Best Golf Courses in Banff, Alberta

The Canadian Rockies are home to the most visually spectacular golf on earth. Stanley Thompson's Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the great courses of the world, and the surrounding Bow Valley delivers course after course set against glacier-capped peaks, emerald rivers, and wild mountain terrain. This is golf at the highest level — in every sense.

Our Methodology: Courses are ranked by an expert panel evaluating design quality, conditioning, challenge, aesthetics, and overall experience. Both private and public courses are considered on merit.

Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course resort

Banff, Alberta · Stanley Thompson (1928) · 27 holes · Par 71 · 6,938 yards

Widely considered one of the greatest golf courses ever built, the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course is Stanley Thompson's crowning achievement. Carved through the Canadian Rockies at 4,500 feet elevation, the course frames glacier-capped peaks, the Bow and Spray Rivers, and the iconic Banff Springs Hotel on nearly every hole. Thompson routed 27 holes through this UNESCO World Heritage Site terrain, creating a golf experience with no equal on earth. The Rundle Nine and Sulphur Nine complete a resort golf destination that golfers travel from around the world to experience.

Stanley Thompson's greatest work — consistently world Top 25UNESCO World Heritage Site setting in the Canadian RockiesGlacier peaks, Bow River, and Banff Springs Hotel views throughout

Green Fee: $200–$320 Rating: 4.9/5

Silvertip Golf Resort resort

Canmore, Alberta · Les Furber (1998) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,300 yards

Perched dramatically above the Bow Valley in Canmore, Silvertip Golf Resort is a Les Furber design with some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery of any golf course in the world. The 7,300-yard layout climbs and descends through Rocky Mountain terrain, offering constant panoramic views of the Three Sisters and surrounding peaks. Every hole plays into a cinematic Canadian Rockies backdrop.

Dramatic Bow Valley and Three Sisters panoramasLes Furber mountain routing at 7,300 yardsOne of Canada's most visually spectacular resort courses

Green Fee: $130–$220 Rating: 4.5/5

Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club semi-private

Canmore, Alberta · Gary Browning (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,010 yards

Designed by Gary Browning on the site of a historic coal mining operation in the Three Sisters Mountain Village near Canmore, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club is a semi-private gem with exceptional mountain character. Old mine shafts, wagon roads, and industrial artifacts are incorporated into the design, creating a unique course personality that blends natural drama with historical narrative against the towering Rocky Mountain backdrop.

Historic coal mine artifacts woven into course designGary Browning routing on Three Sisters Mountain Village terrainOne of Canada's most distinctive and character-rich layouts

Green Fee: $120–$200 Rating: 4.5/5

Kananaskis Country Golf Course - Mount Lorette public

Kananaskis, Alberta · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1983) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,102 yards

Commissioned by the Government of Alberta and designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. for the 1988 G8 Summit at Kananaskis, the Mount Lorette Course is a world-class public layout set in the heart of the Rockies. Jones routed the 7,102-yard championship layout along the Kananaskis River with the Kananaskis Range providing a constant backdrop. The course hosted the Presidents Cup qualifier and offers one of the best public golf values in Canada.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. design built for the 1988 G8 Summit7,102-yard championship layout on the Kananaskis RiverExtraordinary Rocky Mountain scenery at public course pricing

Green Fee: $90–$140 Rating: 4.6/5

Kananaskis Country Golf Course - Mount Kidd public

Kananaskis, Alberta · Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1983) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,083 yards

The companion course to Mount Lorette at Kananaskis Country, the Mount Kidd Course was also designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and plays through the valley with views of the namesake peak. At 7,083 yards with the mountain air reducing effective distance, Mount Kidd offers a slightly different routing that rewards long driving and precise approach play. Together, the two Kananaskis courses constitute one of the finest public golf destinations in North America.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. companion course to Mount LoretteNamed for the dramatic Mount Kidd backdropPart of North America's finest public mountain golf destination

Green Fee: $90–$140 Rating: 4.5/5

Public Courses in Banff

Looking for courses you can play without a membership? See our complete guide to public courses in Banff .

Overview

Banff and the Bow Valley golf corridor stretches from Kananaskis in the east through Canmore to the townsite of Banff itself. The region is anchored by Fairmont Banff Springs — a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by jaw-dropping Rocky Mountain scenery — and complemented by Les Furber's Silvertip in Canmore, the dramatic Stewart Creek, and the two world-class public courses at Kananaskis designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Best Time to Play

Late May through September. The mountain golf season is short but extraordinarily beautiful. June and July offer the greenest conditions and longest days. August brings warmer temperatures. September's fall colors can be spectacular but nights are cold and snowfall is possible. Most courses open by mid-May and close by mid-October.

Travel Tips & Getting There

Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the gateway — Banff is 90 minutes west on the Trans-Canada Highway. Parks Canada requires a daily vehicle permit for driving in Banff National Park. The Town of Banff offers excellent accommodation options in a stunning setting. Canmore is just outside the park boundary and slightly less expensive to stay. Book tee times at Banff Springs well in advance — it sells out months ahead.

Nearest Airport: Calgary International Airport (YYC)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairmont Banff Springs worth the green fee?

Yes — without question. Fairmont Banff Springs is one of the great golf experiences on earth. The Stanley Thompson design in a UNESCO World Heritage Site setting alongside glacier-capped peaks is irreplaceable. Budget $200–$320 and consider it a once-in-a-lifetime value.

Can I play Banff Springs without staying at the hotel?

Yes, non-hotel guests can book tee times at Fairmont Banff Springs, though hotel guests receive booking priority. Tee times open online well in advance and sell out quickly — particularly for summer weekends.

What is the difference between the Kananaskis courses?

The Mount Lorette and Mount Kidd courses at Kananaskis Country are both Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs built for the 1988 G8 Summit. Mount Lorette is slightly longer and many consider it the better layout, but both are exceptional at the same price point.

Explore Nearby Golf Destinations

Calgary Golf Courses

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Golf in Alberta

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