Gary’s Top 50 Golf Courses in Canada list

Lists of golf courses TOP 50, TOP 100, TOP 10 are all conversation starters. No one will agree with every list.

GOLF DIGEST, GOLFWEEK, SCORE, CANADIAN GOLF MAGAZINE and TOP100 all have different criteria, and often shared course raters, and they score various aspects of the course, coming up with a score, like 8.98. My list has only one rater, me. An old PGA Pro who has played more than 800 courses in a lifetime. Mine.

So, without further delay, these are my top 50 golf courses in Canada. (Only courses that I’ve played)

(Read more notes/thoughts on my Top 50 Courses in Canada list here)

Here the list:

1. St. George’s Golf Club.
Worked there, played CDN Open, wonderful

Classic Stanley Thompson – 5th at St. George’s

2. Hamilton GC.
Many rounds, when I was a player

Hamilton Golf and Country Club’s excellent closer during the 2012 RBC Canadian Open.

3. The National GC.
So many great experiences. 70 in 35 degrees best

The 18th at the National

4. Jasper Park GC.
Proves it’s pedigree every round

Jasper – The Bad Baby: Perhaps the best name for a par three in golf.

5. Highlands Links
Great location, superb routing, options abound

Signature par-3 3rd hole at Highlands Links

6. Banff Springs.
Original 18 has best 18 holes in a row, anywhere

7. Capilano GC.
Mountains, views, great Stanley Thompson design

8. Toronto GC.
Already a classic and then they improved it

9. Calgary GC.
Pure golf, ready to test members and Tour players

10. Weston GC.
Fastest firmest greens, played with Marlene and Gordie

The signature 2nd hole at Weston Golf Club

11. Summit GC.
First 18 hole course ever played, looks Canadian

12. Victoria GC.
Historic course, on the Pacific. Pebble north.

13. Mississaugua GC
Legendary layout, represented Canada for long time

14. Eagles Nest GC.
My favorite course built in a moraine, fits the land

3rd hole down in the valley at Eagles Nest

15. Westmount GC.
Great memories (Moe, Gus, Cowan, etc,) on a superb layout

16. Rosedale GC.
Fun routing, played many games with John Dudley

17. Sagebrush
Daring design, great bunkering, huge

18. Cabot Links
Real links golf, great views, many fun holes, as it matures #1

Looking towards the ocean over the double green – 4th and 13th holes at Cabot

19. Brantford GC
Moe’s favorite, I’ve loved the course since 1969

20. Mad River GC
Worked there, great Cupp design, test for all golfers

21. Deerhurst GC
Great finish starts at 2nd hole. Started careers, fun golf

22. Devil’s Paintbrush
Linksy golf in the hills of Caledon, superb experience

The third hole at Devil’s Paintbrush.

23. Devil’s Pulpit
So different from the Paintbrush, options galore

24. St Thomas GC
Love the variety, good memories many competitive rounds

Spectacular 2nd hole from it’s elevated tee – Cabot Cliffs

26. Royal Montreal Blue
Still some Dick Wilson design, good championship course

27. Whirlpool GC
A great design in special location, experience is everything

28. Shaughnessy
A test of nerve well laid out in the trees. Great membership

29. Cataraqui GC
My first Ontario Open, super fast and firm member’s club

30. Cherry Hill GC
Best American club in Canada. Canadian Open memories

31. Blackhawk GC
Links in Alberta, great variety of holes, tough as you want

32. Glen Abbey GC
Historic Championship Stadium course. So many memories

Into the valley – 11th at Glen Abbey GC

33. Toronto Ladies GC
Great layout has stood the test of time. Historic Course.

34. Laval
Renovations have brought Laval back, first golf in PQ for me

35. Scarboro GC
Superb conditioned championship course. And fun to play.

36. Links at Crowbush
Fun to play good variety of holes, felt special there since 9-11

37. Redwood Meadows
Best walkable course in the west. Many memorable holes.

38. Dakota Dunes
So linksy in Sask. challenging in the breeze, enjoyable

39. Fox Harbour
Great views, superb experience, perfect conditions

40. Royal Colwood
Perfect design through the trees. Hidden gem of a course

41. London Hunt GC
Loved playing the Hunt. Championship course many times.

42. Tobiano
Desert course with target fairways, good test

Drama and challenge at Tobiano outside Kamloops

43. Kawartha
Superb public course, rocks and trees and bunkers

44. Stewart Creek
Great mountain views, well conditioned test of all your clubs

45. Lambton GC
Perfect members course, recent changes, great conditions

46. Donalda GC
Great golf in the city. Many fun holes, plenty of options

47. Beacon Hall GC
Course of two nines, good test. Enjoyed inter club matches

48. Bell Bay GC
Another reason to visit Cape Breton. Good design great views

Signature 17th hole at Bell Bay.

49. Essex GC
A nice walking course, fun holes, good membership

50. Sunningdale
Always enjoyed the courses, many different looks, good shape

(Read more notes/thoughts on my Top 50 Courses in Canada list here)

As always, feel free to let me know what you think in the comments below.