Banff Springs Hole #18

Banff Springs Hole #18 "Windy" 578-yard Par5 Handicap 6

The similarities with the Long hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews seem striking: the corner of the out of bounds right which must be challenged if one wants to get home in two and the massive central hazard ‘Hell’ bunker 120 yards from the green give this hole much strategic interest. In three rounds here, the author witnessed everything from a couple of short eagle putts to a quadruple bogey. Such swings in fortune make this a most engaging Home hole.

As seen from the tee on this dogleg right, the tiger golfer needs to flight his ball long down the right, flirting with the out of bounds road as marked by the two moving vehicles on the right.
The bunker in the foreground ends 290 yards from the tee. Further ahead, a fifteen foot deep bunker sits in the middle of the fairway 120 yards from the green.

Banff Springs GC:

Much has been made about the change in the sequencing of the holes when the new clubhouse was added in 1989. When asked about it, Doug Wood said that all Banff can do now is ask the golfer to judge the course as one plays it today on its own merits. The old routing will never be brought back into official play.Many lament the loss of the thrilling first tee ball across the Spray River and of the climatic finishing five holes starting at what is today’s 10th. To finish near the base of the Banff Springs Hotel after having played such a terrific stretch of holes must have been as satisfying a conclusion as any course in the world. Plus, Thompson specifically designed the course to finish in such a stern manner, in keeping with such great courses as Merion Golf Club and Winged Foot West.

Conversely, the contrarian view is that with today’s sequence of holes, the out and back nature of the course is nicely broken up. Also, many golfers prefer to play the toughest stretch more in the middle of their round when they are warmed up and playing well ala such courses as National Golf Links of America and Fishers Island. Plus, today’s 16th-18th holes offer more birdie and even an eagle opportunity, so the golfer might end on more of a positive high. Also too, in Thompson’s day, the Banff Springs Hotel could be seen from 14 of the holes and its presence must have been especially felt playing those last five holes. However, with the growth in the evergreen trees over the past 3/4 of a century since the course opened, the Banff Springs Hotel is less dominate upon the landscape and thus there is less of a sense of returning toward it.

However, be all this as it may, the ultimate merit of the course must reside with a discussion of the merit of the holes themselves. Taken as a set, the one shotters (the second, fourth, eighth, 10th, and 13th) are truly of exception. How many courses can boast such variety? Not many, certainly less than ten. As for the three shotters (the third, seventh, ninth, and 18th), again the golfer concludes them to be of a very high standard. Only at the ninth can the golfer escape with a loose shoot or two but Thompson intended as much given the stretch thatimmediately follows. The other three are all very good. Finally, as one ticks throughthe remaining two shot holes (the first, fifth, sixth, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th), only one or two might not readily appeal. Some like the fifth, 12th and 14th are among the best a golfer can ever hope to find on a single course.

Add in the incomparable setting andit becomes no wonder that as many golfers seek return games here decade after decade as at Pebble Beach and The Old Course at St. Andrews. There is no higher praise, such is the compelling nature of the game at Banff.

The best that nature and man have to offer can be found at Banff in Alberta, Canada.

Banff:

Sunshine Meadows - The Sunshine Meadows are known by many as the most stunning alpine setting in the Canadian Rockies. Situated at about 2220m (7,300′), the meadows straddle the Continental Divide and the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia. Some of the Canadian Rockies’ highest peaks, surround Sunshine, including Mt. Assiniboine, Banff National Park’s highest peak, known as “the Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies.”

Wildlife abound in the meadows, and the brilliance of the summer flowers and autumn larches guarantees spectacular scenery on every visit……. “If you were to ask anybody in the Banff area about Sunshine Meadows, they’d say you had to go." From Sunshine Meadows, you’ll see three different mountain lakes and “wild flowers like crazy.” It is noted that the trail is easy and accessible to any level of hiker, and that there is a company that operates a shuttle that will cut off a significant portion of the hike, allowing you to spend more time at the top.