There is something to be said for a fabulous fall foray into the Alberta Rockies and Columbia Valley. Even when Mother Nature doesn’t fully cooperate, the entire region offers its typically laid-back vibe and stunning mountain back drops.
They continue to attract golfing groups from across Canada and around the world. It has become apparent to us at BCgolfguide that if your group is keen on a trip to the Alberta Rockies or Columbia Valley, lead-time is perhaps your best friend.
“Plan early!”
After a quick stop to connect with our golf course partners at the massive 36-hole complex in Kananaskis, we arrived in Radium Hot Springs for a mid-week working holiday. The BCgolfguide team of Ross Marrington, Danny Leitch and Glen Erickson try to get together each September for a few laughs and an opportunity to review and prepare, while meeting with accommodation and golf course partners.
Check-in at the Best Western Prestige Radium Hot Springs Resort was a seamless experience, made easy by Denise and Tanya. We then hurried south along B.C. Highway 93 for a late afternoon game at the Copper Point Resort, where we’d take on the Ridge Course.
It was a first for all of us and we were collectively taken aback at the quality of the golf course. A look at the scorecard online might give golfers rather a false sense of security about a layout that consists of ten par-3’s and eight par-4’s. Yes, there is nary a par-5 to battle and the yardage we played from the blue tees was in the 4,600-yard range.
Surprisingly, it was rather a stern and enjoyable test. The greens are huge and we struggled out of the gate with the speed. The turf conditions were absolutely fantastic, evidence the region had an adequate supply of precipitation this season, to go along nicely with oodles of bright sunshine.
Combined with the full-length Point Course, Copper Point offers 36 holes in addition to a practice facility that also accommodates The Mine Golf Academy. With two courses, there are also endless possibilities for the professional staff to provide a myriad of logoed product in an ample pro shop. We were able to chat with Brian Schaal, Scott McClain, Dale Moore and Matt Gillett as they hosted a club wind up event.
Indeed, the entire facility is very busy. All. Season. Long!
We toured the region the next day and enjoyed site inspections at the Copper Point Resort, the Invermere Inn and Panorama Resort. We played a late afternoon round at The Springs Course in Radium Hot Springs.
It continues to provide the combination of a parkland vibe with incredible mountain vistas. Director of Golf, Lisa Rosengarten, has great energy and was a kind and generous hostess. The greens are big, and we like the design feature that positions bunkers beside the greens, which enables golfers to run the ball on to the putting surfaces.
We also stopped at Eagle Ranch for a quick meet and greet with general manager Roxanne Prevost, who brings significant hospitality industry experience to the facility. It’s an enormous piece of property, one that now offers on-site accommodation and perhaps the most popular restaurant in the region among locals, Traders at Eagle Ranch.
The golf course is big and bold. At the turn, you begin to experience the occasional forced carry, varied terrain and more undulating greens. We marveled on a number of occasions as we wondered aloud about the construction process in certain areas.
With 2025 almost entirely in the books, it appears Eagle Ranch will not move forward with its caddy program. This will potentially open more early morning tee times and create a better opportunity for our clients who pine for a 36-hole day. BCgolfguide will keep you in the loop!
The variety of accommodation offerings at both the Copper Point Resort and Eagle Ranch in Invermere and Bighorn Meadows in Radium Hot Springs can pretty much fit the bill for groups of all sizes. There are even options up at Panorama, if the world-class Greywolf golf course is on your radar. But there was one consistent sentiment offered by each of our partners.
That is, “plan early”!
Demand north of the 49th parallel from both Canadian and American visitors was off the charts in 2025 and more of the same is expected in 2026. The currency exchange makes all regions across Canada particularly attractive to domestic travelers, and also to those from south of the border who are able to enjoy incredible value in our neck of the woods.
Again, “plan early”!
Our homeward stretch took us to Canmore, which is a bustling mix of rural and urban landscape set along the Trans Canada Highway enroute to Calgary from the Alberta Rockies.
Hotels and condo-style accommodation are plentiful, but demand is very high all year long in a region that also accommodates the skiing community. Our partners at the Coast Hotel, Grand Rockies Resort, Blackstone Resort, Canmore Inn & Suites and the Silver Creek Lodge were excited to share tidbits, plans and nuances from their facilities and indeed, regarding the entire region.
We visited the Silvertip Resort and just missed an opportunity to chat with the great Nancy Lopez! It’s an enormous piece of property that provides an unforgettable golf experience. Later, our round at Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club confirmed the adage, “there’s something for everyone”. The golf course is a tree-lined masterpiece!
Partner sentiment in Canmore was consistent with that in the Columbia Valley. What’s the best way to ensure you secure the travel dates you want, the type of accommodation your group desires and the specific tee times that will make a good golf trip great?
“Plan early!”
And, BCgolfguide will be there for you…every step of the way!