Tee Off at the Best Golf Courses in Canada
This story was originally published in 2020 and was updated in May 2021.
From the internationally acclaimed Cabot Cliffs golf course in Nova Scotia, to Canada’s most northerly 18–hole course in Yukon, we’ve rounded up some of the best public golf courses across the country. Take a swing at one of the top Canadian golf courses, whether it’s during a future golf vacation, or a day trip to your local links.
Come for the tenth hole – ranked one of the country’s best par–4s by ScoreGolf – and stay for the panoramic views of Deer Lake and the Humber River at this championship course. Designed by famed Canadian architect Doug Carrick, this under–the–radar course features forest–lined fairways, rolling greens and river– and lakeside holes. What’s more, it achieves the seemingly impossible by challenging experienced golfers, while still being enjoyable for beginners.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
There is some great golf to be played in Nova Scotia, but nothing beats this vast resort on Cape Breton Island: two world–renowned 18–hole courses – Cabot Cliffs and Cabot Links – where golfers play amid rugged cliffs and sand dunes and tee off alongside the Atlantic Ocean. Designed “for dreamers” by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, Cabot Cliffs has been #1 on ScoreGolf’s ranking of the best public courses in Canada since it opened in 2015. (Cabot Links was #5 in 2020.) The Nest, a par‑3, 10‑hole routing from Rod Whitman and Dave Axland set high on Cabot Cliffs, opened this season – a perfect option for those seeking a shorter game.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Holes: 18
Par: 70
Beloved by locals and visitors alike, this seaside PEI golf course is set amid the stunning north shore dunes on the grounds of the Rodd Crowbush Golf & Beach Club. Navigate your way through the course’s undulating fairways, nine water holes, eight dune holes and challenging greens as waves lap gently against the shore.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Set on the grounds of the Algonquin Resort (and originally built in 1894), this oceanside course has the oldest clubhouse in the country. The historic course was revitalized in 2018 with an award–winning renovation led by acclaimed Canadian golf course designer Rod Whitman, including two brand new holes, new tee complexes on nine holes and a complete overhaul of the course’s bunker system. You can also thank Whitman for opening up the course to more views of Passamaquoddy Bay.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
One of three golf courses located on the Fairmont’s La Malbaie resort, the Richelieu course is lauded for its challenging holes and vistas of the St. Lawrence River. In 1923, golf pro Harry Black set up a nine–hole course as an on–site amenity for hotel guests to enjoy. Architect Herbert Strong redesigned the course in 1925 and, in 2002, the resort hired Darrell Huxham to oversee a $10–million–dollar renovation. Players can expect spacious fairways, greenway bunkers and lush surrounding forests.
Holes: 9
Par: 36
Named one of the Top 20 Golf Courses in Canada by ScoreGolf in 2020, this Doug Carrick–designed course at Muskoka Bay Resort in the heart of Ontario’s cottage country features rock ridges and natural wetlands. Elevation changes, doglegs, fast greens and water hazards make this a fun, yet challenging course – one many consider to be Carrick’s best work.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
The greens are quick and the fairways rolling at this semi–private golf club northeast of Winnipeg. Built by celebrated architect Doug Ross in 1912, the course remains challenging and enjoyable today. The front nine finish on what is considered to be one of the toughest holes in the country due to its “diabolical” saucer green. But the fun doesn’t stop there: The back nine present plenty of risk–reward holes to keep you on your toes through your final swing.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Located on Whitecap Dakota First Nations lands, this pristine course is ranked as the best public course in Saskatchewan by ScoreGolf and is only a 30–minute drive south of Saskatoon. All comers will be challenged on the course’s rolling fairways, sand dunes and sprawling greens, with tee decks ranging from 5,100 to 7,300 yards. The award–winning course’s remote natural beauty is also a draw: Spot crocuses, purple cacti and prairie grasses as you go between holes.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Building a golf course in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is no easy feat. It took 200 horses and 50 men an entire year to clear boulders and debris in order to make room for this Stanley Thompson masterpiece. (Thompson also designed the first–class course at Fairmont Banff Springs resort.) Opened in 1925, the 18–hole course remains one of Canada’s finest, ranking #3 on ScoreGolf’s list of the best public courses in the country in 2020. Highlights include elevated tee boxes, dramatic bunkers, wide tree–lined fairways and, of course, a natural setting with breathtaking alpine views.
Holes: 18
Par: 71
If you’re familiar with Greywolf – part of the Panorama Mountain Resort – you may have heard of its infamous sixth hole. The clifftop par–3 is considered one of the best golf holes in the world and challenges players to play over a steep ravine against strong winds from nearby Toby Valley Creek. Taking cues from Stanley Thompson’s course in Banff, designer Doug Carrick created a memorable alpine golf experience, complete with undulating fairways, woodlands and front–row views of the surrounding Purcell Mountains.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
Established in 1948, the original course at this Northwest Territories golf club just west of Yellowknife consisted of nine holes made up of sand fairways and oiled greens. (And the first clubhouse was housed in the discarded fuselage of an old DC–3 aircraft.) Fifty years later, the club expanded with 10 new holes and these, combined with eight of the original holes, make up today’s course. All holes are outfitted with modern artificial turf technology and include tee boxes, but players are required to take additional swings from a portable turf mat to play on the green – not surprising given that the landscape is mostly sand and Precambrian rock. Keep your eyes peeled for black bears and ball–stealing ravens.
Holes: 18
Par: 72
The most northerly 18–hole golf course in Canada – located less than 10 kilometres north of Whitehorse – is also the only full–service golf club in Yukon, thanks to its championship golf course, driving range, putting green, short–game practice facility and pro shop. Considered the territory’s top golf destination, the club staffs Canadian PGA professionals, while the course boasts a layout that appeals amateurs and pros alike. You can’t miss the stunning vistas of the Yukon River and surrounding mountains.
Holes: 18
Par: 72