Rankings: 

32nd    

The Takeaway:  Mostly corridor golf to get started, the Mt. Lorette course lacks the excitement and views Mt. Kidd offers until embarking on an impressive stretch of holes (14-18) along the river that are top shelf.  Grade C+

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 Lorette)'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 Lorette)

What to Expect:  One of two Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs at the Kananaskis Country golf complex located within a Canadian national park, Mount Lorette starts with perhaps the most difficult opening hole in all of Alberta. The genesis hole features a very testing tee shot where watery graves are commonplace. However, after a strong start, Mount Lorette backs off to less memorable holes that often feel claustrophobic and a bit disconnected for much of the routing. But right before players may be ready to give up on Lorette, the course comes back with a vengeance with holes 14-18 that play along the Kananaskis River and deliver a fantastic finishing stretch and memorable finish. With the river coming into play and superior architecture employed, the back nine is clearly the better half of the course and it is complimented by some stellar mountain views. Those that wish to walk the course will find it easy to navigate considering the mostly flat terrain, however the majority of patrons will elect to ride in a cart; especially if they plan on playing 36 holes for the day. Conditioning is solid throughout the course and has significantly improved after the courses were redone following a flood that shut the courses down for a handful of years. Ultimately, Mount Lorette is a nice compliment, but clearly a step down, to the Mount Kidd course that delivers superior architecture, variety, and views.

By the Numbers

Individual Hole Analysis

Signature Hole:  17th Hole – 185 Yard Par 3 – A beauty of a par three, the 17th plays over a bend in the river to a green surrounded by a trio of bunkers. The photogenic hole features a row of trees in the backdrop with large mountains in the distance. Mount Lorette isn't nearly as strong of a course as Mount Kidd is, but this hole is certainly a strong reason to love the closing stretch Lorette offers.

17th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (185 Yard Par 3)

Best Par 3:  6th Hole – 199 Yards – With water fronting the green and continuing onto the right side, the 6th won't accept anything less than a well struck tee shot. Bunkers on each side of the green should stand as motivation to be as accurate as possible, but finding the sand is a much more enticing result than diving in the water. The green features a rise across the center which can create a bit more touch when navigating from front to back; or vice versa.

6th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (199 Yard Par 3)

6th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (199 Yard Par 3)

Best Par 4:  7th Hole – 496 Yards – The most visually striking tee shot of the day comes at the lengthy 7th that tips out just shy of 500 yards. The tee ball must carry a healthy stretch of water before finding the fairway that features a bunker on the left side and is there as a penalty to those that bail too far away from the water that works its way partially up the right side. The approach shot is one of the most demanding of the day due to the length players will be coming in from combined with a large bunker in front that will prevent rolling onto the putting surface in most instances and additional bunkers on each side of the green. It's a beautiful hole, but one that is also easy to bogey.

7th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (496 Yard Par 4)

Best Par 5:  14th Hole – 551 Yards – With the river setting the right boundary of the hole, the 14th features a testy tee shot since bailing left will put you in the trees. The hole doglegs left and features a bunker on the inside of the corner to deter players from trying to cheat off yardage. Playing to the green offers an inspiring setting as players get a great view down the mountain range. The green features a rise across the center effectively creating two sections of the putting surface to be aware of when hitting your approach shot.

14th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (551 Yard Par 5)

Birdie Time:  16th Hole – 369 Yard Par 4 – Though the river is back in play here, it is just in front of the tee box and is easily carried with your first stroke. A baby fade is an ideal tee shot to hit as it will follow the gentle bend in the fairway and set up a short approach shot into the green. Just one bunker is in play on the second shot and with a scoring club in hand you should be able to take dead aim at the flag. The green is generously sized for a hole of this length and the only pin placement you'd want to use caution when attacking is the back right corner where the putting surface shrinks down.

16th Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (369 Yard Par 4)

Bogey Beware:  1st Hole – 427 Yard Par 4 – This is just an unkind way to start a golf course ha ha. The opening hole at Mount Lorette features enough length that you hate to layup very far back, but enough trouble that hitting driver will often result in your ball finding a bad spot. Ponds cover the left side of the hole while bailing to the right will leave a precarious angle if you manage to miss the creek and heavy tree line found on that side. The wide green is shallow and sloping which leads to often missing the green or coughing up a three-putt. I think you could sit on this tee box for a few hours and count on one hand the number of foursomes that are able to fully avoid the water; and equally the number of pars.

1st Hole at Kananaskis Country Golf Course (Mount Lorette) (427 Yard Par 4)