Canada Golf Course Reviews
Kananaskis Country - Mount Kidd Course ReviewKananaskis, Alberta
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Kananaskis Country - Mount Kidd Golf Course Overview: One of two difficult golf courses located in the Kananaskis valley between tall mountains in the Canadian Rockies, about 1 hour west of Calgary. This one is a little bit shorter than its sister course, and more forgiving in spots, but not by much. It still plays around the river on several holes and has lots of fantastic views of its namesake, and other mountains throughout. The best golf holes are reviewed below:
Kidd Golf Hole 1: The first hole is a tough par four that heads directly towards the course's 9,700 foot namesake, Mount Kidd. The trees left and right are very bad spots, so placing a drive as close to, but left of the fairway bunker is the best way to go, as it will also leave a shorter and better angled approach to most pins.
Kidd Golf Hole 1: The first hole is a tough par four that heads directly towards the course's 9,700 foot namesake, Mount Kidd. The trees left and right are very bad spots, so placing a drive as close to, but left of the fairway bunker is the best way to go, as it will also leave a shorter and better angled approach to most pins.
Kidd Hole 2: This long and tough par five has a tree-lined drive but the river to the left of the second shot is the biggest concern. It is also near the green, but left of the left greenside bunker, so it's less of a concern.
Kidd Hole 3: This par four is at the edge of the property (watch for bears) and it is a stunner. From the elevated tee, the view of "the wedge" mountain is spectacular iwth acres of forest stretching as to all the surrounding foothills. The hole itself is a medium length par four, slight dogleg left around a white sand bunker. The second shot has to deal with some more sand but there is plenty of bailout room short/right and a relatively docile green.
Kidd Hole 4: The signature hole is a downhill par three "island" green looking down the Kananaskis Valley. Not only is there a lake surrouding most of the green, but there is also the river to look out for far to the right, which completes the "island", although it's pretty far right. Nonetheless, the elevated tee shot is one to remember.
Kidd Hole 5: The "driveable" par four on the front can be achieved, but right is dead no matter what. There is plenty of room to lay up or miss left, but going farther will give a better angle as well to the slighly elevated, relatively undulating and fairly shallow putting surface.
Kidd Hole 6: This par five is the better chance to score on the frone, as long as the player does not go left at all, from tee to green. The creek and forest should push most players to start their drives right, but there are bunkers over there and the hole rewards a long drive to the left side of the fairway. The green is relatively accessibl, but there is some sand and, again, trouble left. As usual, the backdrop is amazing.
Kidd Hole 7: This medium length par four is all about the pond to the left of the green. The drive is fairly wide open but the approach must stay dry, but also, hopefully, avoid the deep bunker right of the green as well.
Kidd Hole 8: This par three is over the river, but the green is set well beyond it such that the bunkers short and forest long present a much more realistic group of hazards to avoid than the water.
Kidd Hole 10: The back nine starts with a relatively ho-hum (except for the majestic backdrop of Mount Kidd, of course) par four, slight dogleg left around some trees. Right off the tee is the only real bad mistake.
Kidd Hole 11: This par four is not particularly long, but the river is sneakily close to the right side of the fairway on the drive. However, staying right of center does provide the better angle to the green.
Kidd Hole 12: Another par three that has river waters to contend with, this one is more difficult. It is longer and, although the river once again isn't too much of a concern, the deep bunker to the right is very much in play. The bailout short leaves a decent up and down chance.
Kidd Hole 13 (left): A straight par through the trees, this drive is much tighter than many on the course and the fairway must be found. The green is elevated behind a deep bunker and two really good shots are needed here.
Kidd Hole 15 (below): This dogleg left is not very long and the drive is pretty open, but the green is elevated a little and has two deep bunkers to avoid. The better angle to most pins is from the left side of the fairway, near the sand trap.
Kidd Hole 15 (below): This dogleg left is not very long and the drive is pretty open, but the green is elevated a little and has two deep bunkers to avoid. The better angle to most pins is from the left side of the fairway, near the sand trap.
Kidd Hole 16: The day's final par three is downhill, but long, and once again, with great views of mountains. The bunkers left and right require a straight shot to be hit to find the relatively large putting surface.
