Did you know Canada has what is often regarded as one of the great par 3s in the world? And that the hole isn’t alone? In fact, Canada has great one-shot holes from coast to coast.
Canada’s golf courses are as diverse as the country itself. From the links of Cape Breton to the stunning seaside beauty of Victoria, great golf holes abound. But there’s something truly great about a brilliant par 3, and it turns out Canada has its share of truly world-class holes there as well. And truthfully, there’s a good chance even your local haunt, the type of golf course that doesn’t make fancy Top 100 lists, sports a great par 3.
That said, there are some par 3s that stand out across Canada, the kind of holes you dream of playing, if even once. These are often picture-postcard holes that are immediately posted to your IG account—and for good reason.
15th at Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper, Alberta)
What’s not to love about a hole that asks for little more than a flip wedge, and is named “Bad Baby?” That’s the brilliant and devilish little charmer at Jasper Park Lodge that comes near the end of your round. Tipping out at 140 yards, but often playing closer to 100 yards, it looks simple enough. But the green is tiny and missing it has significant consequences. Why else would it be named after an unpleasant infant?
6th Hole at Greywolf (Invermere, BC)
Perhaps Doug Carrick’s best one-shot hole, there’s no question the design recognized the greatness in this as soon as he saw it firsthand. It’s called “Cliffhanger,” and that’s really all the description you need. After playing the opening holes that traverse holes with plenty of elevation changes, you reach this mid-length par 3 and simply need to hit a great shot to carry the gorge between the tee and the green, which is basically an island of rock surrounded by drop-offs that fall into dense woods. Unforgettable.
16th at Cabot Cliffs (Inverness, NS)
Arguably the most photographed hole in Canada in recent years, this clifftop stunner at Cabot Cliffs on Cape Breton Island has few peers in the country when it comes to par 3s. Playing almost 200 yards from the tips—but a much more manageable 150 yards from the regular tees—the tee shot has to carry a dramatic rocky outcropping overlooking the ocean. If there’s any wind at all—look out.
4th Hole at Banff Springs (Banff, Alberta)
Once listed in the Top 500 holes in the world by Golf Digest, this breathtaking shot over a pond is the masterwork of Canadian designer Stanley Thompson. Known as Devil’s Cauldron, the pond that sits in front of the green appears to have cracks on the bottom, a striking image one will never forget after hitting the tee shot. The green is perched over the pond and protected by Thompson’s magnificent bunkering. For almost 100 years, this has been heralded as one of the world’s best short holes.
12th at Algonquin (St. Andrews-by-the-sea, NB)
This hole has been reworked twice in the past few decades, first by Thomas McBroom and then by Rod Whitman. Whitman’s version is more playable and features all of the key elements that made the hole wonderful in the first place—a dramatic drop shot to a narrow green, with the ocean as the backdrop. Gauging the distance on the significant drop, and dealing with the ever-present seaside winds makes this a challenging hole, but the incredible vista, with the ocean sprawled behind the green, makes it one of the most dramatic holes in Canadian golf.
#8 at Uplands (Thornhill Ontario) used to be highly regarded. Another S Thompson design.