Where to find the most unique golfing experiences in Canada

This country is blessed with memorable public golf courses from coast to coast

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Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. We have all been told, at times, to keep our swings slow and smooth, but Canadian golfers can’t help but feel a sense of urgency. The season is always too short for our liking.

You finally get in the groove, and suddenly there is snow in the forecast. To help you squeeze the most out of the 2026 season, or to plan ahead for future years, we have created this list of Canada’s most unique and unforgettable golfing experiences — all at courses where public tee-times are available. In alphabetical order, and with content from coast-to-coast, let’s get the ball rolling ...

Cabot Cape Breton This is the crown jewel of Canada’s golf scene. Cabot Cliffs has been widely ranked as the best course in the country, and its sibling setup Cabot Links is never far behind on those honour rolls.

If you haven’t lost too many balls in the ocean, and you can hire a caddie to help steer you into prime position, then Cabot Cape Breton’s 11-hole short course offers another unique experience with night rounds under stadium-style lights. Location: Inverness, N.S. Coal Creek Golf Resort

This rural Alberta track, located about an hour southeast of Edmonton, sits on land that operated for 100-plus years as a coal mine. There are many neat nods to that history, but Coal Creek has become best-known as the course with the black sand traps. Those bunkers, actually filled with a fine copper slag, are dark and daunting but surprisingly delightful for hitting a golf ball out of.

Location: Ryley, Alta. Dundarave Golf Course Prince Edward Island is a popular golf-trip destination, and Dundarave is one of the must-plays. This design is framed by distinctive red bunkers, a match for the sandstone landscape that Canada’s smallest province is famous for.

These rust-coloured hazards are both menacing and memorable, and with about 120 of them in total, they are hard to avoid. A bit of red on your wedge is all part of the experience at Dundarave. Location:

Cardigan, P.E.I. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Stanley Thompson is Canada’s most celebrated golf course architect, his portfolio highlighted by several legendary layouts in national-park settings. Many believe the finest is Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, with its superb mountain scenery. This historic hangout marked its centennial last summer while also writing the first chapter of a compelling comeback story as the community of Jasper recovers from a devastating wildfire in 2024.

Location: Jasper, Alta. Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu We all love that first-tee feeling, that sense of excitement to embark on the adventure that awaits.

At Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu, located in Quebec’s charming Charlevoix region, you might crank your opening shot on the St-Laurent Nine and think to yourself, “Jeez, I’d like to just stay put right here.” Yeah, the view from this clifftop launch pad, perched high above the St. Lawrence River, is that good. Location: La Malbaie, Que.

Pippy Park Golf Club If you’re looking for some of the best views in St. John’s, a local might point you to Pippy Park. The signature shot comes on the seventh hole on the Admiral’s Green 18. From the elevated tees on this Par-3, you are aimed at the Confederation Building and can see across the city and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

You will be tempted to immediately post the pic on Instagram, especially if you can boast about draining the birdie putt. Location: St. John’s, Nfld. Sand greens in Saskatchewan Have you ever played on sand greens?

While there are not too many of these relics left, some remain scattered around Saskatchewan — a golf-crazed province with plenty of grass putting surfaces, too. If you find yourself near Hazlet Regional Park, Pike Lake Provincial Park or any other sand-green course, this really is something every golf enthusiast should try at least once. Don’t forget to rake/smooth the dance floors for the next group.

Location: Watch for the highway signs, Sask. Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club The claim to fame for this small-town golf course, less than an hour’s drive from Ottawa, is a connection to a huge star.

This is where Brooke Henderson, already the most accomplished Canadian golfer of all time and still in her trophy-collecting heyday, honed the skills and aggressive style that have made her a force on the LPGA Tour. Before you walk the same fairways that she strolled so many times, you will be greeted by Brooke’s larger-than-life photo on the entrance sign. Location:Smiths Falls, Ont.

Stanley Park Pitch & Putt Any visit to Vancouver must include a stop at this iconic urban park, and why not do some of your exploring with a wedge and putter in hand? The longest hole at Stanley Park Pitch & Putt is only 100 yards, making this a perfect place to hook a beginner on the game. Established golf nuts will be able to brag to buddies that they played one of the courses used to film the original Happy Gilmore movie.

Location: Vancouver, B.C. TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley Ever watch Golf Channel on a Sunday afternoon and wonder how you’d stack up? You can find out at the North Course at TPC Toronto, one of the rare public-access facilities on the PGA Tour schedule.

TPC Toronto has hosted the RBC Canadian Open for the past two years, and the stars will return in 2027, too. After your own round, you can compare your scorecard to how Corey Conners, Tommy Fleetwood and others have fared on those same assignments. Location: Caledon, Ont.

Yellowknife Golf Club Yellowknife Golf Club is home to the Midnight Classic tournament, which is scheduled around the summer solstice and takes advantage of subarctic daylight so you can play at an hour that you’re usually just dreaming about golf. No matter what time you tee off, this is a one-of-a-kind experience. These non-traditional fairways are a mix of sand and tundra — you carry a portable hitting mat with you — and the greens are artificial turf.

Location: Yellowknife, N.W.T.