With its rigid mountain ranges, sparkling seashore, and fragrant forests, Western Canada is a spectacularly scenic place to golf. Discover these five incredible must-play courses.
1. Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club, British Columbia
Just minutes away from the picturesque city of Victoria (British Columbia’s capital) on Vancouver Island, you can tee off year round at Mountain Course, part of the Bear Mountain Golf and Country Club. This 18-hole stunner is positioned at the base of 1,100-foot Mt. Finlayson, surrounded by jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean. Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve co-designed the course, which offers significant elevation changes to challenge your golf game.
Stay: Spend the night in luxury at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, a seaside sanctuary where you can enjoy a soothing soak in the heated mineral pools perched on the edge of the ocean.
Eat: At Marina Restaurant in Oak Bay, dine on locally sourced sustainable seafood while taking in waterfront views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and massive Mt. Baker beyond.
2. Furry Creek Golf and Country Club, British Columbia
Traveling the gorgeous Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) that traces Howe Sound, North America’s southernmost fjord, makes the journey to Furry Creek Golf and Country Club an epic adventure alone. Situated in a secluded village between Vancouver and Whistler, the celebrated course, which rises 350 feet above sea level, has just gotten better thanks to a recent upgrade to its fairways and clubhouse. You can still, “hit into the unknown” on Hole 1, called the Drop Zone for its 165-foot plunge to the fairway below.
Stay: Continue your outdoor adventure by heading north to Whistler and staying at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler, an intimate mountain lodge where guestrooms feature cozy touches like fireplaces and balconies.
Eat: Get a taste of farm-to-table cuisine at award-winning Araxi restaurant in Whistler, which serves elegant dishes such as wild B.C. sablefish and handmade pasta crowned with local mushrooms.
3. Greywolf Golf Course, British Columbia
Inhale a lungful of fresh alpine air before teeing off at Greywolf Golf Course, a pristine spot situated amid Panorama Mountain Resort in B.C.’s Kootenays region. The handiwork of Canadian architect Doug Carrick features challenging layouts of holes like its signature, the notorious Cliffhanger, which has earned this course accolades as one of the top places to play in golf in Canada and beyond.
Stay: Book a night (or two) at Copper Point Resort, one of Invermere’s premier upscale hotels, and spend your downtime relaxing in one of the pools or hot tubs, before curling up beside your in-room fireplace for the evening.
Eat: After a round of 18-holes, you won’t have to go far to enjoy a good meal with breathtaking views. Located in the clubhouse, Cliffhanger Restaurant serves up contemporary Canadian cuisine including Prince Edward Island mussels, prime AAA Alberta beef, and fresh BC fish.
4. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club, Alberta
When tackling the wide fairways at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club, ponder this award-winning golf course’s fascinating backstory. It took 200 men and 50 teams of horses more than a year to carve this course out of Alberta’s rugged landscape. Designed by Stanley Thompson, Canada’s master golf course architect, the 18-hole course opened in 1925 and has consistently notched top rankings as Canada’s — and North America’s — best golf resorts.
Stay: Indulge in regal splendour by staying at the iconic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge overlooking the shimmering waters of Lac Beauvert.
Eat: Dine on fine Canadian cuisine at Tekarra Restaurant, a romantic cabin the woods that has been serving decadent dishes such as wild boar since it opened in 1952.
5. Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club, Alberta
Golf may be a serious game but there’s plenty of playfulness at Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club in the charming town of Canmore, a 25-minute drive from Banff. This modern 18-hole course was designed on the site of an abandoned mine by Alberta golf architect Gary Browning. While you can see remnants of the course history, the environmental approach to designing the course has qualified it as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
Stay: Take a dip in the outdoor pool surrounded by the majesty of Canmore’s iconic Three Sisters mountain range before luxuriating in your modern suite at the Malcolm Hotel.
Eat: Indulge in the seven-course “Enjoy a Hike” tasting menu at The Sensory, an expression of “foraging and feasting” inspired by Canmore’s natural scenery.
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