Last year was not a great year if you were a golfer in Canada. Rounds played were up, but COVID restrictions meant travel was restricted within provinces—and many courses were closed to guest play. Our Golf Digest's latest ranking of the 30 best courses in Canada has been determined by Golf Digest's 100 Greatest panelists, which consists of about 1,900 well-traveled amateur golfers across the United States and Canada—across 10 years worth of data. Golf Digest's panelists score courses on the following criteria: Shot Options, Challenge, Layout Variety, Distinctiveness, Aesthetics, Conditioning and Character.
We'll hope Canadian golfers—some of the most passionate in the world—are able to travel to access these great courses some time soon.
KEY TO SYMBOLS
♦ Open to the public (parentheses indicate previous ranking)
Best Courses in Canada:
1. (1) Cabot Cliffs (above) ♦
Inverness, N.S.
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2015)
Score: 63.2679
Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images
2. (2) The National G.C. of Canada
Woodbridge, Ont.
George Fazio & Tom Fazio (1976)
Score: 62.4904
3. (3) St. George's G. and C.C.
Etobicoke, Ont.
Stanley Thompson (1929)
Score: 62.4426
4. (5) Capilano G. and C.C.
West Vancouver, B.C.
Stanley Thompson (1937)
Score: 60.9249
Courtesy of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
5. (8) Fairmont Jasper (Alb.) Park Lodge G.C. ♦
Stanley Thompson (1925)
Score: 60.7167
6. (7) Cabot Links ♦
Inverness, N.S.
Rod Whitman (2011)
Score: 60.5586
7. (4) Memphrémagog G.C.
Magog, Quebec
Thomas McBroom (2008)
Score: 60.5229
8. (15) Tobiano G. Cse. ♦
Kamloops, B.C.
Thomas McBroom (2008)
Score: 59.9722
Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images
9. (6) Hamilton G. & C.C. (West/South)
Ancaster, Ont.
Harry S. Colt (1916)
Score: 59.8732
Photo by Stephen Szurlej
10. (10) Muskoka Bay Club ♦
Gravenhurst, Ont.
Doug Carrick (2007)
Score: 59.7110
11. (9) Fairmont Banff (Alb.) Springs G. Cse. (Thompson) ♦
Stanley Thompson (1927)
Score: 59.6014
Photo by Stan Badz/Getty Images
12. (11) Shaughnessy G. & C.C.
Vancouver, B.C.
A.V. Macan (1960)
Score: 59.3669
13. (12) The Paintbrush
Caledon East, Ont.
Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (1992)
Score: 59.3038
Photo by Getty Images
14. (16) The Links at Crowbush Cove ♦
Morell, P.E.I.
Thomas McBroom (1994)
Score: 59.1871
15. (14) Beacon Hall G.C.
Aurora, Ont.
Bob Cupp (1988)
Score: 59.1439
Courtesy of Highlands Links/Chris Gallow
16. (13) Cape Breton Highlands Links ♦
Ingonish Beach, N.S.
Stanley Thompson (1941)
Score: 58.8114
17. (17) The Pulpit G.C.
Caledon Village, Ont.
Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry (1991)
Score: 58.7370
18. (19) Toronto G.C.
Mississauga, Ont.
Harry S. Colt (1912)
Score: 58.2275
19. (20) Redtail G. Cse.
Port Stanley, Ont.
Donald Steel (1993)
Score: 57.9995
20. (19) Victoria (B.C.) G.C.
A.V. Macan (1930)
Score: 57.9865
21. (23) Westmount G. & C.C.
Kitchener, Ont.
Stanley Thompson (1931)
Score: 57.6427
22. (27) London (Ont.) Hunt and C.C.
Robert Trent Jones (1962)
Score: 57.4978
23. (21) Mississaugua (Ont.) G. & C.C.
George Cumming & Percy Barrett (1906)/Stanley Thompson (1928)
Score: 57.4479
24. (25) Royal Montreal G.C. (Blue)
Ile Bizard, Quebec
Dick Wilson (1959)
Score: 57.3343
25. (24) Oviinbyrd G.C.
MacTier, Ont.
Tom McBroon (2005)
Score: 57.3053
26. (28) Coppinwood G.C.
Uxbridge, Ont.
Tom Fazio (2007)
Score: 57.1796
27. (22) Calgary (Alb.) G. & C.C.
Tom Bendelow (1911)/Willie Park Jr. (1925)
Score: 57.1127
28. (26) Bigwin Island G.C. ♦
Baysville, Ont.
Doug Carrick (2002)
Score: 56.7086
29. (29) Big Sky G.C. (Championship) ♦
Pemberton, B.C.
Bob Cupp (1994)
Score: 56.4131
30. (NR) Eagles Nest G.C.
Maple, Ont.
Doug Carrick (2004)
Score: 56.1679