Kananaskis Country Golf Course - Mount Lorette

The "great flood" of 2013 took out the Kananaskis Country GC. This visit is my first time back since it reopened last year and needless to say it remains just as spectacular a golf location as when it first came onto the golf scene in 1983. This 36 hole public playground sits along the Kananaskis Valley and is surrounded by postcard views on every hole.

The experience starts right from the time you pull around to the front door to off load your clubs. A fabulous clubhouse and well stocked pro shop staff provided prompt and attentive service.

The starter had our group out exactly at our scheduled time. Wide, forgiving fairways are lined by tall pines and majestic views, crystal clear ponds and magnificent white sand bunkers frame both fairways and greens. The Kananaskis river keeps you company alongside holes 14, 15, 16 and 17 but in all reality shouldn't come into play. The greens are large targets and rolled consistently throughout the round.

Kananaskis Country GC will easily satisfy any local or traveler's expectation of a great product at a great price.

We got to play Mt Lorette during this trip. The course was stunningly beautiful. Even though it's in the Canadian rockies it is not a mountain course with crazy elevations because it's actually located in the Kananaskis Valley. But don't be fooled because the course still plays pretty tough.There's quite a bit of water features, and the bunkers are strategically placed and somehow seemed to be a magnet for a lot of my balls. The starter was super friendly and gave great tips, and her best advise was to remind us to 'not forget to look up' and boy was she right, the views and the mountains are stunning. Coming from flat Texas, you really are in awe of God's creation when you look up at the Canadian rockies. I can't believe this is a public course, it has the feel of an exclusive members only country club. The 19th hole restaurant and bar are second to none, with locally brewed craft beers and one of the best burgers I've had in my life. Do I want to come back? heck yeah. Do I recommend this to anyone? heck yeah!

Always a treat; less than an hour from Calgary; you can make this as challenging or playable as you want with many tees to choose from. Unbelievably scenic; water and sand come into play often; generous fairways and large greens

The Canadian government did the right thing by saving Kananaskis from the devastating flood in 2013. It reopened in 2018 mostly intact. Only one hole on Mount Lorette, a par 5 along the river, was tweaked. Otherwise, it has returned to its natural glory.
I slightly favor Mount Lorette because it uses the river so well on the back nine, where a couple of par 3s and a short par 4 hug the riverbank.
Early in the round, a wolf walked out of the woods, shook off its fur and was gone again. That was a highlight, a creature I'd never seen before in all my travels.
It's amazing such a rugged landscape is so close to downtown Calgary. For a stay and play, the nearby Pomeroy Kananskis Mountain Lodge has been upgraded. What hasn't changed are the stunning views of Kananaskis from high atop the mountain ridge behind the hotel.