Golf Course Review by: Billy Satterfield
Rankings:
The Takeaway: In the discussion among the best courses in Alberta, the Mt. Kidd course at Kananaskis Country enjoys one of the most scenic settings Canada offers with towering mountains and a crystal clear river complimenting the memorable hole designs. Grade A
Quick Facts
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr. 1983
Cost: $109 - $144 + $50 per cart Click for current rates
Phone Number: 403-591-7070
Course Website: Official Website - Visit Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Kidd)'s official website by clicking on the link provided.
Directions: Get here! - 1 Lorette Drive, Kananaskis, Alberta T0L 2H0 – CANADA
Photos: See additional photos of Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Kidd)
What to Expect: Located about an hour from either Banff or Calgary, the government funded Kananaskis Country golf complex enjoys an inspiring setting in one of Alberta’s parks known for the Canadian Rockies dominating the scenery. Laid out on the southern end of the property, Mount Kidd is a visually stunning golf course and the superior offering of the two tracks at Kananaskis Country that were renovated and reopened in 2018 after mass flooding in 2013. The course is routed along the crystal clear Kananaskis River that compliments the soaring limestone mountain range to the west which peaks out over 10,000 feet. The course is much more open and inviting than its sister course, Mount Lorette, which in turn lends itself to take advantage of the views and strategy of the course design. The par fours and fives feature an excellent variety of hole lengths and shapes with some mild elevation changes while the par threes feature similar lengths but different scenery, strategy, and terrain to mix things up. The course is easily walkable with much of the terrain being relatively flat, however there are a few elevated tees that deliver better visuals to the course but will require more of a hike to get to. Ultimately, the best holes are found along the river but perhaps the most stunning is the par three 16th with a mountain backdrop that simply can't be duplicated. Banff Springs and Jasper Springs may get all the hype in Alberta, but Kananaskis Country’s Mount Kidd course stands just as tall among the competition.
By the Numbers
| Tees | Par | Yardage | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7136 | 73.7 | 140 |
| Red | 72 | 6637 | 71.2 | 136 |
| Blue | 72 | 6187 | 68.8 | 132 |
| White | 72 | 5667 | 66.2 | 123 |
| Orange (Ladies) | 72 | 4989 | 67.9 | 124 |
| Gold (Ladies) | 72 | 3534 | 59.4 | 98 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Signature Hole: 4th Hole – 197 Yard Par 3 – A beauty of a par three, the 4th hole plays to a peninsula green where the only bailout is to the right, but doing so will result in finding a bunker. Bailing out too far right will bring the river into play so the best option is generally to aim for the center of the green no matter where the flag is. With a trio of bunkers protecting three of the sides, distance control is paramount and there is some forgiveness between the front bunker and the green where the slope will kick balls onto the putting surface. With the Canadian Rockies creating the backdrop, this is a great time to pull out your camera if you haven't yet.
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Best Par 3: 16th Hole – 204 Yards – An absolute stunning one-shotter, the 16th plays downhill to a green protected by a trio of bunkers on the sides and rear while the backdrop boasts a row of evergreens and towering granite mountains. A spine runs horizontally through the green to create an additional challenge when putting from one half of the green to the other. Playing the shot a club shorter than the distance is generally rewarded.
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Best Par 4: 15th Hole – 390 Yards – The 15th is a mid-length two-shotter that bends slightly to the left around a sprawling bunker that runs over 40 yards in length. Laying up short of the bunker and staying on the left side will block players from having a decent look at the green, so sending drives up the right half of the short grass is the optimal play. The approach shot into the green is one of my favorites at Mount Kidd with towering mountains creating the backdrop and the putting surface boasting undulations that will make your knees knock even on a four footer. The spine running across the back third of the green can be utilized with a spinning approach shot to suck a ball to a front pin placement, but with the flatstick it can create some challenging putts.
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Best Par 5: 14th Hole – 493 Yards – While this par five appears to be a pushover due to its restricted length, the 14th combats that by requiring players to execute their strategy with precision. From the angle the tee offers, the fairway appears to the golfer as bending to the left more than it does in reality. As such, players can be tempted to challenge the left side of the fairway in an effort to shorten the hole and give themselves the green light for attacking the green in two. However, a hillock on the left side encroaches the fairway and pinches the landing zone down to 25 yards and blocks balls on the left half of the short grass from attempting to reach the green in under regulation. If forced into a layup, players will have to contend with the 20 yard long bunker that starts 75 yards short of the front edge of the green. An additional sprawling bunker is found greenside and rises up to where a spine in the green emerges and is notorious for sending balls towards the front and back of the putting surface. The design features and shaping of this hole is ideal for being under 500 yards.
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Birdie Time: 5th Hole – 330 Yard Par 4 – Coming off the beautiful 4th, players now have a chance to take a stroke back from Old Man Par with this drivable par four that is flanked by the Kananaskis River on the right. The fairway bends slightly right to follow the flow of the river and a trio of bunkers up the left side keep players honest if they try too hard to steer clear of the water. The approach into the green is pinched by a pair of bunkers and is receptive to a cutting tee shot that threads the needle or a precise wedge shot for those that lay up. The raised putting surface features some of the most dramatic contours found at Mt. Kidd, so being dialed in with your putter is a must, but ultimately this is a hole players should take advantage of.
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Bogey Beware: 6th Hole – 560 Yard Par 5 – As is often the case in golf, an easy hole is followed up by a hard hole, and that is exactly what you get at Mt. Kidd. The par five 6th may not appear overly challenging on the scorecard, but the back tee offers the most elevated drive players will hit and the extra hangtime provides just enough flight time to get in trouble in the tree line on the right or river on the left. Once you've managed to get off the tee, consideration needs to be given to the fairway bunker 200 yards short of the green on the right and the additional bunker 125 yards before the green on the left. Trust me, you want nothing to do with attacking this shallow green from a bunker; especially with a final sand pit fronting the putting surface. For players who hit good tee shots and want to go for the green in two, a pond sits to the right of the putting surface ready to swallow a shot that starts tailing in its flight. Avoid the trouble and you are in great shape, but finding the trouble brings a big number into play quickly.
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