Alberta Claims Best Canadian Golf Destination

Proving yet again that the majesty of the mountains and the call of the wild make for a premier golf destination, The Canadian Rockies golf destination collected top resort and golf course honors in SCOREGolf's Best of the Best rankings.

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge was again voted Best Golf Resort in Canada by the leading national publication, which produces the biennial Canada's Top 100 awards list. The Fairmont Banff Springs was ranked a quick second behind its sister property in the resort category. Both historic properties include Stanley Thompson layouts.

"It's the artistry that makes Jasper so superb and Thompson's vision and imagination that make it so memorable," said the article of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course, which celebrates its 85th birthday this year.

Five of the seven golf courses that comprise the Canadian Rockies golf destination were named to the upper tier of SCOREGolf's Top 100 List of Best Courses list:

* The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course (ranked 4th, up one from 2008)
* The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course (Stanley Thompson 18 course ranked 5th, up from 11th place)
* Kananaskis Country Golf Course's Mt. Kidd (30th)
* Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club (32nd)
* Kananaskis Country's Mt. Lorette (47th)


In addition, both Kananaskis Country Golf Course layouts at Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette were named to the Best Public $100 or Less list. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and The Fairmont Banff Springs golf courses were also listed third and fourth respectively in the Classic Courses category, rounding out the destination's accolades.

"Once-in-a-lifetime golf vacations happen every day in the Canadian Rockies," said Canadian Rockies Golf spokesperson Gordon Schultz. "We were thrilled to see the destination gain such recognition, knowing all partners -- including Silvertip Golf Resort and Canmore Golf and Curling Club -- make Alberta a strong draw for golfers everywhere."

The Alberta group of seven golf courses is branded under the tagline, "Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed." Consortia golf packages can be found at canadianrockiesgolf.ca. Many of the consortia members have received similar awards in the world's leading golf publications, including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Links and others.


ABOUT THE CANADIAN ROCKIES GOLF CONSORTIA

Founded in March 2009, the Canadian Rockies Golf Consortia offers stay and play opportunities at seven golf courses situated at six pristine locations. They includes three Canmore-based properties (the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club and Silvertip Golf Resort); two Kananaskis-based Robert Trent Jones layouts at Mt. Kidd and Mt. Lorette; and two Fairmont properties with historic Stanley Thompson layouts in Banff Springs (27 holes) and Jasper Park Lodge (18 holes). More information on each partner is provided below.