Golf Top 18
  • Home
  • Golf Course Reviews
    • Canada Golf Course Reviews >
      • Banff Springs Golf Course Review
      • Chateau Whistler Golf Course Review
      • Greywolf Golf Course Review
      • Kananaskis Mount Kidd Golf Course Review
      • Kananaskis Mount Lorette Golf Course Review
      • Nicklaus North Golf Course Review
      • Stewart Creek Golf Course Review
    • European Golf Course Reviews >
      • British Isles Golf Course Reviews >
        • Ireland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Ballybunion Cashen Course Review
          • Ballybunion Old Course Review
          • Dingle Golf Club Review
          • Dooks Golf Links Review
          • Doonbeg Golf Club Review
          • Druids Glen Golf Club Review
          • Druids Heath Golf Club Review
          • European Club Review
          • K Club (North) Golf Course Review
          • Killarney Mahony's Point Review
          • Lahinch Golf Club Review
          • Old Head Golf Links Review
          • Tralee Golf Links Review
          • Waterville Golf Links Review
        • Northern Ireland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Portstewart Old Course Review
          • Portstewart Strand Golf Course Review
          • Royal County Down Golf Club Review
          • Royal Portrush Dunluce Links Review
        • Scotland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Prestwick Golf Club Review
          • Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club Review
          • Royal Troon Old Course Review
          • Troon Portland Course Review
          • Turnberry Ailsa Course Review
          • Turnberry Kintyre Course Review
      • Luxembourg Golf Course Reviews >
        • Golf de Clervaux Review
        • Golf-Club Grand-Ducal Review
        • Golf de Luxembourg Belenhaff Review
        • Kikuoka Country Club Review
      • Other Continental Europe Golf Course Reviews >
        • Dijon-Bourgogne Review, France
        • Golf Club Trier Review, Germany
        • Preisch Golf Club Review, France
      • Turkey Golf Course Reviews >
        • Cornelia Golf Club, Gaius – Tiberius Review
        • Gloria Golf Club (New Course) Review
        • National Golf Club Review, Turkey
    • Mexico / Caribbean Golf Course Reviews >
      • Cabo Del Sol - Desert Course Review
      • Cabo Del Sol - Ocean Course Review
      • Club Campestre Review
      • Diamante Dunes Course Review
      • Diamante El Cardonal Review
      • Moon Palace Golf Club Review
      • Palmas Del Mar - Flamboyan Course Review
      • Palmas Del Mar - Palm Course Review
      • Palmilla Golf Club Review
      • Puerto Los Cabos Review
      • Quivira Golf Course Review
      • Royal Isabela Golf Course Review
    • United States Golf Course Reviews >
      • Central USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Blackwolf Run River Course Review, Wisconsin
        • Cog Hill #4, Dubsdread Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • Eaglewood Resort & Spa Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • English Turn Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • Gentle Creek Golf Club Review, Texas
        • Grapevine Golf Course Review, Texas
        • Irish Course at Whistling Straits Golf Course Review, Wisconsin
        • Lakewood New Orleans Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • The Glen Club Golf Course Review, Illinois
        • The Bridges Golf Club Review, Texas
        • TPC Louisiana Golf Course Review, Louisiana
        • Whistling Straits Golf Course Review, Wisconsin
      • Eastern USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Florida Golf Course Reviews >
          • Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course Review
          • Disney’s Palm Golf Course Review
          • Mystic Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Independence (Watson) Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Legacy (Palmer) Golf Course Review
          • Reunion Nicklaus Golf Course Review
          • Sawgrass Country Club Review (East-West) (South-East)
          • Streamsong Black Golf Course Review
          • Streamsong Blue Golf Course Review
          • Streamsong Red Golf Course Review
          • TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley Course Review
          • TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course Review
          • Trump Doral (Blue Monster) Golf Course Review
        • Maryland Golf Course Reviews >
          • Beechtree Golf Club Review
          • Bulle Rock Review
        • New York Golf Course Reviews >
          • Bethpage Black Golf Course Review
          • Bethpage Red Golf Course Review
          • Trump Ferry Point Golf Course Review
        • Virginia Golf Course Reviews >
          • 1757 Golf Club Review
      • Mountain TZ USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • Arizona Golf Course Reviews >
          • Desert Mountain, Cochise Course Review
          • Dinosaur Mountain Golf Course Review at Gold Canyon
          • McDowell Mountain Golf Course Review
          • Sidewinder Golf Course Review at Gold Canyon
          • Stonecreek Golf Club Review
          • TPC Scottsdale Golf Course Review
          • Troon North Monument Golf Course Review
          • Troon North Pinnacle Golf Course Review
          • We-ko-pa (Cholla) Golf Course Review
        • Idaho Golf Course Reviews >
          • Canyon Springs Golf Course Review
        • Montana Golf Course Reviews >
          • Eagle Bend Golf Club Review
        • New Mexico Golf Course Reviews >
          • Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Course Review
          • Sandia Golf Course Review
          • Twin Warriors Golf Course Review
        • Utah Golf Course Reviews >
          • Coral Canyon Golf Course Review
          • Sand Hollow Golf Course Review
          • The Ledges Golf Course Review
        • Wyoming Golf Course Reviews >
          • Jackson Hole Golf Club Review
      • Western USA Golf Course Reviews >
        • California Golf Course Reviews >
          • Central California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Cypress Ridge Golf Course Review
            • Glen Annie Golf Club Review
            • La Purisima Golf Course Review
            • Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course Review
            • Rancho San Marcos Golf Course Review
            • Rio Bravo Golf Course Review
            • Sandpiper Golf Course Review
          • Inland Empire Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Eagle Glen Golf Course Review
            • Empire Lakes Golf Course Review (closed 2016)
            • Green River Golf Club Review
            • Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet, Champions Course Review
            • Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet, Legends Course Review
            • Oak Quarry Golf Club Review
            • Los Serranos Country Club North Review
            • Los Serranos Country Club South Review
            • Temecula Creek Inn (Creek-Oaks Course) Review
            • Vellano Country Club Review
            • Western Hills Country Club Review
            • Yucaipa Valley Golf Club Review
          • Los Angeles County Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Angeles National Golf Club Review
            • Balboa Golf Course Review
            • B.A.C.C. Review
            • Brookside Koiner (Course #1) Review
            • Brookside E.O. Nay (Course #2) Review
            • El Dorado Park Golf Club Review
            • Industry Hills Golf Club, Babe Zaharias Course Review
            • Industry Hills Golf Club, Eisenhower “Ike” Course Review
            • Lakewood Country Club Golf Course Review
            • The Links at Victoria Golf Course Review
            • Los Verdes Golf Course Review
            • Malibu Country Club Review
            • Mountain Gate (North/South) Golf Course Review
            • Palos Verdes Golf Club Review
            • Rancho Park Golf Course Review
            • Recreation Park Golf Course Review
            • R.H.C.C. Review
            • Robinson Ranch, Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Robinson Ranch, Valley Course Review
            • Skylinks at Long Beach Golf Course Review
            • Trump National Golf Course Review
            • W.C.C. Review
          • Orange County Golf Course Reviews, California >
            • Aliso Viejo Golf Course Review
            • Black Gold Golf Course Review
            • Costa Mesa (Los Lagos) Review
            • Coyote Hills Golf Club Review
            • Cypress Golf Club (closed 2008) Review
            • Meadowlark Golf Course Review
            • Mile Square, the Classic Course Review
            • Mile Square, the Players Course Review
            • Mission Viejo Country Club Review
            • Monarch Beach Golf Links Review
            • Navy Destroyer Course Review
            • Newport Beach Country Club Review
            • Oak Creek Golf Club Review
            • Old Ranch Country Club Review
            • Pelican Hill Golf Club, Ocean North Review
            • Pelican Hill Golf Club, Ocean South Review
            • Rancho San Joaquin Golf Club Review
            • San Juan Hills Golf Club Review
            • Sea Cliff Country Club Review
            • Shorecliffs Golf Course Review
            • Strawberry Farms Golf Club Review
            • Talega Golf Club Review
            • Tijeras Creek Golf Club Review
            • Tustin Ranch Golf Club Review
            • Westridge Golf Club Review
          • Northern California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Crystal Springs Golf Course Review
            • DeLaveaga Golf Course Review
            • Fort Ord, Bayonet Golf Course Review
            • Half Moon Bay Ocean Course Review
            • Half Moon Bay Old Course Review
            • Harding Park Golf Course Review
            • The Links at Spanish Bay Review
            • Monterey Peninsula C.C. Dunes Course Review
            • Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course Review
            • Pasatiempo Golf Club Review
            • Pebble Beach Golf Links Review
            • Poppy Hills Golf Course Review
            • Presidio Golf Course Review
            • Rancho Canada West Course Review
            • Spyglass Hill Golf Course Review
            • Windsor Golf Course Review
          • Palm Springs Area, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Cimarron Golf Resort, Boulder Golf Course Review
            • Classic Club Golf Review
            • Desert Dunes Golf Club Review
            • Desert Falls Country Club Review
            • Desert Springs Palm Course Review
            • Desert Willow Golf Resort, Firecliff Golf Course Review
            • Desert Willow Golf Resort, Mountain View Golf Course Review
            • Eagle Falls Golf Course Review
            • Indian Canyons South Course Review
            • Indian Springs Golf and Country Club Review
            • Indian Wells Celebrity Course Review
            • Indian Wells Players Course Review
            • La Quinta Dunes Golf Course Review
            • La Quinta Mountain Course Review
            • Mesquite Golf & Country Club Review
            • PGA West Nicklaus Private Course Review
            • PGA West Nicklaus Tournament Course Review
            • PGA West Norman Course Review
            • PGA West Palmer Course Review
            • PGA West Stadium Course Review
            • PGA West Weiskopf Private Course Review
            • Rancho Las Palmas Golf Course, West – North Review
            • Rancho Mirage Country Club Review
            • The Reserve Golf Course Review
            • Shadow Hills Golf Club Review
            • Shadow Ridge Golf Club Review
            • Silverrock Resort Golf Course Review
            • Tahquitz Creek, Resort Golf Course Review
            • Terra Lago Golf Club, North Course Review
            • Terra Lago Golf Club, South Course Review
            • Trilogy at La Quinta Golf Review
            • Woodhaven Country Club Review
          • San Diego County, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Arrowood Golf Course Review
            • Aviara Golf Club at Park Hyatt Review
            • The Bridges Golf Course Review
            • The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course Review
            • La Costa Resort and Spa North Golf Course Review
            • La Costa Resort and Spa South Golf Course Review
            • Lake San Marcos Country Club Review
            • Meadow Lake Golf Course Review
            • Riverwalk Golf Course Review
            • Torrey Pines North Course Review
            • Torrey Pines South Course Review
            • Twin Oaks Golf Course Review
          • Ventura County, California Golf Course Reviews >
            • Buenaventura Golf Course Review
            • Camarillo Springs Golf Course Review
            • Elkins Ranch Golf Course Review
            • Los Robles Greens Golf Course Review
            • Lost Canyons, Shadow Course Review
            • Lost Canyons, Sky Course Review
            • Moorpark Country Club. Canyon Crest-Creekside Review
            • Moorpark Country Club, Ridgeline-Creekside Review
            • Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course Review
            • Olivas Links Golf Course Review
            • River Ridge Golf Club, Victoria Lakes Review
            • River Ridge Golf Club, Vineyard Course Review
            • Rustic Canyon Golf Course Review
            • Saticoy Country Club Review
            • Simi Hills Golf Course Review
            • Soule Park Golf Course Review
            • Sterling Hills Golf Club Review
            • Tierra Rejada Golf Club Review
        • Hawaii Golf Course Reviews >
          • Big Island Golf Course Reviews >
            • Big Island Country Club Review
            • Hapuna Golf Course Review
            • Hualalai Golf Course Review
            • Kona Country Club Ocean Course Review
            • Mauna Kea Golf Course Review
            • Mauna Lani Resort North Course Review
            • Mauna Lani Resort South Course Review
            • Waikoloa Beach Course Review
          • Kauai Golf Course Reviews >
            • Hokuala Ocean Course Review
            • Kiahuna Golf Club Review
            • The Makai Course at Princeville Review
            • Poipu Bay Golf Course Review
            • Puakea Golf Course Review
            • The Prince Course at Princeville Review
            • Wailua Municipal Golf Course Review
          • Lanai Golf Course Reviews >
            • The Challenge at Manele Review
            • The Experience at Koele Review
          • Maui Golf Course Reviews >
            • Elleair Maui Golf Club Review
            • Makena Resort North Course Review
            • Makena Resort South Course (closed in 2008)
            • Plantation Course at Kapalua Review
            • Royal Ka'anapali Golf Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Emerald Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Gold Course Review
            • Wailea Golf Club, Old Blue Course Review
          • Oahu Golf Course Reviews >
            • Ko’olau Golf Course Review (CLOSED 2020)
            • Ko Olina Golf Course Review
            • Turtle Bay (Palmer Course) Review
        • Nevada Golf Course Reviews >
          • Lake Tahoe / Reno Area Golf Course Reviews >
            • Coyote Moon Golf Course Review
            • Edgewood Golf Course Review
            • Empire Ranch Golf Course Review
            • Graeagle Meadows Golf Course Review
            • Gray's Crossing Golf Club Review
            • Incline Village Championship Golf Course Review
            • Incline Village Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Lake Tahoe Golf Course Review
            • Northstar Resort Golf Course Review
            • Old Greenwood Golf Course Review
            • Redhawk Golf Club, Lakes Course – pre 2007 redesign
            • Resort at Squaw Creek Golf Course Review
            • Schaffer's Mill Golf Course Review
            • Sierra Nevada Golf Ranch Review
            • Sunridge Golf Club Review
            • Wolf Run Golf Club Review
          • Las Vegas Area Golf Course Review >
            • Angel Park Mountain Golf Course Review
            • Arroyo Golf Club Review
            • Badlands, Desperado - Diablo, Golf Course Review (deceased 2017)
            • Bali Hai Golf Club Review
            • Cascata Golf Club Review
            • Coyote Springs Golf Course Review
            • The Falls Golf Course (closed in 2008) Review
            • Highland Falls Golf Club Review
            • Las Vegas National Golf Club Review
            • The Legacy Golf Club Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Snow Mountain Course Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Sun Mountain Course Review
            • Paiute Golf Resort Wolf Course Review
            • Primm Valley, Desert Golf Course Review
            • Primm Valley, Lakes Golf Course Review
            • Reflection Bay Golf Course Review
            • The Revere Golf Club Review, Concord Course
            • The Revere Golf Club Review, Lexington Course
            • Royal Links Course Review
            • TPC Las Vegas Golf Club Review
            • TPC Summerlin Golf Club Review
            • Wolf Creek Course Review
            • Wynn Golf Club Review
          • Other Nevada Golf Course Review >
            • Emerald River Golf Course (Deceased)
            • Mojave Resort Golf Course Review
        • Oregon Golf Course Reviews >
          • Bandon Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Bandon Preserve Golf Course Review
          • Bandon Trails Golf Course Review
          • Gearhart Golf Course Review
          • Old MacDonald Golf Course Review
          • Pacific Dunes Golf Course Review
          • Running Y Golf Course Review
          • Sheep Ranch Golf Course Review
          • The Golf Club of Oregon Golf Course Review
        • Washington Golf Course Reviews >
          • Chambers Bay Golf Course Review
    • Southern Hemisphere Golf Course Reviews >
      • Cape Kidnappers Golf Course Review
      • Denarau Golf Club Review
      • Jack's Point Golf Course Review
      • Kinloch Golf Course Review
    • Golf Course Review Awards
  • Golf Top 18
    • Favorite Courses
    • Favorite Holes - The Dream 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Second 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Third 18
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Threes
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Fours
    • Favorite Holes - The Par Fives
    • The Honorable Mentions
  • Recent Courses Blog
  • More

Canada Golf Course Reviews

Banff Springs Golf Course Review

Banff, Alberta, Canada
Back tees: 72.6 rating; 131 slope

Review by GolfTop18
 Rating: 5 out of 5
Year Last Reviewed: 2019
Ratings detailed here... 
Banff Springs Scorecard
Banff Springs Golf Course Review Overview:
The real strength of this golf course lies in its extraordinary surroundings.  Located in beautiful Banff, the views include thick pine forests, the historic Banff Springs Hotel, the glacial Bow River, hordes of large elk that live near the course and 9,672 foot Mount Rundle towering over the course, with many more scenic mountains and glaciers visible in the distance.  The design of the course itself is heralded as one of Canada's greatest, and is at times ingenious, but does also offer a few average or holes (ignoring, of course, the clearly unforgettably great surroundings, which is tough to do).  However, the holes that standout the most are mentioned below:

​​Banff Springs Hole 1:  The opening hole is a straight par four with heavy trees (and OB) to the right and more trees, although less of them, to the left.  A straight drive will leave an open shot to a bunkered, but sizeable green.
Banff Springs golf course #1 Picture
Picture
Banff Springs Hole 2 (right):  The first par three on the golf course is mentioned mostly for the view; Mt. Rundle is situated squarely behind the green, making distances and depth-perception quite skewed, but pleasantly so.  There is great bunkering around the green and a slope that will keep most shots that are short from climbing onto the putting surface, but a generally decent golf shot will not find much trouble.  The putting green is sloped from back to front, but not absurdly so, so a good shot at the flag, but below it, leaves the best birdie opportunity.

Banff Springs golf course #3 Picture
​Banff Springs Hole 3 (left):  This par five will afford one of the better scoring opportunities, if the golfer can thread the needle between bunkers and trees on the drive.  From there the hole bends right around the corner of the dogleg to a green that is set between a bunker to the left and trees and hillside to the right, but the short-ish nature of the hole means two big shots will leave a good look at birdie.

Banff Springs Hole 4:  Considered by golf architecture gurus to be one of the very best holes in all of the world, “Devil’s Cauldron” is a very beautiful par 3.  Well downhill and with Mt. Rundle directly in the background, the tee shot must be played over a natural glacial lake to a green surrounded by 6 sand traps (or the less famous, but more treacherous alternate green cut close to the lake well right of the original as seen in this picture).  The distance is very difficult to judge, but just watching the ball flight from the tee is one of the most serene moments any golfer will ever enjoy, at least until it lands.
Banff Springs #4 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 5:  This difficult par four has OB right and doglegs left around a big bunker to the left.  There are more bunkers up by the green and the player must bring two of their best shots of the day here to score well.
sam melcher golfing in banff Picture
Banff Springs Hole 8:  As if two outstanding par threes on the front weren't enough, Stanley Thompson decided to add the great little 8th hole with a lake to clear (and river to not be distracted by) to add the exclamation point to a really great set of one-shotters on the front side of this course.
Banff Springs golf course #8 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 10:  Another solid, long par 3, this long one-shotter must be played over a bend in the beautiful "little" Bow River tributary.  Anything right or too short will find it, and the golfer who is too cautious will find bunkers or long grass and mounds left of the green that will make up and down quite challenging.
Banff Springs #10 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 12:  The second of two very similar par fours heading in the same direction, this one has slightly better bunkering and a green that finishes quite close to the river (although only really apparent from the left side of the fairway, or when you're up on the putting suface.
Banff Springs golf course #12 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 14:  A tough uphill par 4 with the Banff Springs Hotel looming on a hill in the background and the Bow River on the right side (although not much in play).  The real treat here is that there are 18 bunkers on this hole, so avoiding them is a victory in itself.  As a side note, this is the first golf hole that the author ever hit a golf ball on, with a 7 iron at age 7.  Is it any wonder golf is my sporting passion?
Banff Springs #14 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 15:  Just a purely beautiful par four in every sense.  A well struck shot from the elevated tee over the Bow River and under the shadow of the Banff Springs Hotel will hang in the air against the forested backdrop of Mt. Rundle for a long, long time.  The distance on the drive can also be mammoth in the high-altitude air.  The approach shot is challenging as 6 bunkers surround the green.  As a side note, this used to be the first hole on the course and usually had many spectators (talk about a nerve-wracking start to a round).
Banff Springs #15 Picture
Banff Springs Hole 16:  After the sublime 15th, the course finishes on a more relaxed note, with this par four and the docile par 4 seventeenth and the final, par 5 eighteenth, for which the only real struggles are the OB to the right.  This hole has beautiful bunkering, but if those are avoided, is a fairly easy hole.
Banff Springs golf course review Picture

More Canadian Golf Course Reviews.

Sites of Interest:
Banff Spring Golf Course
Banff Springs Golf Club
We take your privacy very seriously and won't rent or sell your information.  
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use l Contact Us l About Us
Copyright of GolfTop18.com and Erin Melcher.  All Rights Reserved.