On the fourth hole at Banff Springs, the Devil’s Cauldron, you hit across a glacial lake to a green set under the cliffs of Mount Rundle, and elk graze the fairways behind you. Stanley Thompson built that course in 1928, then Jasper Park Lodge and Highlands Links in Cape Breton, and his railway-hotel layouts still define golf in Banff, Jasper and the Maritimes.
Canada’s modern headliners are newer. Cabot Links opened in 2012 in the old mining town of Inverness on Cape Breton Island, the country’s only true links, and Cabot Cliffs followed in 2015 on the bluffs above it. The pair now rank among the best public courses in the world, and the reason most overseas golfers come to Canada at all.
The season is the catch. Most courses open from about May to mid-October, and only around Victoria and Vancouver do people play through the winter. Green fees range from about C$60 (45 USD) at a town course to C$575 (about 415 USD) at Cabot in peak summer.
At a Glance#
- Bucket-list golf: Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs at Inverness on Cape Breton Island, with Highlands Links in Cape Breton Highlands National Park on the same trip.
- Mountain golf: Banff Springs in Banff, Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper and the two courses at Kananaskis.
- Island golf: Prince Edward Island, with Crowbush Cove, Dundarave and Green Gables within an hour of Charlottetown.
- Wine-country golf: the Okanagan, from Predator Ridge near Vernon to desert golf at Osoyoos, plus Tobiano at Kamloops.
- Resort golf near the cities: Whistler from Vancouver, Mont-Tremblant from Montreal, and Muskoka from Toronto.
- Season: May to mid-October in most of the country; year round on the south coast of British Columbia.
Cape Breton#
Cabot Links, by Rod Whitman, runs through dunes along the Gulf of St Lawrence at Inverness, with the town on one side and the beach on the other. Cabot Cliffs, by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, climbs through dunes and forest to holes on clifftops above the sea; its par 3 16th, across a chasm, is one of the most photographed holes in golf. Both are walking-only courses with caddies available, and resort guests get priority tee times. For 2027, peak green fees (8 July to 12 September) are C$575 for day visitors and C$460 for resort guests, falling to C$285 to C$345 in early May and mid October, plus 14% HST. Day visitors can book 14 days ahead. The Nest, a 10-hole short course, costs about C$100.
On the other side of the island, Highlands Links at Ingonish Beach is Stanley Thompson’s 1939 masterpiece, routed through forest, river valley and mountain with sea views from the opening holes. It sits inside Cape Breton Highlands National Park on the Cabot Trail, next to the Keltic Lodge, and costs about C$150 to C$210 for visitors. Playing Cabot and Highlands in one trip means about two hours’ drive between them.
Banff, Jasper and Kananaskis#
Banff Springs, below the Banff Springs hotel, has 27 holes between the Bow and Spray rivers: Thompson’s 18 and the Tunnel Mountain nine. High-season rates have started from about C$260, including a shared cart. Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Thompson’s 1925 course around Lac Beauvert, is regularly ranked among the best in Canada; black bears and elk cross the fairways and course staff move them on. Both close from about mid-October to May.
Kananaskis Country Golf Course near Kananaskis Village, 45 minutes from Canmore, has two Robert Trent Jones Sr. courses, Mount Kidd and Mount Lorette, rebuilt after floods in 2013 and cheaper than Banff. In Calgary and Canmore, town courses give mountain views at lower prices.
Prince Edward Island#
Prince Edward Island packs more than 20 courses into a small island and sells golf as its main reason to visit after the beaches. The Links at Crowbush Cove on the north shore is a links-style layout through dunes beside the sea. At Brudenell River Provincial Park near Montague, Brudenell River and Dundarave sit side by side along the river. Green Gables Golf Course at Cavendish, another Stanley Thompson design, runs next to the Anne of Green Gables house in Prince Edward Island National Park. Most courses are under an hour from Charlottetown, and green fees are lower than on Cape Breton.
British Columbia#
The Okanagan valley has the driest, warmest summers in the country and the longest inland season. Predator Ridge near Vernon has two courses above Kalamalka Lake, and Tobiano near Kamloops plays along cliffs above Kamloops Lake. In the south, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert at Osoyoos is golf among vineyards and sagebrush, and Kelowna has courses among the wineries.
Whistler has three resort courses, including Nicklaus North beside Green Lake. On Vancouver Island, Bear Mountain near Victoria has two Nicklaus-designed courses, and the Victoria and Vancouver courses stay open through most winters.
Ontario and Quebec#
Muskoka, two hours north of Toronto, is Ontario’s golf resort region, with the Muskoka Bay Club and Taboo around Gravenhurst cut through pink granite and forest. Near Toronto, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon is a public facility that has hosted the RBC Canadian Open, and Glen Abbey in Oakville was its home for decades. Niagara-on-the-Lake pairs golf with wineries.
In Quebec, Le Géant at Mont-Tremblant plays down the side of the mountain with views over the Laurentians, 90 minutes from Montreal. The Fairmont Le Château Montebello, between Montreal and Ottawa, has another Stanley Thompson course.
Green fees and costs#
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs, peak, day visitor (2027) | C$575 plus tax |
| Cabot Links or Cabot Cliffs, early or late season | C$285 to C$345 |
| Highlands Links, visitor | about C$150 to C$210 |
| Banff Springs or Jasper Park Lodge, high season | from about C$260 to C$330 |
| Good public or resort course | about C$90 to C$180 |
| Town or municipal course | about C$50 to C$90 |
| Cart rental | about C$25 to C$40 per player |
Prices are in Canadian dollars and usually exclude GST or HST, 5% to 15% depending on the province. Twilight rates after about 3pm or 4pm cut most fees by a third or more, and summer daylight lasts until 9pm or later, so a late round is easy to fit in.
For Cabot in July and August, stay at the resort: guests get tee times before day visitors, at a lower rate. Day visitors do best in June or September, when tee times are easier and the weather is often better.
When to play#
June to September is the main season, with long days and temperatures of about 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F) inland. Cape Breton and PEI are cool and windy in June and at their best from July to September. Mountain courses open around May and close in October, and frost delays are common in spring and autumn mornings. Our Canada national parks guide covers Banff, Jasper and Cape Breton Highlands beyond the golf.
Booking and etiquette#
Book top courses directly online, weeks or months ahead in summer; Cabot sells out early, and resort packages are the surest way in. Most Canadian courses are walkable with a pull cart, but the mountain resorts include carts and some hilly courses require them. Dress is smart casual: collared shirts, no denim. Pace of play is taken seriously, and marshals will hurry slow groups. On mountain courses, stay away from elk, especially in the autumn rut and calving season in late May and June, and never approach bears.
Best places for golf in Canada#
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More Things to Do#
Canada golf FAQs#
What is the best golf course in Canada?
Cabot Cliffs in Cape Breton is the course most often ranked number one, with Cabot Links, Jasper Park Lodge, Highlands Links and Banff Springs close behind. St George’s in Toronto ranks highly too but is a private club.
How much does it cost to play Cabot Links?
For 2027, day visitors pay C$575 (about 415 USD) in peak summer and resort guests C$460, plus 14% HST. Early May and October rates drop to about C$285 to C$345, and The Nest short course costs about C$100.
When is golf season in Canada?
Roughly May to mid-October in most of the country, with the best weather from June to September. On the south coast of British Columbia, around Victoria and Vancouver, many courses stay open all year.
Can you see wildlife on Canadian golf courses?
Often. Elk graze the fairways at Banff Springs and Jasper Park Lodge, and bears and deer cross the mountain courses. Keep your distance, never feed animals, and follow course staff if they redirect play.
Is Banff or Jasper better for golf?
Jasper Park Lodge usually ranks higher and has a quieter town. Banff Springs has more holes, the more famous hotel and easier access from Calgary airport, about 90 minutes away.
Do I need a handicap certificate to play in Canada?
Almost never. Public and resort courses take any visitor who can keep up the pace of play. Private clubs such as St George’s need a member’s invitation.