Alberta Courses

[cdnrockies]

This is about right.

Course opened today...in snow and 6 degree weather.

Renovated green complex on #13 won't be ready likely until the end of May so playing new & old #2 and on one temp on #8.

Only played the 8 holes on the back....we'll see how much snow is on the ground for our tee time in the morning....haha.

[Double K]

Valley Ridge on Sunday afternoon. I will report back on conditions. I've heard that it wintered very well.

[Fetch07]

Wanting to do a little tour of Alberta this summer, from Grande Prairie. Looking at doing 8-10 rounds. Ive done BC many times, time to do some in my own province.

Which courses should I stick on my list? Prefer to stay away from center Edm/Cgy.

Here is what i have so far.

Jasper - never have done
Banff - never have done
Wolf Creek - Been a lot of years
Northern Bear - always decent
Trestle Creek - may go check out
D'Arcy Ranch
Dinosour Trail
Sundre
Innisfail

Which others?

[kencanuck]

Paradise Canyon in Lethbridge and Lee Creek in Cardston would be on my list of Alberta courses...

[cdnrockies]

Stewart Creek is easily in the top handful of courses in Alberta.

[Double K]

Played Valley Ridge on Sunday.

Course was in decent shape for the spring. Greens were ok, some were really good some has >50% winter kill (#1 is almost completely dead).

Pace was a bit on the slow side, just over 5 hours riding. Played 16, 17 and 18 at +1 which is my personal best by a long shot. I've had way too many rounds ruined on those holes.

17 has to be one of the dumbest holes in Calgary (equally stupid with 16 @ GlenEagles). 220y par 3 that plays 170?! So dumb.

[knock it close]

Played priddis this afternoon (Raven) and man it was nice out, course was in good shape, quite green. Greens were quick and I have a hell of a time reading them, bad front nine good back nine for me. Playing the other side (Hawk) thursday morning, may go for 36.

[deltapapatango]

Anybody here play The Hamptons after the Mickelson changes? Worth the drive?

[knock it close]

[quote name='deltapapatango' timestamp='1430972832' post='11514913']
Anybody here play The Hamptons after the Mickelson changes? Worth the drive?
[/quote] Phil is doing nothing to the hamptons that I know of. The phil course is going to be brand new and out by springbank, owned by the same people as the hamptons.

Heard Hamptons is in terrible shape right now.

[Double K]

[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1429027168' post='11356311']
I hope [url="http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-demands-prentice-divulge-details-of-deal-for-golf-course"]this[/url] doesn't mean that the restoration work at Kananaskis is going to stop.
[/quote]

Ugh. Now I hope that out new socialist overlords don't kibosh the restoration.

#firstworldproblems

[knock it close]

[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1431015353' post='11517047']
[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1429027168' post='11356311']
I hope [url="http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-demands-prentice-divulge-details-of-deal-for-golf-course"]this[/url] doesn't mean that the restoration work at Kananaskis is going to stop.
[/quote]

Ugh. Now I hope that out new socialist overlords don't kibosh the restoration.

#firstworldproblems
[/quote]Man I didn't even think about that yet...

[wholeinwon]

[quote name='knock it close' timestamp='1431012324' post='11516745']
[quote name='deltapapatango' timestamp='1430972832' post='11514913']
Anybody here play The Hamptons after the Mickelson changes? Worth the drive?
[/quote] Phil is doing nothing to the hamptons that I know of. The phil course is going to be brand new and out by springbank, owned by the same people as the hamptons.

Heard Hamptons is in terrible shape right now.
[/quote]

Hamptons will be going through a massive overhaul in the next couple of years. Really big renovation.

Nothing started as of yet though.

[wholeinwon]

[quote name='knock it close' timestamp='1431022743' post='11517691']
[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1431015353' post='11517047']
[quote name='Double K' timestamp='1429027168' post='11356311']
I hope [url="http://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/wildrose-demands-prentice-divulge-details-of-deal-for-golf-course"]this[/url] doesn't mean that the restoration work at Kananaskis is going to stop.
[/quote]

Ugh. Now I hope that out new socialist overlords don't kibosh the restoration.

#firstworldproblems
[/quote]Man I didn't even think about that yet...
[/quote]

The restoration is already on permanent hold until the government decides whether or not to invest any more money into it, lease the land out to a private company or outright sell the property, golf course and buildings.

The Marriott just purchased the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis in April so there is potential for some deep pockets from the private sector.

Say goodbye to the $99.75 Alberta green fee with a cart if this happens though!!

[deltapapatango]

So the Phil course is a new course or a part of Springbank?

[knock it close]

New course http://www.mickelsonnational.com/the-course/

[deltapapatango]

Looking to join a club on the south side of Calgary. A friend has a membership at Sirocco and loves it. Curious on Cottonwood Heritage Pointe and Carnmoney. Thanks guys.

[knock it close]

I work at Heritage and was a member growing up. I like the course, it will be different than cottonwood and carmoney though in that it is semi private. No equity or initiation just yearly memberships. I'm a fan of cottonwood and I think they have some pretty solid deals out right now. The only issue with Cwood is they always always have issues with their greens. If they can fix them, which I think they made a real effort to do. But yea I like the Cwood layout. Carmoney is definitely a love hate layout wise, personally I'm not a huge fan but a lot of people do really like it.

[deltapapatango]

I heard Cwood condition is due to new owners letting maintenance slide. Truth?

[knock it close]

As far as I know cwood hasn't changed ownership, they've just always had a few issues with their greens and then they had em almost perfect and then got hit by the flood. I haven't played there this year but it was in pretty good shape when I played near the end of last year.

[Double K]

[quote name='deltapapatango' timestamp='1431359061' post='11538038']
Looking to join a club on the south side of Calgary. A friend has a membership at Sirocco and loves it. Curious on Cottonwood Heritage Pointe and Carnmoney. Thanks guys.
[/quote]

Haven't played Cottonwood.

My preference would be:

1. Sirocco - Fantastic greens. Fun layout with only a couple dumb holes (10 and 11). Doesn't seem to be busy or as busy as others.
2. Heritage Pointe - 27 holes is a plus. Top notch conditioning in the past couple years. Tends to be quite busy though.
3. Carmoney - Not a huge fan of the layout. I think it's only 6300 yards total. Feels cramped into a 1/4 section.

If money isn't an issue why not Priddis?

[deltapapatango]

Sirocco is expensive to join and from what I hear a tough course. Someday just not noW. Swinging since this February and still trying to break 90 at Turner Valley from the Blues. Sirocco might make go squirreLly.

Had a great steak sandwich at Heritage Pointe yesterday snooping around. Seems kinda posh for me and the 5 grand to play is high. Good to hear some input prior to dropping big bucks.

Would like to try Carnmoney.

Distance and cost keeps me from PriddIs. My work buddy has a membership and tells me it's busy all the time.

[deltapapatango]

Are you saying PriddIs over Sirocco?

[Xavier_11]

[quote name='deltapapatango' timestamp='1431524381' post='11551424']
Are you saying PriddIs over Sirocco?
[/quote]


I would take Priddis over any Calgary golf course if money was no issue

[knock it close]

I played Inglewood yesterday as a fill in for Riley's. Greens were in pretty good shape, fairways were pretty spotty though. I actually like the layout quite a bit. We got spanked fwiw.

[Double K]

I think this rain will help the fairways. Need some hot sun now!! River's Edge just punched and top dressed their greens this week. Perfect timing for them.

[hbear]

NOT a fan of Carnmony....played many times during the Alberta Open. It's got some good holes, but a number that are just absolutely stupid. (particularly the par 5s)

One of the worst has to be #12....aim WAY right of the fairway pretty much over the heads of the guys teeing off on #11, and you'll have gap wedge in for your 2nd shot.
#9, hit over a brim to a blind landing zone and have another short club into the green (don't get a bad kick of the back of the landing hill or you'll be wet (although since you can't be virtually certain....it'll be stroke and distance if you can't find your ball since you can't be sure it's in the water hazard). The posted some spotters during the tournament, but a few times the spotters couldn't see the ball off the tee...so not a lot of help there either.
#18 is similar as it gives you a layup zone...but you can hit it over all the water to the 2nd fairway leaving a short iron in on another par 5.

It's a short course, and can easily be overpowered by the longer hitter. I'd get bored silly playing that course over and over.
They have a grass range, but I've never seen it open....just mats.

Heritage is fun to play and has always been in good shape when I played.

Priddis has been superb and if I lived in Calgary would be at the top of my list for places to play.

[knock it close]

[quote name='hbear' timestamp='1432059887' post='11587368']
NOT a fan of Carnmony....played many times during the Alberta Open. It's got some good holes, but a number that are just absolutely stupid. (particularly the par 5s)

One of the worst has to be #12....aim WAY right of the fairway pretty much over the heads of the guys teeing off on #11, and you'll have gap wedge in for your 2nd shot.
#9, hit over a brim to a blind landing zone and have another short club into the green (don't get a bad kick of the back of the landing hill or you'll be wet (although since you can't be virtually certain....it'll be stroke and distance if you can't find your ball since you can't be sure it's in the water hazard). The posted some spotters during the tournament, but a few times the spotters couldn't see the ball off the tee...so not a lot of help there either.
#18 is similar as it gives you a layup zone...but you can hit it over all the water to the 2nd fairway leaving a short iron in on another par 5.

It's a short course, and can easily be overpowered by the longer hitter. I'd get bored silly playing that course over and over.
They have a grass range, but I've never seen it open....just mats.

Heritage is fun to play and has always been in good shape when I played.

Priddis has been superb and if I lived in Calgary would be at the top of my list for places to play.
[/quote] I think priddis is my second favorite course in calgary, albeit I haven't played forest at Glencoe.

[Fetch07]

Heading to Edmonton for a few days in a week, wanna get 2 rounds in, any suggestions?

[mikedejong]

Public courses? I would suggest Northern Bear, The Quarry, Cougar Creek, The Ranch. I would say Red Tail by the airport, but they had issues with their greens last year and they are still coming back. It's a great links course, but the greens are still a bit slow. These are the better public courses here I would say.

[hbear]

I'd stay away from Red Tail, great layout, but as posted, HUGE issue with greens last year....and this year I've heard they are still feeling the pain from doing the re-sod last year.

Unfortunately I haven't heard much in the way of how conditions are at the public courses. I do know some guys that play at Cougar Creek that said it was in good shape (greens a bit slow, but not much winter kill). Cougar is a fun track, but WAY (40min drive) west of the city.

I guess it depends on where you will be located and how far you are willing to drive.

If you're willing to road trip (drive a hour) Coal Creek is SUPER fun to play. Built on an old coal mine so pretty much every tee shot is elevated, has trucked in black sand from BC, lots of memorable holes (it is certainly not cookie cutter). Don't expect much in the way of clubhouse (looks like a storage barn) but trust me the course is fun.

If wanting to stay closer to town, Northern Bear (20mins east) has one of the best layouts in the city by far (haven't played since they had all their water problems and crappy green conditions)....I hear it's better but I haven't played since the Edmonton Open fiasco.

If you like Les Ferber, the Quarry is an intersting course. I find it too tricked up (lots of hidden hazards you can't see from the tee, a few holes with sloped fairways so you have to land in the right rough in order to end up in the middle...etc.) It's way in the NE part of town.

the Links at Spruce Grove is a decent course that is usually in good shape. Stony Plain Golf course is fun to play and usually in good shape as well. I also second the Ranch. (all those are in the west).

Wish I could be more help but don't know what course conditions are like right now (happy to discuss layout though)....I could give you a run down of the privates, but pretty sure that wouldn't be helpful.

Jaeger ridge is an example of a course that is almost always in fantastic condition....too bad a handful of holes ruin the layout of the course.