Don’t tell anyone, but Saskatchewan is a golfer’s paradise. Discover hidden gem courses with affordable green fees and no crowds. Your next Canadian golf getaway is waiting in the prairies.
I’m just back from a terrific golf getaway in Saskatchewan. That’s right. Saskatchewan.
Those Saskatchewanians seem like friendly folks, but I’m convinced they’re all part of a golf conspiracy. If the rest of Canada knew that great golf courses could be played for about $100 or less, they’d be beating a path to the prairies. No doubt the prices would go up and the courses would become crowded. Those golf-crazy Saskatchewan swingers wouldn’t want that. No pretense at a pauper’s price tag is the name of the game here.
With a population of just over 1.2 million and more than 200 golf facilities, Saskatchewan ranks second only to Prince Edward Island in terms of golf facilities per capita in Canada. They have been batting balls around Saskatchewan ever since 1896, when a member of the Northwest Mounted Police laid out four holes.
Glaciers and Golfing in Saskatchewan
Crushed by a glacier 10,000 years ago, the topography around Regina is as flat as a pancake. But just 20 minutes away, the terrain changes dramatically in the Qu’Appelle Valley that runs halfway across the province. Carved by torrents of glacial meltwater, the Qu’Appelle River meanders across the valley floor, flanked by high slopes covered with grasslands and forests.
Deer Valley Golf and Estates
Deer Valley Golf Club takes advantage of the elevation and glorious scenery at every turn. The Globe & Mail rated number two as the fifth-best golf hole in Canada. This par-three presents unforgettable vistas of valley dunes, stands of aspen, and an endless prairie sky.
Maybe there’s something about that big sky, the clean air, and the drone of a distant tractor, because everybody, including me, seems to be in a good mood. The bargain $82 green fees with cart (Monday through Thursday) also contribute to my benevolent state of mind. “Private Club Quality at Public Rates” is Deer Valley’s motto. You can book your own visit here.
Saskatoon’s Scottish Links, Pow Wows and Calories
Moon Lake Golf and Country Club,
My next stop was in the Southwest of Saskatoon. Designed by Saskatchewan-born Les Furber, the Scottish links-style 27-hole tract at Moon Lake Golf meanders around a fertile valley dotted with Saskatoon berry and poplar trees.
Heavily mounded fairways, tall fescue and wheat roughs, gusts of wind, and some brutally deep bunkers provide the challenges, as well as a few hefty carries over cobalt blue lakes. Weekday green fees with cart are $90.
“Why do you suppose golf is so popular here?” I asked a local swinger. He shrugged, “Hockey, curling, golf. What else is there to do?”
Actually, there are plenty of things to do in Saskatoon. Dubbed the “city of bridges,” Saskatoon is a vibrant spot with lots of parks, at least seven golf courses, a Ukrainian Museum, boat cruises, and a plethora of really fantastic restaurants.
Calories Bakery and Restaurant has been acclaimed by Air Canada’s En Route magazine as one of the best places to eat in Canada. What started as Saskatoon’s first cappuccino café and bakery now serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Save room for the decadent desserts; this is no place to count calories.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Long before cappuccino and golf courses, nomadic tribes roamed the Northern Plains. At Wanuskewin Heritage Park, northwest of Saskatoon, visitors can hike a series of trails where the aboriginal people set up their tipis, chiseled their arrowheads, and hunted bison.
You can easily spend a few hours here or stay overnight in a tipi.
So, You Think Saskatchewan is Flat?
Cooke Municipal Golf Course
In the middle of Prince Albert, Cooke Municipal Golf Course has a storied history. In 1909, the Hudson Bay Company gave a group of Scottish Immigrants permission to set up a 9-hole golf course on their reserve land, forming The Prince Albert Golf Club.
In 1925, the course changed its name to honour its first head professional, Hubert Cooke. The 18-hole course meanders through a boreal forest with gentle elevation changes and some tricky water hazards. The picture-perfect 12th par-three has two pot bunkers on the left of the green and a water hazard on the right.
Accurate aim on this one is crucial. Green fee with cart in prime time is $93.
Elk Ridge Resort
Approximately 220 km north of Saskatoon is Elk Ridge Resort. Situated at the doorstep of the renowned Prince Albert National Park, reigns as one of Saskatchewan’s premier golf resort destinations.
The three nines (Aspen, Birch, and Tamarack, named after indigenous trees) are cut into a hilly boreal forest. You might find yourself sharing the tee box with an elk or chasing a fox that has trotted off with your ball. You can book a round here.
Tamarack is the most player-friendly tract. Tackle it first to iron out the kinks. The 8th hole on Birch is a photogenic par-3 requiring a forced carry over a water hazard. The green slopes back to front, so putting some backspin on your approach is recommended.
Heralded as the most challenging par-4 in the province, the second hole on Aspen has a relatively narrow landing area on your tee shot with a lengthy uphill approach to a semi blind green with a false front, guarded by a large front right greenside bunker.
Green fees in high season are $110 with a cart, but it’s two for one on Mondays and Tuesdays, plus a cart fee per person. After your round, head to the Wyld for an elk burger with all the trimmings.
Elk Ridge Resort also offers accommodations in the main lodge or cabins on the property. A fun post-golf activity is the cocktail-making class orchestrated by master bartender Sandeep. He’ll show you how to shake up twists on classics such as the Maple Port Old-Fashioned. Or, do as we did and concoct something new, such as the Bear Spray, made with mezcal, amaro, black pepper bitters, lemon, and demerara syrup.
There’s also a spa, indoor pool, and hot tub to soothe those aching golf muscles.
Wasekesiu Golf Resort
Just 15 minutes away from Elk Ridge, inside the gates of Prince Albert National Park, head to Waskesiu, a resort town with an interpretive nature centre, hiking trails, a sandy beach, cabins, and hotels. Imagine a mini-Banff. And imagine my surprise at finding Restaurant Pietro.
In this summer holiday town, filled with the predictable array of tourist shops, ice cream parlours, galleries, snack bars, and outfitters, Pietro offers the sort of fine dining experience you’d expect to find in a big city.
Caesar salad is made from scratch tableside, there is a great selection of Italian pasta dishes, and the steak, lamb, and seafood are superb. You won’t be disappointed with the crusted rack of lamb and crème brulée.
Rumour has it that entertainer and golf addict, the late Bob Hope, declared the Waskesiu Golf Course (also known as the Lobstick) to be his favourite.
Designed in 1935 by the legendary Stanley Thompson (who also created Banff Springs and Jasper in Alberta and Highlands Links in Cape Breton), this northern gem plays through a mature boreal forest. The fairways are hilly with several blind tee shots. Deer, elk, and fox abound, as do severely contoured greens. If you thought Saskatchewan was flat, this roller coaster will change your mind.
Bob Hope must have had fond memories of the par-three second hole, a narrow funnel of a fairway leading to a severely sloped green with sparkling blue Lake Waskesiu peeking through the birch trees.
Thompson’s sense of humour shows on number eight, appropriately named Mae West for the two curvaceous mounds guarding the green. Between the tricky putts, distracting scenery, wildlife, and rarely a flat lie, the Lobstick is about as challenging and good as golf gets. High season green fees with cart are $110.
I played with a couple of longtime members, Jean and Frank. On the 18th green, Frank shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “Now don’t go writing too many good things about our golf. We like to keep it our little secret.”
Maybe my conspiracy theory isn’t so far-fetched after all.
Tips For Your Saskatchewan Golf Holiday
The golf season in Saskatchewan generally runs from May to the end of September. To plan your trip, here are a few tips to help you plan your own Saskatchewan golf holiday:
- Book Your Tee Times and Accommodations Early. Saskatchewan’s most sought-after courses, especially those with national acclaim like Dakota Dunes or Elk Ridge, fill up quickly during the peak season. To secure your preferred tee times and ensure you have a place to stay, it’s essential to book well in advance, especially for weekend trips or long weekends.
- Focus on a Specific Region. Saskatchewan is a large province, and trying to golf from one end to the other in a single trip can lead to a lot of driving. Instead, pick a region and explore its unique offerings. For a world-class prairie experience, base yourself in the Saskatoon area. For a more rugged, resort-style trip with lakeside views, head north to the Prince Albert National Park region.
- Investigate Stay & Play Packages. Many Saskatchewan golf courses and resorts partner with local hotels to offer comprehensive packages that include accommodation, green fees, and sometimes even meals or other activities. These “Stay & Play” deals, offered by places like Dakota Dunes Resort and Elk Ridge Resort, are a great way to simplify the planning process and often provide significant savings.
- Balance Golf with Other Activities. A Saskatchewan golf holiday can be about more than just the sport. Use your trip as an opportunity to experience Saskatchewan’s other attractions. For example, if you’re golfing in the north, you can also enjoy hiking, fishing, or exploring Prince Albert National Park. If you’re in the south, consider a visit to the Tunnels of Moose Jaw or Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
- Pack for All Seasons. Saskatchewan weather can be famously unpredictable, even in the middle of summer. Be prepared for anything from hot, sunny days to cool, windy conditions or a sudden rain shower. Packing layers, a windbreaker, and rain gear will ensure you’re comfortable and ready to play, no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
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Anita Draycott is a Canadian travel journalist, photographer, and editor who has visited over 100 countries. She lives to eat and makes it her mandate to find the best restaurants, cafés, and culinary experiences wherever she goes. She has attended cooking classes all over the planet—from finding the right spices combos for Pad Thai in Bangkok to learning to make linguine from scratch in Italy. Hunting for truffles in Croatia, touring wineries in Bordeaux, and exploring the street food of Istanbul are all in a delicious day’s work for Anita.