(Southern Alberta Golf Swing

Many golfers would say that the setting, the beauty of the landscape as a whole, plays a pivotal role in the enjoyment of the game. Play a round on some cramped, condo-lined course in an urban setting and the experience is bound to be diminished. But if you’re out there in the rolling hills, if you’re smashing balls against snow-dipped mountains or golden river valleys, everything is elevated. You’ve got something to remember. And this is why golf in southern Alberta is so special.

Without a doubt, the rural ways - the agriculture, the smalltown charms, the down-to-earth way of life - is central to Southern Alberta. It’s noticeable everywhere you go. The golf course included.

Rest assured you won’t find many $200 green fees in southern Alberta. (In Banff or Canmore you might, but that’s a different ball game!) You won’t find stringent dress codes, valet parking, and caddy programs. What you will find are dozens of scenic, unpretentious courses that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to play. Courses that you will, most definitely, find memorable!

Of course, given there are dozens of excellent courses in the region, it’s certainly not always easy to decide where to play. Not a bad problem to have! So, unless you have a free month for an extended golf junket, you won’t be able to play them all. My advice? Start with these.

Speargrass Golf Course, Carseland

Parading beside the rolling wheat fields right before the riveting finishing run along the heaving banks of the Bow River, Speargrass is a prairie links of the finest order. But, more than that, it epitomizes what golf in southern Alberta is all about. Even though there are some set-back homes in the development, a wide-open aura prevails. There are mountains in the distance. The undulating fairways roll along like the wheat fields. And the dramatic landforms along the banks of the river punctuate the experience. To top it off, the architect of the course, Gary Browning, fashioned a variety-filled layout bolstered by huge greens, wide fairways (expect some wind!), massive bunkers, and plenty of heroic shot options. Course conditions are always superb here. And, for the good player who drives it well, there are birdies and eagles to be had. Especially if you get the course on a calm day!

Crowsnest Pass Golf Club

Not surprisingly, as the newest mountain golf course in the country, the Crowsnest Pass Golf Club has received plenty of hype since it opened in 2019. And it’s certainly justified! The brand new back nine, which was designed by Gary Browning, is mountain golf at its finest. Combined with a beautiful new clubhouse (now located up the hill and off the highway) that has majestic mountain views, the golf experience at Crowsnest Pass has suddenly vaulted into the upper tier in the province. During your scenic round, expect beautiful downhill holes, gorgeous ponds that reflect the snow-capped peaks, a number of short, strategic par-4s, and the desire to do it all over again the moment you step off the 18th green.

McKenzie Meadows Golf Course, Calgary

Although McKenzie Meadows is situated in south Calgary, its setting in Fish Creek Provincial Park, on a pretty swath of riverside land, gives it a quiet and pastoral feel. The layout, which features plenty of ponds but ample room to play, is ideal for the average recreational player who may not possess professiona level power or laser-straight accuracy. In other words, there is forgiveness! I’ve always thought that the golf industry needs more courses like this one. Anyone can play it! Also, if you want to work on your game, there is no better practice area in the entire city. The double-sided range is 350-yards long and features a spacious grass tee deck, huge practice putting green, practice bunker, and a large chipping and pitching area. In other words, you can perfect every part of your game here!

Water Valley Golf & Country Club

Routed through thick pockets of pine and aspen glades, with no development framing the playing corridors, the Water Valley Golf & Country Club has a character and ambiance, which is truly special. It’s about as quiet and peaceful as golf gets. And the course, which was designed by the proprietor, Brian Setter, is sneaky good and always boasts excellent turf conditions. Although not overlong (it’s 6,610-yards from the tips), the rolling layout seems to have just the right amount of challenge so par players will have their hands full and the recreational players can still post a decent score. But you do want to have an accurate tee game! The large wrap-around deck overlooking the action is a great place for a beer and a burger after your round. Water Valley is located approximately 20 minutes north of Cochrane, so it’s an easy day from Calgary.

Pincher Creek Golf Club

Contrary to the opinions of some die-hard golfers, not every great golf experience requires an 18-hole course. Truth be told, there are many excellent 9-hole courses in southern Alberta. For example, if you make the scenic drive to Pincher Creek, you’ll be rewarded with an excellent 9-hole course serving up beautiful mountain views and cruises along an aerie bluff above the creek. And, considering a 9-hole round takes half the time, you’ll have plenty of daylight left over to explore the area. A stop at the charming Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village or a short hike and some ice cream in nearby Waterton Lakes National Park are two options to consider.

Testing your game on a brand new course and visiting a place, a cool little prairie town, a beautiful river valley, a tucked-away coulee, is one of the great benefits of being an avid golfer. And Southern Alberta is full of such places! In fact, these five excellent courses hardly scratch the surface. Take a tour with your Titleists – to places such as Turner Valley, Magrath, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Drumheller, Stettler, and Cardston, just to name a few more – and you’ll find out for yourself that Southern Alberta yields dozens of scenic golf experiences that you’ll never forget.

Photo and Story By: Andrew Penner

Campground Directory

NOTE: For 2021 open and close dates are subject to change as well as the number of available sites. Visit AlbertaParks.ca for up to date information

Bow River Three Sisters Lac Des Arcs Bow Valley Willow Rock Sundance Lodges Mt. Kidd R.V. Park Eau Claire Sibbald Lake Dawson Equestrian Canyon Elkwood Boulton Creek Lower Lake Mt. Sarrail Interlakes Spray Lakes West Beaver Flats Gooseberry Little Elbow Little Elbow Equest. McLean Creek Paddy’s Flat Mesa Butte Equest. North Fork Fisher Creek May 3 | Nov. 18 $28/$40 66 59 • 403-673-2163 Apr. 13 | Nov. 18 $26 36 • • 403-673-2163

May 3 | Sept. 2 $26 28 • • • (28) 1-877-537-2757

May 3 | Oct. 7 $26/$40 173 131 • • • • • • (156) 1-877-537-2757 Apr. 19 | Oct. 21 $26/$33 124 34 • • • • • 403-673-2163 May 17 | Sept. 22 $31.50 30 • • • • (30) 403-591-7122

Year round $32.50/41/43/48 229 74 35 88 • • • • • • (229) 403-591-7700 May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 51 • 403-591-7226

May 3 | Oct. 7 $26 134 • • 403-673-2163

Year round $26 10 • 403-673-2163 June 14 | Sept. 2 $26 50 • 403-591-7226 May 9 | Oct. 14 $26/$40 130 69 • • • • • • (130) 1-877-537-2757 May 9 | Oct. 14 $26/$39 118 35 • • • • • (118) 1-877-537-2757 May 15 | Sept. 15 $26 95 • 403-591-7226 June 21 | Sept. 2 $26 44 tent • 403-591-7226 May 15 | Oct. 14 $26 48 • 403-591-7226 May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 50 • 403-591-7226 May 15 | Sept. 3 $26 55 • 403-949-3132

May 1 | Oct. 8 $26 85 • 403-949-3132 May 15 | Sep. 16 $26 94 • • (41) 1-877-537-2757 May 15 | Sep. 16 $32 46 • • (24) 1-877-537-2757

Year round $26/$33 170 96 • • • • • • (170) 1-877-537-2757 May 15| Sept. 17 $26 98 • 403-949-3132 May 15 | Sept. 10 $33 15 • 403-949-3132 May 15 | Sept. 10 $26 34 • 403-949-3132

Year round $26 30 • 403-949-3132

Bluerock Bluerock Equest. Sandy McNabb Sandy McNabb Equest. Cataract Creek

May 15 | Sept. 17 $26 66 • 403-949-3132 May 15 | Sept. 17 $33 17 • 403-949-3132 May 1 | Oct. 8 $33 112 112 • • • • 403-949-3132 May 1 | Oct. 8 $39/$40 41 21 • • • • 403-949-3132 May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 102 • 403-591-7226 Etherington Creek May 16 | Sept. 15 $26 61 • • (29) 1-877-537-2757 Etherington Creek Equest. May 16 | Sept. 15 $33 10 • 403-591-7226 Greenford May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 13 • • 403-591-7226 Indian Graves Regular May 16 | Sept. 2 $26 32 • • • (32) 403-995-5554 Indian Graves Equestrian May 16 | Sept. 2 $26 6 • • (6) 403-995-5554 Strawberry Regular & Equestrian Sept. 2 | Nov. 30 $26/$33 20 • 403-591-7226 Burnt Timber May 1 | Sept. 3 $308 30 • 403-637-2198 Fallen Timber South May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 55 • • (35) 403-637-2198 North Ghost May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 169 • • • (90) 403-637-2198 Waiparous Creek May 1 | Oct. 9 $308 53 • • • (25) 403-637-2198 Ghost Reservoir May 1 | Oct. 14 $26 80 • 403-851-0766 Red Deer River North May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 14 • • 403-637-2198 Red Deer River South May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 50 • • (20) 403-637-2198 James-Wilson May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 17 • • (17) 403-637-2198 Fallen Timber North May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 34 • • • 403-637-2198 Cartier Creek Apr. 28 | Sept. 18 $20 12 • 403-637-2198

Spring Hill RV Park, Cochrane

springhillrvpark.com | 403-932-2010 Open Year Round | 121 Sites | Fees: $42 Ammenities: Flush Toilets, Showers, Sani Dump, Disabled Access, Firepits. Located 7km north of Cochrane.

Emerson Bridge Park, Brooks and Area

countyofnewell.ab.ca | 403-362-1702 Open May 20 - Sept 20 | 65 Sites | Fees: $15 - $30 Potable water available. First come First Serve. 30 min from Dinosaur Provincal Park, 60 min fromRoyal Tyrrell Museum

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

pc.gc.ca/rockymountainhouse | 1-877-737-3783 Open May 14 – September 30 45 Sites | Fees: $26.06 - $122.64 Ammenities: Flush Toilets, Showers, Disabled Access, Interpretive Program, Firepits Discover a historic fur trade post along the North Saskatchewan River. Experience interactive exhibits, a play fort, wild bison viewing, hiking and biking trails, friendly heritage presenters, and more. Stay awhile.