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Banff Springs Golf Club

The greatest hotel in the Rocky Mountains is undoubtedly the Banff Springs Hotel, one of the grandest castles you could ever hope to encounter rising from the valley alongside the glacial Bow River. Built by the railroads as an essential stop heading east or west, it is home to the quintessential Canadian golf course. This is Banff Springs Golf Club, designed in 1911 by the great Stanley Thompson, an architect revered by those in the know every bit as much as the great Donald Ross and Alister MacKenzie. Banff Springs is a masterpiece in the valley, a course that oozes history and charm and with one of the world’s greatest par-3s, the famous “Devil’s Cauldron.” In the old days, the course began next to the hotel at the base of what is now the Waldhaus Pub (one not to be missed!). Though the routing has changed, and the course now starts at the far end, the classic challenge remains and Banff Springs is one to play twice in our opinion. There is no better place to stay than the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, a trip back in time and home to a world-class spa and every amenity you can imagine. Put this on your list of “must visits” in your lifetime, and better yet, get here as soon as you can!