May 25th: Jasper Park Lodge Hole #5

Jasper Park Lodge Hole #5 "Miette" 480-yard Par5 Handicap 7

The concept that Jasper Park is 'just' great holiday golf is as criminal as saying the same about St. Enodoc and North Berwick (um?). Take an excellent half parhole like the 5th with its central hazard and tightly guarded green. Though the tiger golfer using modern technology will have a mid-iron into the green for his second shot, so what? Call it a par four and call Jasper Park a par 68 then if that makes the course more of a true test. Regardless of what par says, Jasper is full of very good to excellent holes and few courses can make that same claim.

The short par 5 at the 5th or par 4 1/2 perhaps, because it is well within two-shot range for many golfers today. However, it is tightly bunkered and calls for arrow-like straightness on both long shots. Behind the green is a series of mounds mimicking the outline of the mountains beyond.

Jasper Park Lodge:
Few courses in the world rival Banff Springs and Jasper Park for animal life. Bears, elk, big-horn sheep, mountain goats, wolves, coyotes and eagles are frequently seen on both courses.

Stops Along the Way - Sunwapta Falls:

Sunwapta Falls are situated half way between the Columbia Icefield and Jasper Townsite (56 km south of the town of Jasper) on the Icefields Parkway. Sunwapta means "turbulent water". The viewpoint of Upper Sunwapta Falls is just off the road. To see the lower falls, just as impressive as the upper falls, you have to make a short hike, a 30 to 45 minute walk on a clearly marked trail, this trail will provide also a panoramic views of the distant Athabasca Valley.

May 24th: Jasper Park Lodge Hole #4

Jasper Park Lodge Hole #4 "Cavell" 240-yard Par3 Handicap 9

Unusual for a hole of this length, this superb long one shotter is visually most attractive, despite a poorly placed cart path. The tee shot is elevated and the distant green ringed by five bunkers is visible for all to see. Mercifully, the green is gathering and most putts tend to break towards the middle. Another 1/2 par hole, the type of which is much admired by the architect.

The one shot 4th required a driver in Thompson's day. As with all the greens at Jasper, Thompson provided the player with the opportunity to run the ball onto the putting surface. Such a design attribute allows all skill sets of golfers to enjoy the course.

Thompson is renowned for his wonderful par threes, and he created five gems at Jasper. The two best are his signature long par threes, both found on the front side. Four plays downhill from 240 yards to a green surrounded by five bunkers.

Jasper Park Lodge:

Opened in 1926, his stunningly beautiful layout flows with the natural contours of the land. Thompson startled the golf world by clearing gaps through Jasper's forest to point golfers towards greens aligned with distant mountains, and by whimsically patterning his bunkers after the snow formations on their peaks.

Stops Along the Way - Athabasca Falls:

The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) run parallels the Continental Divide, traversing the rugged landscape of the Canadian Rockies. It links Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, linking Lake Louise and Jasper. The parkway is 230 kilometres in length.

Flowing from the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca River is the largest river system in Jasper. Among the most powerful and breathtaking falls in the Rocky Mountains, the Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge. The 23 metre Athabasca Falls is not very high by Canadian Rockies standards, but the size of the river makes it one of the most powerful falls to be found in the mountain national parks. The best views are from the opposite side of the falls from the parking area with Mt Kerkeslin towers in the background. There are lots of short trails to explore on both sides of the falls.

May 23rd: Jasper Park Lodge Hole #3

Jasper Park Lodge Hole #3 "Signal Dip" 454-yard Par4 Handicap 3

A bling dogleg to the right. The long hitter can challenge the inside of the dogleg and try to carry the trees. Watching the flight of the tee ball against the bank of the trees on the far hill is most satisfying. Thompson perfectly benched the green complex into the hillside. Three requires a big drive to clear the large slope in the middle of the fairway. Drives that reach the upper plateau will leave players with a difficult uphill approach to a well-protected green. Tee shots that hit into the slop will make reaching the green in two nearly impossible.


Jasper Park Lodge - The Drive:
The 287-kilometre route that snakes through the heart of the Rockies, past ancient glaciers and countless snow-topped mountains, through three deep river valleys and finally into Jasper National Park, adjoining Banff National Park to the north. It was here, at the Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course that Stanley Thompson first made his mark.

(Cirrus Mountain and Weeping Wall from view above "Big Bend" -- apart of that grueling 3-hr jaunt we are forced to make)

Stops Along the Way - Mistaya Canyon:

About 70 km (43 mi.) north of Lake Louise, a short path leads down from the car-park to the narrow, winding Mistaya Canyon ("mistaya" is Indian for "grizzly bear"), with its virtually vertical rockfaces and characteristic "pot-holes". This canyon, like many in the Canadian Rockies is the result of erosion from the glacier-fed rivers that cut through the limestone rock. It's possible to walk to the edge of the canyon and watch the water rush by below. This is a popular photography spot.

May 22nd: Jasper Park Lodge Hole #2

Jasper Park Lodge Hole #2 "Old Man" 488-yard Par5 Handicap 5

A stunner, the golfer is encouraged 'to swing out and give it a go.' The fairway is miles wide and is threatened only by a bunker at the 200yard mark, which, in the high altitude, should be carried. The hole's defense are two 30-yard long beautiful Thompson bunkers, one starting 110yards from the green and another just eigh eight paces from the green. The large bunkers are in keeping with the grandness of the setting. There is a breathtaking view of the distant mountains, the silhouette of which looks like an old Indian chief lying down in peace.

The second hole is a perfect example of challenging, scenic golf, while not playing overly difficult. Measuring only 488 downhill yards from the back tee, many argue that the hole is too easy to play as a par 5. Depending on where the drive is placed, the hole can be shortened even further, thus tempting even the amateur player to try for the green in two. It is on the approach that the depth of the design subtleties comes alive. The easiest approach is from the right side, which provides an opening into the green, but the hole demands a right-to-left approach from a fairway that slopes from left-to-right. Still, two is a great early birdie opportunity, and the first of many spectacular mountain backdrops.

Jasper Park Lodge:
It has jaw-dropping scenery with mountain vistas, lots of wildlife and an extremely playable course. It's not a long layout and it's fairly friendly off the tees meaning no matter how you hit the ball, you won't walk off the 18th green feeling as if you've spent the afternoon in the dentist's chair. Designed in the 20's by Stanley Thompson, the course has a lot of of subtleties. On many holes you can use the distant peak as your target, and that didn't just happen by accident.

Stops Along the Way - Moraine Lake:


Moraine Lake was originally pictured and referenced early in the blog when discussing the movie The Edge. It is located 14km outside of the village of Lake Louise and therefore is not quite as accessible for the purposes of our day trip to Jasper, but keep in mind both lakes are must-see attractions during our vacation. The area around the lake has several walking/hiking trails which are, from time to time, restricted because of grizzly bear activity. Parks Canada provides updated trail conditions and/or restrictions. The easiest of the hiking trails is the one most commonly taken by tourists. The Rockpile Trail along the actual moraine is approximately 300 metres long, with an elevation change of 24 metres (79 ft). The view of the lake from the top of the rockpile is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada. That view of the mountains behind the lake in Valley of the Ten Peaks is known as the Twenty Dollar View, as Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill.

May 21st: Jasper Park Lodge Hole #1

The third full golf day at the CRO will be the first adventure outside of Canmore. The boys will embark three hours to the north via the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. The potential sightseeing stops and scenic overlooks are plentiful along this road. Many make this trip solely to go on glacier excursions, however, the boys will be focused on the historical golfing gem located in the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies.

(Just a view along the road to Jasper ... greatest three-hour drive ... ever!)

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course:
The world-famous Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course was designed by renowned golf-course architect Stanley Thompson. The 18-hole championship course takes in the contours of the Athabasca River Valley as it hugs the banks of the turquoise-coloured Lac Beauvert. The 6,670-yard course is a true test of accuracy, and with holes named "The Maze," "The Bad Baby," and "The Bay," you'll need lots of balls, literally.

Jasper Park Lodge Hole #1 "First" 391-yard Par4 Handicap 11

The Fairmont website (also representing Banff Springs G.C.) does not have hole-by-hole flyovers or pictures. This could be considered a testament to the timeless wonder of these two courses (both built in the 1920's), but at the same time, I have done my best to find detailed descriptions of the majority of notable holes. The first hole, aptly named "First" has no such information so therefore you will be treated to a history lesson for the day.

It was Stanley Thompson's course at Jasper, built for the Canadian National Railway, that prompted their big rival, the Canadian Pacific Railway, to commission him to build a course for them at Banff Springs. What these courses have in common is the fact that, because they were built for railway companies, it was possible to ship in thousands of tons of topsoil. This single factor enables Thompson to create the best growing medium for grass in this climate of temperature extremes, to shape the holes to perfection, to build elevated tees, and to indulge in his favourite art of deceiving the golfer's eye!

Stops Along the Way - Lake Louise:

For the 18 days of Jasper, we will delve into the activities and potential stops along the Icefields Parkway. Our tee time is not until 3:00pm and the total drive time is somewhere in the range of 3.5hours. It would be highly advisable to get an early jump on the day (we're talking 6am), so that we can make the most of the 18 options I will provide for Tuesday's funtivities.

One of the most famous and most photographed areas of the entire Canadian Rockies is Lake Louise. Lake Louise has many nicknames: the Hiking Capital of Canada, the Skiing Capital of Canada, the Romance Capital of Canada (tied with Niagara Falls), the Diamond in the Wilderness, the Jewel in the Heart of the Canadian Rockies. Finally, they’re also the Highest Community in Canada at 5,020 ft (1530 m). Hiking is fabulous here because you already start very high in elevation. It doesn’t take long to break out to views. There are over 200 km of trails in the immediate Lake Louise area. And they’ve got something for everyone — from trails flat as a board to trails that take you to the summits. To make this moment the best it can be, you must avoid the lakeshore from 10 am to 4 pm (in summer), when the crowds are at their peak. Seeing as how we're leaving at 6am and this is within an hour's drive and is located near the highway, we might be able to get there at a prime hour. With that said, people marvel at the sunsets in this location (as I imagine they do with anywhere in the Rockies), but we are not locked into visiting here on the way to Jasper, as we have the mornings of Sunday and Monday before our two 2:00pm rounds in Canmore as well as the entire day Friday to visit wherever we have missed!

May 20th: Silvertip Hole #18

Silvertip Hole #18 -- 464yd Par4 Handicap 7
Silvertip "The Ultimate Expression of Mountain Golf":
The finishing hole is a 464 yard par-4 with extreme altitude drop from tee to fairway and fairway to green. It can easily be mastered by playing your tee shot down the right side. Both the creek running through the fairway and right fairway bunker can only be hit with an enormous drive. The approach is played to an elevated green that is protected by bunkers on the right hand.

(wow)

"Majestic...Glorious...Exciting...Majestic...Unbelievable...Just a few of the adjectives that describe Silvertip, the pinnacle of the extreme mountain golf experience!"

Los Bears:
It is imperative for all visitors in areas inhabited by grizzlies be conscious of the dangers. Reports have indicated that something as innocuous as a tube of lip balm can entice a bear to come near a campsite/trail/anywhere in search of food.

The Sierra Club wants the Forest Service to require everyone who enters a national forest in grizzly country to carry bear spray....These bad boys run slightly under $30 for a can. I know all the required specifications: 225+grams net weight (7.9oz), 1.4 to 1.8% capsaicin, and 10% Oleoresin of Capsicum (OC), don't you all worry.

May 19th: Silvertip Hole #17

Silvertip Hole #17 -- 220yd Par3 Handicap 17

Silvertip:

(A random hole ... but it sure looks pretty)

Furber (the architect) got excellent schooling from his 14 years with Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and now he is regarded as one of Canada's best. Over the years he has been involved in the design of over 50 courses in Canada, many with unique and sensitive environmental challenges.

"Building the Silvertip Golf Course was a project close to my heart. The beauty and character of the site inspired a course as individually unique as the surrounding mountain peaks. Golf at Silvertip is an awesome, exhilarating experience; designed by Mother Nature and discovered by the architect," Furber said.


Bear Week Continued:
Grizzlies are considered by some experts to be the most aggressive bears, even by the standards of brown bears. Aggressive behavior in grizzly bears is favoured by numberous selection variables. Unlike the smaller black bears, adult grizzlies are too large to escape danger by climbing trees, so they respond to danger by standing their ground and warding off their attackers. Increased aggressiveness also assists female grizzlies in better ensuring the survival of their young to reproductive age. Mothers defending cubs are most prone to attacking, being responsible for 70% of grizzly-caused human fatalities.

May 18th: Silvertip Hole #16

Silvertip Hole #16 -- 373yd Par4 Handicap 9

Silvertip:

The fairways are excellent. Cut short with attractive mowing. Fairway bunkers were well maintained and placed in strategic positions. On a number of holes the fairways narrow and can be tough to hit. If you follow the advice on the GPS and leave your driver in the bag on a few holes, practicing course management will suit you much better. When I (the reviewer) did this, I scored 12 shots better than the week before when I tried hitting the driver too much.

Bear Week Continued:

There are currently about 60,000 wild grizzly bears located throughout North America. Brown bears (of which the grizzly bear is a subspecies) can live up to thirty years in the wild. (Old cranky bears are running around Canmore's woods).

(I hope we don't stumble upon this stream when the fish aint jumpin')

May 17th: Silvertip Hole #15

Silvertip Hole #15 -- 206yd Par3 Handicap 13

Silvertip:

(This was my computer background for weeks: PRISTINE!)

Golfers at Silvertip find themselves doing the unheard of: taking their eye off the ball, reaching for the digital camera at every hole, counting whitetail deer more than shots. Here you play amid 360-degree views and feel like you can reach out with a golf-gloved hand and touch the Canadian Rockies.


At Silvertip, golf is much more than a game. It's about being in touch with nature. Where you are surrounded by some of the world's most spectacular scenery, and where the mountains of solitude are broken by the voices of nature. From its naturally elevated mountainside location and astounding 360-degree views, to a seemingly endless supply of warm Southern Alberta sunshine and countless acres of untouched wilderness, Silvertip offers what no other course can - 18 holes of beautifully designed golf overlooking the spectacular Bow Valley corridor, deep in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Wilderness.



Bear Week Continued:
If a defensive attack lasts more than two minutes (and you're still conscious), the bear may have shifted to a predatory position. In this case, fight back! It is very rare a bear will stalk and attack you along a trail or attack you at night in your tent. If this should happen:


-Climb a tree or try to escape into a car or building.
-If you escape, do not play dead.
-Use bear spray and do whatever it takes to let the bear know you are tough and will not give in.

May 16th: Silvertip Hole #14

Silvertip Hole #14 -- 598yd Par5 Handicap 1

Silvertip:
Score magazine's public choice for the #1 course in Canada is Silvertip!

(Reminds me of the Quarry, but with mountains)

Tripadvisor showed a perfect 5star rating on all reviews of this course (until some went off on it for no reason). Some reviews are as follows:

>>Pretty exciting golf course! Beautiful views, great condition, big elevation changes. A little tough on some of the tricked up holes, especially #1, but overall an excellent experience and a good value. I've played Ko'olau in Hawaii, the toughest North America course, and this was no where near as difficult.

>>One of the top 2 beautiful golf courses I ever played. Was there on August 3, 2007. Played Silver Tip, Stewart Creek, and Banff Springs courses twice each over 4 days. Silver Tip and Stewart Creek were mountain courses with dramatic elevation changes, sidehill lies, and dramatically beautiful vistas on every hole. Thoughoughly enjoyable.

>>I love this course. In the height of the summer the sun stays out until past 9PM which makes the twilight rate a very nice option. Spectacular views make this the best course in the area. Definitely the one to pick over Stewart Creek or Banff Springs if pressed for time.

Bear Week:
It is extremely rare for a bear to attack a person with its claws or teeth. Even if an encounter looks potentially aggressive, usually the bear will move away. If a bear does attack, it will be because the bear feels defensive or because its behavior has become predatory. If the bear is feeling defensive, it is usually because it has been surprised. He or she may have been protecting or feeding cubs and sees you as a direct threat.

-If you have bear spray, use it according the the instructions (more soon to follow)
-If a bear makes contact, play dead. Usually this is enough for the bear to decide to walk away.
-Lie on your stomach with your legs apart, making it difficult for the bear to flip you over.
-Keep your backpack on to protect your back (thank you john madden)
-Cover the back of your head and neck with your hands.

May 15th: Silvertip Hole #13

Silvertip Hole #13 -- 454yd Par4 Handicap 5


Silvertip:


No. 13 is giant-sized at 454 yards, but it's all downhill from the elevated tee. It has a large bunker awaiting in the landing area and in front of the green. Just aim for the 150-yard marker bull's eye then try and hit the slim, narrow bentgrass green on your approach. The green target seems tiny - it's diagonally placed making it tough to hold. Furber said: "No. 13 gives one the rewards of a long drive and a great sense of arrival. The visual alignment is stunning looking towards a legendary landmark of the Canadian Rockies -- the Three Sisters Mountains."



Does every hole seem to be downhill on this course...? Either way, I see what they meant when they said the most distinct feature of the course is elevation change...up to 40meteres on any one hole. Silvertip is just a wonderful design. The course moves up and down the mountain with all holes being different. It probably goes without saying, but you cannot walk this course, as there are 22km of cart paths with a lot of vertical change. There are about 14 holes that would be signature holes on any other course!



A Sloth of Bears:
If you do encounter a bear or sloth of bears, here are some life-saving tips to remember...

--Back away slowly. Never run.
--Stay calm and move decisively. This will indicate that you are not a threat.
--Speak to the bear in a normal tone of voice. This helps to identify you as a human while satisfying the bear's curiosity.
--If you are in a group, bunch up or join nearby hikers.