Fab Four in Central Alberta

In case you’ve never put the pedal to the metal and blasted up (or down) the QE2 – for those not in the know, that would be the four-lane speedway between Edmonton and Calgary – you’re probably unaware that this is, among other things, a pastoral playground peppered with great golf courses. Ah, central Alberta. Its tremendous diversity: from golden fields swirling with wheat and barley to colourful mixed forests, marshland, and sweet Rocky Mountain vistas, this is a land perfectly suited for a somewhat bold and brazen brand of golf. The skies are never boring (indeed, the weather here can be wild!) and the golf, well, it seems to take on a flavour rightfully suited to the surroundings. That is, it’s dramatic and intense, unpretentious and unyielding.

Simply put, Central Alberta is a fine golf destination well suited for the purists, the lovers of the game who don’t mind three-club winds humming down from the heavens, who relish hitting long-irons into fescue-guarded greens, who just love getting out there and embracing whatever elements come their way.

And, regardless of where you play in Central Alberta, you’ll run into friendly, down-to-earth folk. Oilers fans. Guys and gals who, after an honest day’s work, aren’t afraid to let their hair down and have a good time on the links (and on the patio after the round). So, whether you’re in Leduc or Lacombe, Red Deer or Rocky Mountain House, the down-home character of Central Alberta will win you over. Especially if you peg it up at these four tracks. 

Wolf Creek

Perhaps no other golf course in Central Alberta epitomizes this scene better than “The Wolf.” Routed by the local boy Rod Whitman, who might have more skill, knowledge, and passion when it comes to sculpting the land for golf than every “brand name” architect you’ve heard of, Wolf Creek is, plain and simple, a wonderful place for a game. There’s quiet wooded holes, open holes where the wind has bite, and enough rustic, old-world charm that even the hardiest heart in Scotland could be warmed here. True, Whitman “manufactured” the links-like feel here, pushing dirt around hour after hour, day after day, on his bulldozer. However, he pulled it off with glory and gusto, a testament to the man’s talent.  

There are many standout holes on The Wolf’s three (soon to be four) nines. The existing 27 is chock-full of variety. (Later this fall Wolf Creek will consist of The Old Course and The New Course.) The par-5 sixth on the West, which cruises right beside the QE2, is a dandy. Like many holes at Wolf Creek, its Scottish look and feel is earnest and believable. Amazingly, Jason Zuback, one of the longest hitters in the history of the game, nearly drove the green on this 525-yard hole. While we mortals - who create less than the 215 mph, or so, of ball speed that’s necessary to hit a ball that far – might need a few more thwacks to reach the green here, there are other holes that appear ripe for the picking. That is, until you play them. Sod-walled bunkers, wicked greens, deep moats, hidden hazards, blind shots, narrow chutes, drivable par-4s, you name it, it’s here. Bon appétit.    

Pine Hills Golf Club

Historic Rocky Mountain House, which is located at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers, is home to one of the best, most isolated golf clubs in Western Canada. “Hidden gem” might be an excusable cliché to use here. At any rate, know this about the Pine Hills Golf Club: unless your favourite courses are the ones that are squeezed between condo units and butt up against freeways and strip malls, the silence and seclusion of this place will leave you totally enamoured.   

And the layout is strong throughout with just the right amount of elevation change, straight-forward challenges, and one-of-a-kind holes, too. To top it off, there could be 310 people on the course (but, chances are, there’ll only be a dozen) and you’d still feel like you were the only group out there. Of course, when you play the 605-yard sixth, perhaps the toughest test out there, you might see a few bodies scattered here and there. This beast, with water left and right and an uphill approach to the green, is the nemesis hole of many a member. Rumour has it a couple of blokes tied with 13s here on a recent men’s night. However, a stroke had to be given so the hole was actually won with a net 12. Scary. 

Other stand-outs include the scenic 10th, which plunges to a tilted fairway before twisting up the hill to a diabolical green. The 14th, too, is a meaty par-4 that can make or break your round. Recent improvements (a new creek and rockwork) to the 18th have also been well received. And, perched on a high spot overlooking the action on the 9th, the new clubhouse and patio is one of the finest in the province. It should definitely be part of your Pine Hills experience.

Innisfail Golf Club

Cutting through rolling, aspen-covered parkland and featuring a number of choice holes that cozy up alongside beautiful Lake Hazelwood, the Innisfail Golf Club is rural golf at its finest. The 27-hole club, which dates back to 1924, is laced with “classic” characteristics. Small canted greens; tight tree-lined fairways; graceful doglegs; deep bowl-shaped bunkers that bite into greens; beautiful mature trees; virtually anything that speaks to classic golf is represented here. In fact, if you didn’t know any better you’d think you were on some 1920s-era Donald Ross course in Vermont or upstate New York.

However, the cool thing is you’re actually playing a Bill Robinson layout built, for the most part, in the mid 80s. The newest 9, which opened to hearty applause in 2006, is also the work of Robinson. The course now rotates golfers through three different nines – Hazelwood, Spruce, and Aspen – with every nine except the fabulous Hazelwood nine (easily the best) a blend of old and new holes. Even though the changes have somewhat hampered the rhythm and flow, the near perfection of this terrain for golf shines through. This is a place a true golfer could not tire of visiting. Stand on the fairway on Hazelwood’s awesome 6th with a wedge in hand, the green jutting into the pristine lake, the trees creaking all around, and tell me you’re not somewhere special. You can’t do it. No way. 

Northern Bear

Play Northern Bear from the tips on a windy day – 7,400 yards with a 75.6 rating – and, unless you’ve got a game as pure as Tiger’s, you’ll return to the clubhouse with two black eyes and your teeth knocked out. This is about as tough as golf gets. However, the beautifully-contoured Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which parades through stands of spindly poplars and low-lying marshland, is manageable and, more importantly, very enjoyable when you select the right set of tees. (Only a handful of morons play the back tees every year.)

Recently voted as having the #1 Clubhouse in Canada by the Globe and Mail, Northern Bear affords a rewarding golf experience on many fronts. While challenging from start to finish (water comes into play on at least 11 holes), the course’s syrupy-smooth shaping and what-you-see-is-what-you-get flavour has mass appeal. While some purists may feel natural bumps and humps, blind shots, and a less tampered with look is superior, you can’t deny that Northern Bear is a strategically-sound, rock-solid test of golf. From the beautiful par-4 opener that bends through the trees to the nail-biting finishing run, you’ll be completely engaged. The 10th, a risk/reward par-5 with a kidney green and a looming lake, is one of the best par-5s in Western Canada. And the beautiful water-filled arena that’s home to the 9th and 18th, two tough par-4s that dash to the majestic clubhouse, adds much to the allure and atmosphere at Northern Bear. But, for the love of all things decent, choose the correct set of tees. 

Story by Andrew Penner - free lance golf writer