Top 15 Best Golf Courses in Canada for 2026/2027
Choosing the right course isn’t always simple, even with Canada’s high standard of public and private options. Finding a good fit usually comes down to practical details: whether you need a quick 18 while travelling or a local track for weekly rounds.
Terrain varies widely across regions, from Atlantic cliffside links like Cabot Cliffs to mountain routes in the Rockies like Jasper Park Lodge. Picking a course that matches your skill level makes for a better trip. Here is a look at standout golfing destinations across the country.
Must-Play Canada Golf Courses in 2026/2027
1. Cabot Cliffs, Nova Scotia
Cabot Cliffs
Cabot Cliffs in Inverness usually sits at number one on any Canadian list, and for good reason. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw built the walking only layout in 2015, carving it into the bluffs overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It plays 6,854 yards, but the weather off the water dictates how it actually feels. Eight of the holes hug the cliff edges directly, which means wind management matters a lot more here than raw length.
2. National Golf Club of Canada
National Golf Club of Canada
Built by George and Tom Fazio in 1976, “The National” in Woodbridge, Ontario, has long held a reputation as the single hardest round of golf in Canada. It consistently sits near the top of every major national ranking, including the top spot among private clubs according to the PGA of Canada.
Playing 7,234 yards, the course relies on tight tree lines, deep bunkering, and steep green surrounds. Misplace a tee shot or miss on the wrong side of the green, and recovery options get thin fast.
3. George’s Golf and Country Club, Ontario
George’s Golf and Country Club
Stanley Thompson built St. George’s in 1929 on a tight, rolling piece of land in Etobicoke. It regularly trades the number one spot in Canada with Cabot Cliffs, offering a completely different test than its East Coast rival.
The course plays to 7,025 yards, but length is rarely the main issue here. Thompson used the natural topography to create steep elevation changes, blind shots, and intricate greens that penalize any approach landing on the wrong side of the pin. Having hosted five Canadian Opens, it remains one of the purest examples of classic parkland design in North America.
4. Cabot Links, Nova Scotia
Cabot Links
Rod Whitman built Cabot Links in 2011 along the town beach in Inverness, bringing genuine links golf to Canada for the first time. The course runs 6,854 yards over coastal dunes right next to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where firm turf and constant salt air make the ball bounce and roll much like a traditional Scottish layout.
Unlike inland courses, length is secondary to controlling your ball flight in the wind and managing tight lies around the greens. The property also includes a 10 hole short course for a quicker, casual loop before or after a full round.
5. Hamilton Golf And Country Club, Ontario
Hamilton Golf And Country Club
Harry Colt laid out the primary 18 holes at Hamilton Golf and Country Club back in 1914, turning a piece of farmland in Ancaster into one of Canada’s classic courses. Known locally as Ancaster, the private 27 hole facility regularly ranks among the top ten courses in the country.
The championship routing runs just over 6,900 yards through heavily wooded ravines. Length is not what defends par here. The green complexes are relatively small and sit above surrounding turf, meaning if you miss your target by a few feet, your ball catches the severe slopes and trickles down into deep bunkers or awkward collection areas. It has hosted seven Canadian Opens, most recently in 2024 when Robert MacIntyre took the title.
6. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course, Alberta
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course
Stanley Thompson opened Jasper Park Lodge in 1925, laying out holes along Lac Beauvert with direct sightlines to the surrounding peak lines. It consistently sits near the very top of Canadian rankings, usually holding the number two spot overall right behind Cabot Cliffs.
At 6,663 yards, it is not particularly long by modern standards, but Thompson built wide fairways paired with steep, sculpted bunkers that match the mountain silhouettes. You will also share the property with local wildlife; elk, deer, and bears wander through the fairways daily, so keeping your distance is part of playing here.
7. Capilano Golf and Country Club, BC
Capilano Golf and Country Club
Stanley Thompson built Capilano in 1937, carving fairways out of the dense rainforest on the slopes of West Vancouver. The location gives you constant views of the North Shore Mountains, downtown Vancouver, and Burrard Inlet.
The layout plays 6,661 yards, but the main difficulty comes from downhill lies and steep elevation shifts. Thompson designed wide fairways framed by massive old growth firs, leading into fast, heavily sloped greens where putting from above the pin gets ugly fast. The classic Tudor clubhouse overlooks the 18th green, giving members a direct spot to watch incoming groups finish their round.
8. Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Alberta
Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course
Stanley Thompson built Banff Springs in 1928 along the Bow River, right at the base of Mount Rundle. It is open to the public and remains one of the iconic mountain layouts in North America.
The course runs 6,938 yards, but playing at elevation means your ball flies noticeably farther than at sea level. Thompson took advantage of the massive granite backdrops to pull off clever optical tricks, making greens look closer or farther away than they actually are. Managing your yardages takes extra attention here, especially on the signature Devil’s Cauldron hole, where you tee off over a glacial pond into a green cradled directly by rock face.
9. Tobiano Golf Course, BC
Tobiano Golf Course
Undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in Canada of its generation, Tobiano Golf Course has consistently garnered top honors since its grand debut in 2008, earning the title of “Best New Golf Course” and ultimately claiming the prestigious accolade of “Canada’s Best Golf Course” in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Nestled within the rugged lakeside terrain, few settings in Canada can rival Tobiano’s scenic beauty, with panoramic views of Kamloops Lake gracing every hole. Its layout features dramatic elevation changes, meandering ravines, natural grasses, inviting fairways, and meticulously contoured greens, rendering Tobiano not only one of the finest but also one of the most picturesque golf courses anywhere.
Golf course designer Thomas McBroom himself attests, “Tobiano is literally as good as it gets.”
10. Cape Breton Highlands Links, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Highlands Links
At Cape Breton Highlands Links golf course, you have the chance to embark on an exceptionally distinctive golfing journey. This course, born during the waning years of The Great Depression as a federal “make work” initiative, officially welcomed golfers in 1941. Yet, it was not just any golf course; it was a canvas entrusted to Canada’s esteemed Golf Course Architect, Stanley Thompson, by Parks Canada – a canvas like no other.
Stanley Thompson, renowned for his work on iconic Canadian Railroad hotel courses such as Banff, Jasper, and St. Georges, outdid himself with Cape Breton Highlands Links, often considered his magnum opus. The course’s breathtaking walks and vistas alone are awe-inspiring.
While time, economics, and subsequent well-meaning Golf Course Architects have altered many of the 100+ courses designed by Stanley Thompson, Cape Breton Highlands Links remains almost exactly as the master Architect left it in the 1940s. It may not conform to the modern course aesthetics we’ve grown accustomed to. Maintenance practices harken back to the mid-20th century, with bunkers serving as true hazards, fairways offering challenging lies, and greens that are firm and undulating, ensuring no putt is straightforward over 18 holes.
11. Toronto Golf Club, Ontario
Toronto Golf Club 1
The Toronto Golf Club opened in 1876, making it one of the oldest private clubs in the country. It moved to its current property along the Credit River in Mississauga in 1911, where the layout relies on subtle ground contours and mature trees rather than brute length to defend par.
The course has hosted multiple Canadian Opens and international events over the decades. It rewards players who can shape shots and manage their trajectory in the river valley winds, keeping the focus entirely on classic course management.
12. Memphremagog Golf Club, Quebec
Memphremagog Golf Club
Memphremagog sits in Magog, Quebec, operating as one of the most private clubs in North America with a roster capped at around 50 members. Thomas McBroom designed the layout along the hills near Lake Memphremagog, and it consistently holds a top spot on SCOREGolf’s Canadian rankings.
The course plays 7,425 yards from the back tees through heavy woods and natural terrain. The par 4 6th hole demands a long downhill drive before hitting into a tight green guarded by deep bunkering. Water comes into play on the 9th, forcing a lay up shot off the tee to keep clear of a creek crossing the fairway, while the back nine relies on rolling elevation changes and complex green surrounds to defend par.
13. Muskoka Bay Club, Toronto
Muskoka Bay Club
Doug Carrick carved Muskoka Bay Club out of the Canadian Shield near Gravenhurst in 2007. It sits about two hours north of Toronto and consistently holds a top 10 spot on national lists.
The course plays 7,367 yards, but the terrain is what defines the round. You are constantly driving over exposed pink granite ledges and marshy lowlands. Blind tee shots and steep elevation shifts are everywhere, meaning club selection changes constantly based on how high or low the green sits relative to the fairway.
14. Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Vancouver
Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club
A.V. Macan built the current layout at Shaughnessy in 1960, moving the club to its site along the Fraser River on unceded Musqueam territory. It sits just minutes from downtown Vancouver, but the thick timber makes it feel completely separated from the city.
The course plays 7,045 yards, but sheer distance is rarely what catches players off guard. Huge Douglas firs and cedars border almost every fairway, turning wide drives into immediate recovery shots. The greens are small, firm, and well guarded by deep bunkers, which is why it continues to test tour pros when events like the Canadian Open or CPKC Women’s Open come to town.
15. The Paintbrush, Caledon East
The Paintbrush Golf Club
Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry built The Paintbrush in 1992, bringing traditional Scottish and Irish links concepts to Caledon East. It is a private club that sits inside the top 20 on national rankings.
The course plays 6,970 yards, but raw distance matters less than managing the terrain. The designers included sod wall bunkers, pot bunkers, and blind shots across hard, fast fescue fairways. Greens feature steep humps, hollows, and collection areas where a missed approach leaves tricky bump and run recovery options, especially when wind sweeps across the open property.
Conclusion
Above is the list of the top 15 best golf courses in Canada. Hope you choose a wonderful golf course to showcase your skills. If you know of any other courses to play in, please share us by commenting on the box below. Thank you so much for your reading!
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FAQs
When is the best time to play golf in Canada?
The core golf season runs from May through October. If you want the most reliable weather and pristine course conditions, try to book between June and September when the summer heat fully sets in across the provinces.
Which Canadian province has the best golf courses?
It depends entirely on the type of terrain you prefer:
Nova Scotia: Best for dramatic, rugged coastal links layouts that make you feel like you are playing in Scotland.
Ontario: Ideal for classic, tree-lined championship courses and historic clubs steeped in tradition.
British Columbia: The go-to destination for high-altitude mountain golf and dramatic lakeside views.
Alberta: Unmatched if you want to play right against the massive backdrop of the Canadian Rockies.
Are Canadian golf courses open year-round?
No. Because of heavy winter snow and freezing temperatures, the vast majority of Canadian courses are strictly seasonal. They shut down entirely in late autumn and re-open in the spring once the ground thaws.
Are golf courses in Canada expensive?
Rates vary drastically depending on where you tee it up:
Public and municipal courses: Usually cost anywhere from CAD 40 to CAD 150 for a round.
Premium resort and championship courses: Expect to pay between CAD 200 and CAD 500 or more, though this often includes a golf cart and access to practice facilities.
Private clubs: These generally require you to be a member or play as the guest of someone who is.
