continues to impress.

11. Tobiano

Kamloops

4th in British Columbia

Architect:

Thomas McBroom

Year Built:

2006

Max Rate:

$140

It is said that Thomas McBroom found 200 possible ways to route Tobiano, which trots its way around land that makes you feel like you’re playing golf on Mars and not the Interior British Columbia. If that’s true, we’re happy to see that holes like the 6th and 14th mde it, both of which stand tall amongst McBroom’s best par 4’s.

Much of the golf course interacts with the unpredictable desert-ish topography. For example, the 6th, playing to an island green on a plateau high above the sagebrush and fescue, is not only terrifying, but downright mean in the wind. Holes like the par 5, 13th play around a canyon and take full advantage of the surroundings, but provide a stark warning: bring your A-game for Tobiano.

10. Predator Ridge

Vernon

3rd in British Columbia

Course:

Ridge

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2009

Max Rate:

$225

When Doug Carrick got the job for “Ridge,” there were already 27 holes from Les Furber on property that people liked (18 of the holes now comprise No. 119 Predator course). The property was far more dramatic, but parts of the original golf course had to be sacrificed. Today, those holes are the 1st, 2nd, 15th-18th, while everything else is a new property.

There are elements of the Ridge that are as dramatic as No. 8 Greywolf, such as the par 3, 5th or par 4, 6th playing over a massive rock outcropping. The 9th, playing through numerous rock outcroppings, would not be out of place in the Muskokas.

Like most places in this tier of courses, the macro-features are obviously impressive, but the micro ones are what really make the golf course memorable. The set of greens here, and in particular, the surrounding run-offs, kicker slopes and tie-ins, are among Carrick’s best.

9. Humber Valley

Deer Lake

1st in Newfoundland

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2007

Max Rate:

$85

There’s destination golf, and then there’s Humber Valley, situated on the west side of Newfoundland. In order to get here, one must either drive the 6 hours from St. Johns, or fly into Deer Valley.

At 9th in Canada, we would venture to claim that it is worth the journey. The golf course itself interacts with the Humber River twice, transporting the golfer along it once on the front nine (par 3, 5th), and then for the climax of the back nine at the 14th and 15th.

There’s a shocking amount of elevation change (as evident by the photo of the par 4, 10th, above) that Doug Carrick managed to take full advantage of.

8. Greywolf

Panorama

2nd in British Columbia

Architect:

Doug Carrick

Year Built:

2000

Max Rate:

$179

We get it, mountain golf is extremely hit-or-miss. Thankfully, Greywolf is the genre’s absolute best. Doug Carrick’s decision to route the opening three holes directly uphill benefits the pacing down the road as most of the golf course, minus the 14th and 18th, plays downhill.

Most assume Greywolf is a one trick pony, and in some respects, you could argue that is true. It’s more of a compliment to the par 3, 6th, aptly titled “Cliffhanger,” which rivals only the 4th at Banff Springs and the 16th at Cabot Cliffs. But the supporting cast is not to be messed with here. The uphill par 5, 3rd is an impressive three-shot hole up the mountain, while the downhill par 5, 5th might be a better hole than the following hole. The back nine keeps up the momentum with a good finishing stretch, minus the anti-climatic par 4 closing hole.

7. Muskoka Bay

Gravenhurst

1st in Ontario

Architect:

Doug Carrick & Ian Andrew

Year Built:

2007

Max Rate:

$239

In terms of the hardest golf course in Canada, Muskoka Bay is at the very least in the discussion. The swampy and rocky elements of the property merge to provide a thrilling ride.

Often forgotten in all the flashiness and drama of the layout is the set of greens, which are a highlight in Doug Carrick’s catalog thanks to then-associate Ian Andrew’s creativity. Some greens fall away from the golfer in the front, while others sit high atop hillsides and fall off on three sides. For fans of Ian Andrew, the redan green on the 6th will feel familiar, but the small details (such as the greens) are what really separate Muskoka Bay from the rest of Doug’s catalogue.

6. Sagebrush

Quilchena

1st in British Columbia

Architect:

Rod Whitman, Richard Zokol & Armen Suny

Year Built:

2007

Max Rate:

$285

After being closed since 2014, Sagebrush made a triumphant return to the golf scene in the summer of 2021. The golf is way too good here to be abandoned, with individuality at every turn. The two greens at the 7th and 16th are the biggest outside of Old Macdonald (Bandon), and the shared fairway at the 11th and 14th is a whopping 150 yards wide.

Aside from the memento highlights, there are some all-world golf holes scattered around these rocky hillsides. The up and over 2nd, with the Nicola Lake in the background is exhilarating, the 5th, where you can putt from the fairway is unique, and the bunker-less 8th is a roller coaster. The short 12th is said to be inspired by Pine Valley, and the shelf par 4, 15th is quirky and fun.

As an added interest, Sagebrush is a bit of a “who’s who” in the Canadian architecture scene, with Jeff Mingay, Keith Cutten, Riley Johns, and Trev Dormer all having provided a hand at one point or another to the original trio of architects.

5. Banff Springs

Banff

2nd in Alberta

Course:

Stanley Thompson 18

Architect:

Stanley Thompson, Robert Trent Jones Sr., Les Furber

Year Built:

1927

Max Rate:

$265

Nearby Jasper Park Lodge was Stanley Thompson’s first great golf course, but Banff Springs was what propelled him into being Canada’s first megastar in the architecture world.

The par 3’s are excellent: the combination of the long 10th, playing over the Bow River and the narrowing 13th’s ying to the short 2nd and 8th’s yang. The heavyweight is the famous Devil’s Cauldron at the 4th, where ther golfer places over a glacier inlet to a semi-punchbowl style green.

Aside from the usual Thompson par 3 standouts, his bunkering style, which cuts into landing areas on diagonals, is a strategic marvel and got the most out of a relatively flat piece of ground at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

Originally, Banff Springs used to start at the Fairmont Banff Springs over Spray River at the 15th and conclude alongside the Bow River at the base of the hotel at what is the 14th, but a routing switch in the 80s messed with the flow of what once was one of the great out & back routings in golf. Regardless of the current state, Banff continues to be one of Canada’s best and worthy of holding a spot in our top 10.

4. Cape Breton Highlands

Ingonish

3rd in Nova Scotia

Architect:

Stanley Thompson, Ian Andrew

Year Built:

1941

Max Rate:

$180

Designed by Stanley Thompson in 1939, Highland Links was and remains one of the world’s best-routed layouts. In fact, one could claim that a sample of nearly all of the foremost types of Canadian golf can be found among the eighteen here: holes across rumpled, quasi-links land; holes featuring ocean vistas; holes traversing mountainous terrain; holes along a low-lying riverbed; and holes of the more traditional parkland kind. Its variety is its strength, and, despite the large acreage which it covers, the golf course never feels disjointed nor sequestered, the truest testament to Thompson’s brilliance.

Unfortunately, in recent years much of the discussion about the course, which is owned by Parks Canada, has focused on its poor-conditioning, lack of drainage, and sylvan overgrowth, as well as the unfortunate and out of place remnants of the renovation done by Graham Cooke’s firm in the mid-1990s. Thankfully, Ian Andrew was hired to nurse the course back to health following the extensive damage it sustained from Hurricanes Earl and Igor in 2010, and since, he has managed to recover much of brilliance and uniqueness that had been lost to neglect over the years. At the time of publication, the conditioning may not yet be quite up to the standard most would expect from a course repeatedly ranked among the world’s 100 best, and there still remains some overgrowth to clear; however, such imperfections are merely minor bothers among the surrounding brilliance of one of the world’s true golden age gems.

3. Cabot Links

Inverness

2nd in Nova Scotia

Architect:

Rod Whitman

Year Built:

2012

Max Rate:

$475

Set between the bucolic town of Inverness, Nova Scotia, and the Gulf
of St-Lawrence on a perched strip of land that was formerly a coal mine, Cabot Links, a 2012 Rod Whitman design, is one of the few authentic links in North America, and it certainly lives up to the then hitherto unheard of hype it generated prior to opening for a Canadian project throughout the golf world.

A veteran architect and shaper who has worked for some of the best-known modern firms, Whitman’s dexterity at blending the work of
nature with the craft of hand and machine means that it is nearly
impossible to determine the great effort and time that were needed –
both from him and from Ben Cowan-Dewar, the visionary and owner of the project—to transform the scarred and ruined property into the natural-looking, rumpled, varied, and thought-provoking end product.

From the strategic and quasi-drivable 3rd, to the 500 yard cape-style 5th bending around the harbour of the town, to the thrilling up-and-over 10th going straight out at Gulf, to the cliff-hugging 15th and 16th , the set of par 4s here is among, if not the best in Canada. Furthermore, the crisp fescue, coupled with the ever-present coastal wind, necessitates the use of the ground game and emphasizes Whitman’s astute contouring of the greens, which, as a whole, are also among the exceptional in the country.

2. Jasper Park Lodge

Jasper

1st in Alberta

Architect:

Stanley Thompson

Year Built:

1924

Max Rate:

$249

Among the admirers of Jasper Park Lodge, Stanley Thompson can rest proudly knowing Alister Mackenzie, George Thomas, and Tom Doak enjoy the first of the “Thompson Five.”

The golf course journeys around this mountain landscape, providing an ebb & flow unlike anything else in Canada. The card-wreckers come often at the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th, 15th, but mixed in are legitimate birdie opportunities for most golfers at the 2nd, 5th, and 10th. To a keen eye, one notices most of the card wreckers are Thompson’s par 3’s, while the par 5’s pair to make a plethora of “half par” holes for maximum enjoyment.

The golf course climaxes on Lac Beauvert, where the “Bad Baby” par 3, 15th is sandwiched by two world-class par 4’s before climbing out of the valley to end on what Dr. Mackenzie called “the best finish in the world of golf.”

1. Cabot Cliffs

Inverness

1st in Nova Scotia

Architect:

Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw

Year Built:

2016

Max Rate:

$475

Much was expected of the second course at the resort thanks to Coore’s and Crenshaw’s involvement—their first project in Canada—as well as the pictures that widely circulated of the now world-famous 16^th green site and the heroic, diagonal cliff hugging tee shot on the 17^th.  As evidenced by its immediate ascension to the top of nearly every ranking of Canadian golf courses, the American duo delivered on the promise, weaving the layout— featuring six par 3s, 4s, and 5s—around the tremendously diverse and rolling property of marsh, wetland, forest, and links-land along the Gulf. 

Holes such as the plugging and uber-wide 2^nd, the punch-bowl 6^th with a unique front to back tiered green, the up and over par 5 15^th, and, of course, those perched along the cliff immediately catch the eye; however, it is the more subtle, and often unexpected, architectural details and the clever shaping work—particularly the bunkering and the green complexes—that elevate the course from a collection of great holes to a truly cohesive, consistently wonderful whole.