Best Public Golf Courses in Banff, Alberta
You don't need a membership to play great golf in Banff. From resort courses to municipal gems, here are the best public and semi-private courses in the area — ranked by design quality, conditioning, and value.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Booking Tips
For the best rates, book tee times midweek or during shoulder seasons. Many courses offer twilight rates for afternoon rounds. Resort courses often bundle with hotel stays for significant savings.
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.
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