|
 |
 |
Banff Springs, Canada |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banff Springs Golf Club
405 Spray Avenue
Banff
Alberta
T0L 0C0
Canada |  | Stanley Thompson |  | Steven Young |
|
 | + 1 403 762 2211 |  | 50 miles W of Calgary |
 |
Golf Club Website
|
 | Welcome – contact in advance |  | Ken Riordon |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Banff Springs Golf Club is set in perhaps the most spectacular and striking location in the world. The setting in the Canadian Rockies is so special that only the most focused golfers will be able to concentrate on the game in hand.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Company can be thanked for bringing a nine-hole golf course to Banff in 1911 as an attraction for its stunning, turreted hotel, known as the Castle in the Rockies. World War I civilian internees built a further nine holes to a Donald Ross design, but it was the illustrious Canadian architect, Stanley Thompson, who really put Banff on the map when he redesigned the course in 1927.
Thompson brought the course closer to the hotel and literally moved the earth to fashion the new Banff Springs. $1,000,000 later, the most expensive course in the world at that time opened for play to a rapturous standing ovation.
The stunning location presents all sorts of problems for the greenkeepers who battle with the extremities of the Alberta elements – warm days and freezing nights of spring. They do a stunning job because the course is invariably maintained immaculately.
Banff Springs is blessed with many world-class holes, all of which are named but there’s too many to mention here but we simply have to mention the 4th which is perhaps Canada’s most outstanding one-shotter. A climb to the elevated tee presents a heart-stopping view of the Devil’s Cauldron with its punchbowl green which slopes from back to front in order to drain the water off the putting surface as quickly as possible. The green is nestled at the foot of the colossal Mount Rundle and your tee shot must carry across a glacial lake and then avoid numerous greenside bunkers. Can you stay focused and swing smoothly on this 200-yard hole?
Banff Springs is set within a National Park and the course runs parallel with the River Bow with the thundering Bow Falls at one end. We’ve waxed lyrical about the location of Banff Springs Golf Club, but we can assure you that nothing prepares you for the reality, charm and sheer enormity of the setting. | |
|
| |
If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
|
|
|
|
|
 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | An excellent championship course set at a resort. The bunkering reflects Stanley Thompson at his best with bunkers guarding the best approaches to the greens and presenting challenges for shots into the greens. If you take a look at an aerial view of the course (Google Maps) you may see how much fun he had designing the shape of several of the bunkers. Hard to see from the ground so look before you go. Par 3's are a great part of the design. The downhill Devil's Cauldron over the pond to the bowl green is probably more intimidating to look at than to play but a very attractive hole. The 10th (Little Bow) may be a significantly more difficult shot with water covering the entire length of the right side of the hole, a large bunker guarding the left side of the green and 218 yards. Shame circumstances required rerouting the 1st tee away from the hotel as the initial tee shot over the river must have been quite the challenge. Conditioning of the course was quite marginal on the day of play due to the late Spring and recent heavy rains. Bunkers were untended and almost unplayable (compacted with stones floated to surface). The Staff was busy bringing the course back. |
|
|
| 28 June 2012
|
Reply
|
| | On a June 2010 visit to Canada I played Banff Springs whilst staying in the Banff Town, I had heard many great things about this Stanley Thompson designed course and had seen many pictures, I had even played the course on the Tiger Woods play station game so had an idea of what to expect.
Overall Banff Springs is a very good course with many standout holes, it is worth noting that as part of the national park they are not allowed to use fertilizers on the course or use water at certain times of the year so this will impact on the conditioning of the course. The greens were not brilliant to be fair, they were pretty sandy and were clearly still recovering from the snow which had only melted a month or so previously, however they were more than playable and didn’t dampen my spirits despite the $229 green fee.
The course is set in a stunning mountain location, the views from nearly every hole are incredible and fortunately for me it was a sunny day so I got to see the course at its best, many of the holes are tree lined and whilst the fairways are not overly tight you do have to be careful with placement off the tee as the bunkering was pretty clever on certain holes.
A feature of Stanley Thompson designed courses are long par 3’s and this is relevant for the 9th which was playing 220yds on the tees I used, although the 4th which is famously known as ‘Devils Cauldron’ was playing about 160yds and is a beautiful par 3 over water into a ‘basin’ of a green.
For me there are several highlights on this course, number one is the scenery and general aesthetics of the place, the other is the Bow River which cuts through the course at certain points and is particularly stunning on the 14th par 4 which plays towards the beautifully imposing Fairmont Springs Hotel. This then leads on to the best hole on the course, in my opinion, which is the par 4 15th. You have to drive your buggy up towards the hotel where the tees are set into the hillside elevated high above the fairway, the hole looks huge from the tees but if you hit a good drive you’ll be surprised just how far it goes due to the elevation – a stunning golf hole that is worth the price alone, in fact this used to be the 1st hole on the course until they shuffled it around in the 90’s.
The range practice facilities are very good, as they seem to be at most of the Canadian courses I played, with complimentary Taylormade range balls and you were able to hit off the turf too rather than range mates. The clubhouse is very nice with a well stocked pro shop, although the prices of garments were high!
Overall I highly recommend this course to any serious golfer out there, it provides a good challenge from the tips and the setting alone is worthy of a visit. I thoroughly enjoyed my round at Banff Springs and would not hesitate to head back there one day.
|
|
|
| 02 July 2010
|
Reply
|
| | In direct contrast to Jasper this certainly didnt disapoint. I thought it was fantastic. The condition was much better than JPL and it had a more intimate (tree lined) feel. I thought the bunkering was also a standout feature of the course. Its probably the dearest of all the Canadian courses but its probably justified. Truly awesome... |
|
|
| 22 June 2010
|
Reply
|
| | As others have written, this is an awesome course whose setting draws the eye so often that you can be forgiven for any mishits (that's my excuse anyway). It can be windy and in that case some of the longer holes are a real challenge. But while you are waiting to play, just look around at those majestic mountains, admire a coyote being herded across the fairway behind you by a family of elk pretecting thier young, and accept that some greens may have had the same elk leaving hoof prints. The best hole is, in my opinion, the original first (I think), now the 14th(?) high up the side of the mountain and near the hotel, where your drive has to clear a river - a real invitation to let rip. |
|
|
| 13 April 2010
|
Reply
|
| | Banff Springs is one of the most enjoyable courses I have ever played. It's set in the beautiful Rocky Mountains where golf is just one of the amazing outdoor activities. The course layout is fantastic with the par 3 4th, Devil's Cauldron, being the most spectacular. The course continues to challenge the golfer while providing breathtaking views on nearly every hole that follows. The cost is a little high, with peak times costing around $300. The only drawback happens to be good for the environment. Because Banf is a National Park, pesticides are not allowed. This may provide less than smooth early season conditions but this course is worth the visit any time of the year. |
|
|
| 20 December 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Banff Springs is simply one of the best courses in Western Canada. The layout is outstanding with a variety of holes to test your game. The par 3 4th, offers a unique tee-shot into a bowl surrounded by bunkers and water. Club selection is key as there is a significant elevation drop from the tee.
Because Banff Springs is located in a Provincial Park, certain chemicals are not alowed to be used. This will affect course conditions especially coming out of cold Alberta winters. The fairways and greens aren't perfect but the course is a joy to play even with those factors. The course is fair but challenging and would be a treat to be a member at. The biggest drawback for me was the price as I believe its the most expensive course in Alberta. Enjoy it if you can! |
|
|
| 29 November 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Banff Springs had always been a course that I had wanted to play since I saw it in a book given to me one Christmas. It took me about 30 years to get there, but it was well worth the wait. I booked the tee time at the golf shop in the hotel, and on the morning jumped the shuttle bus down to the pro shop as a helicopter buzzed low overhead. There the staff (who were all kitted out in a uniform of white shirts, black plus-twos and argyle socks) could not have been any more helpful. As I was doing a trans-Canada tour & this was to be my only round, I hadn’t brought my own clubs but hired some. I was given a full set of brand new Taylor Made’s. The emphasis here is on service; range balls were included (“Just help yourself sir”) the buggy had an icebox with complimentary bottles of water in it, there were tees, a pitch mark repairer & a towel in the front (“We’d like the towel back sir, but keep the rest”). I was paired up with another 3 visitors, and off we went. The course itself was in excellent condition and is a very good test of golf, but to some degree suffers from the absolutely stunning views around it; if the same holes could somehow be set elsewhere without the views, I’m sure the golf course itself would get excellent reviews and be well regarded. There are a good mix of par 3’s, both in length & changes of elevation, the short par 4’s invite you to take them on but bite back if you are careless, the longer 4’s test you and the par 5’s can be played a number of ways. As a first time player you can see all that you need to from the tee. And for all that, you keep looking at the amazing views. It turned out that my visit was a couple of weeks before a Skins game at Banff; the helicopter was doing the flyover shots, and we were politely interrupted on a few holes by the pro & a camera crew doing the descriptive shots about how the hole should be played, but this was done in such a manner that it added to the experience. Cost was £130 in summer 2006 for the green fee and the clubs, and as far as I am concerned was worth every penny. If Lorne & Mr. & Mrs lee happen to read this, thanks for your company, it added to the day.
|
|
|
| 26 December 2007
|
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
