Tedfroop
One eyed and left handed
Location: Banff, Alberta.
Length: Black 6938, White 6389, Gold 5607, Red 4478
History: The Canadian Pacific Railroad had decided that one way to help pay for the railroad was to attract tourists to the Rockies. To this end grand hotels were built and recreation was created for those wealthy enough to travel and stay in the hotels. The original course designer was Donald Ross. Following his success at Jasper Park Lodge Stan Thompson was given the job of revamping the course in 1928. A few of the original Donald Ross holes remain on the course today. The course was brought back to the original Stanley Thompson design a few years ago, and then altered after the first helicopter tour. It seems Mr. Thompson had created a small bunker that had shall we say a womanly shape when viewed from above that no one noticed until they got above it.
There is beauty everywhere you look here. Even on the range.
Hole 2, It took me a while to decide that the green was indeed raised above where the tee box is. There is also a classic bit of design work here that carries to a lot of Thompson and his protoge Robert Trent Jones golf courses. There is no bump and run. The hill running up to the green leaves the approach steep enough that balls rolling up the bank will never make it far onto the green. Shots falling short will likely bounce back toward the tee.
Make sure you have enough club or a very strong chipping game.
The hole I have looked forward to playing for a very long time:
The Devils Calderon. What do you say? All I could think of was "Grab the camera". To start with, the water is clear, thats the bottom of the pond showing through.
This particular day the hole was playing about 175 from the white tees. It's a tough little hole too, postage stamp size green sloping toward the pond, yawning bunkers and no real bail out area. Missing long leaves a downhill bunker or chip shot towards the pond. I just caught the right front bunker about pin high.
Greenside view:
The 8th hole Papoose:
Par threes on this course are beautiful and treacherous. You must land the ball on the green or face a difficult uphill chip or a ball in the water.
Hole 14 Wampum:
Bunkers, mounds, tight driving areas and distracting views abound. You get a close up view of the hotel on the next hole.
More distractions:
Hole 15 Spray:
After a 10 min. drive up the hill you get this. One of the best raised tee boxes I have ever played from.
Looking back from the 15th fairway, the tee box is on the left.
Pulled tee shots on 17 end up here:
On the 18th tee at last:
The hole is names Breezy, and the wind blows around the corner of the mountain. Additional distractions include the road which rund by the rocks on the right side.
It was an amazing place to play for sure. Like I said its difficult not to be distracted.
Bring your camera.
Length: Black 6938, White 6389, Gold 5607, Red 4478
History: The Canadian Pacific Railroad had decided that one way to help pay for the railroad was to attract tourists to the Rockies. To this end grand hotels were built and recreation was created for those wealthy enough to travel and stay in the hotels. The original course designer was Donald Ross. Following his success at Jasper Park Lodge Stan Thompson was given the job of revamping the course in 1928. A few of the original Donald Ross holes remain on the course today. The course was brought back to the original Stanley Thompson design a few years ago, and then altered after the first helicopter tour. It seems Mr. Thompson had created a small bunker that had shall we say a womanly shape when viewed from above that no one noticed until they got above it.
There is beauty everywhere you look here. Even on the range.
Hole 2, It took me a while to decide that the green was indeed raised above where the tee box is. There is also a classic bit of design work here that carries to a lot of Thompson and his protoge Robert Trent Jones golf courses. There is no bump and run. The hill running up to the green leaves the approach steep enough that balls rolling up the bank will never make it far onto the green. Shots falling short will likely bounce back toward the tee.
Make sure you have enough club or a very strong chipping game.
The hole I have looked forward to playing for a very long time:
The Devils Calderon. What do you say? All I could think of was "Grab the camera". To start with, the water is clear, thats the bottom of the pond showing through.
This particular day the hole was playing about 175 from the white tees. It's a tough little hole too, postage stamp size green sloping toward the pond, yawning bunkers and no real bail out area. Missing long leaves a downhill bunker or chip shot towards the pond. I just caught the right front bunker about pin high.
Greenside view:
The 8th hole Papoose:
Par threes on this course are beautiful and treacherous. You must land the ball on the green or face a difficult uphill chip or a ball in the water.
Hole 14 Wampum:
Bunkers, mounds, tight driving areas and distracting views abound. You get a close up view of the hotel on the next hole.
More distractions:
Hole 15 Spray:
After a 10 min. drive up the hill you get this. One of the best raised tee boxes I have ever played from.
Looking back from the 15th fairway, the tee box is on the left.
Pulled tee shots on 17 end up here:
On the 18th tee at last:
The hole is names Breezy, and the wind blows around the corner of the mountain. Additional distractions include the road which rund by the rocks on the right side.
It was an amazing place to play for sure. Like I said its difficult not to be distracted.
Bring your camera.
