Full Breakdown of Rankings: 100-91 | 90 – 81 | 80 – 71 | 70 – 61 | 60 – 51 | 50 – 41 | 40 – 31 | 30 – 21 | 20 – 11 | 10 – 1 |
20. Blackhawk
PRIVATE
Nisku, Alta.
Rod Whitman, 2003
SG Rating: 8.1189
2022 Rank: 15
Rugged bunkers, contoured fairways and greens that feature lots of movement make Rod Whitman’s Blackhawk one of the best courses in Canada. In fact, Whitman’s efforts here are largely what led to his hiring as the designer of Cabot Links. The Alberta native moved little earth in building Blackhawk and the result is a homerun.
19. Greywolf
PUBLIC
Panorama, B.C.
Doug Carrick, 1999
SG Rating: 8.1290
2022 Rank: 18
The obvious highlight at Greywolf, Doug Carrick’s bold mountain course, is the par-3 sixth hole, known as Cliffhanger. Few one-shot holes in Canada are as dramatic. However, the rest of the golf course is excellent as well, with short holes climbing uphill countered by longer ones running downhill.
18. Coppinwood
PRIVATE
Uxbridge, Ont.
Tom Fazio, 2006
SG Rating: 8.1638
2022 Rank: 21
Coppinwood is a pristine Tom Fazio-designed course with some of the purest — and at times scariest — green complexes in the country. While the front nine is solid, the course really picks up steam on the back nine, which features some awesome and strategic holes backdropped by protected forestland.
17. Sagebrush
PUBLIC
Merritt, B.C.
Rod Whitman/Richard Zokol/Armen Suny, 2009
SG Rating: 8.1895
2022 Rank: 13
Brought back to life after a number of years in closure, Sagebrush checks in at No. 17. While architects Richard Zokol, Armen Suny and Rod Whitman were minimalistic in their design approach, Sagebrush’s extreme property demands imagination and creative shot-making from start to finish. This course is a blast to play.
16. London Hunt
PRIVATE
London, Ont.
Robert Trent Jones, 1960 (Rees Jones, Michael Hurdzan)
SG Rating: 8.1900
2022 Rank: 25
A recent renovation saw Michael Hurdzan make changes to every hole on London Hunt and the result has moved the course up to 16th. Some 800 trees were cleared, all bunkers were rebuilt, and greens were made more accessible with the removal of forced-carry hazards. The property near the Thames River is sublime.
15. Memphrémagog
PRIVATE
Magog, Que.
Thomas McBroom, 2007
SG Rating: 8.2009
2022 Rank: 16
A big, bold course with dramatic, rugged bunkering and extremely difficult greens, Memphremagog is a course where designer Thomas McBroom had the freedom and budget to swing for the fences. He hit a grand slam. Its massive scale and surrounding beauty make the course among the best modern designs in Canada.
14. Oviinbyrd
PRIVATE
Foot’s Bay, Ont.
Thomas McBroom, 2005
SG Rating: 8.2146
2022 Rank: 14
Thomas McBroom made his mark creating dramatic courses in Ontario’s Muskoka region that feature the exposed rocky outcroppings of the Canadian Shield. Oviinbyrd is his best effort thanks to a more restrained approach. The course still requires some heroic shots — such as the 14th and 15th holes — but overall it is very playable and pleasing.
13. Victoria GC
PRIVATE
Victoria, B.C.
A.V. Macan, 1925 (Jeff Mingay)
SG Rating: 8.2410
2022 Rank: 17
Victoria Golf Club has climbed steadily up this ranking in recent years and it’s not difficult to see why. The A.V. Macan design, restored in recent years by Jeff Mingay, boasts several front-nine holes on the Pacific Ocean, including back-to-back par 3s on a point. The contrasting colours of the turf, fescue, bunkers, black ocean rock and blue ocean waters make it a visual delight.
12. Cape Breton Highlands Links
PUBLIC
Ingonish Beach, N.S.
Stanley Thompson, 1940 (Ian Andrew)
SG Rating: 8.2607
2022 Rank: 8
Inconsistent conditioning has hurt Stanley Thompson’s mountains and ocean course on the northern tip of Cape Breton Island. That’s a shame because Highlands Links might be his most impressive accomplishment. The awesome routing takes golfers from the ocean into a mountain valley, along a river, and back to the ocean again. Thompson’s trademark rumpled fairways are on full display here.
11. Westmount
PRIVATE
Kitchener, Ont.
Stanley Thompson, 1931 (Robbie Robinson, Doug Carrick)
SG Rating: 8.3332
2022 Rank: 12
Westmount is a classic parkland-style layout that should be mentioned more often when Stanley Thompson’s best creations are discussed. Wonderfully conditioned, the Kitchener, Ont., course moves nicely along sublime land with no misses or poor holes. The par 3s all play downhill while the collection of par 4s are varied and sublime.