Gary Browning's Stewart Creek north of Calgary
Day Three of Ontgolf.ca’s Canadian Architecture Review, detailing the peaks and valleys of Canada’s golf designers.
Architect: Gary Browning/Wade Horrocks
Years in industry: 20+
Recent work: New course at Stewart Creek GC, Canmore, B.C., Blue Devil in Calgary
Renovation work: Glencoe GC (Calgary)
Key course: Stewart Creek GC, Canmore, B.C.
Strengths:
- A regional designer who has demonstrated an ability to work with difficult sites
- Playing strategies and aesthetics have garnered praise
- Horrocks construction background gives firm a competitive edge
- Both Horrocks and Browning are articulate and sharp salesmen for their particular brand of golf
Weaknesses:
- Barely known outside of Alberta
- Poor marketing “ little web presence and not widely recognized
- His key course “ Stewart Creek “ has 17 good holes and one real dog
Overview: Brownings work at Stewart Creek garnered a lot of attention and continues to rank highly among Canadian courses. Until recently he had not found another project that could propel him into the ranks of the likes of Thomas McBroom or Doug Carrick. However, his Blue Devil course, for the Shaw family (a possible Canadian Open venue?), could again elevate his profile, as will the second course at Stewart Creek, a wider, more resort-style affair. Browning and Horrocks have intentionally stayed close to home “ which means few outside of Alberta are aware of the firm.
Whats possible?: If the second course at Stewart Creek matches the lofty standards of the first and Blue Devil is a hit, it’ll be hard for those in the industry to ignore the firms talent.
Overall: B+
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in 
Thanks, Rob
Only on day 3 and already I’m learning about an architect I’d never heard of before (and about courses I’ve never played)
Peter
You can definitely tell that Stewart Creek is Browning’s baby. These guys are all doing what they love and that’s incredible.
Which of the 18 holes is considered “a real dog” and when’s the
second course at Stewart Creek due to start/open?