[Mark Saltzman]

Much like Stanley Thompson's Highlands Links, Jasper Park Lodge is a golf course that one is unlikely to just find himself near.  Sure, the national parks in both areas attract many visitors, but I'm not sure many intent on carrying a backpack will make room for their golf clubs on the same trip.  No, Jasper Park Lodge takes some effort to get to -- a four hour drive from Edmonton, or a 5 hour drive from Calgary -- but as a contender for Canada's best, it is well worth the effort.

Those that make the effort to see Jasper will likely play Thompson's Banff Springs on the same trip.  A mere three-and-a-half hours down the Icefields Parkway, on one of the most beautiful stretches of highway anywhere, even a the most die-hard of golfers would be foolish not to leave ample time to get out of the car and enjoy the turquoise water and Colombia Icefield.  






The opener at Jasper is a dull start to the round, an uphill mid-length par-4 with little driving interest and a large, gently undulating green.  Perhaps already wondering what all the fuss about, the all-world par-5 second will put any doubts to rest.  Much like his 15th at Highlands Links and his 4th at St George's, Thompson was able to make excellent use of severe fairway contour to add interest and strategy to his par-5s.  With the 'Old Man' formation in the background (the tops of the mountains look like a sleeping Chief), the tee shot is played to a generous fairway with a large drop in elevation on its right.  Golfers planning to play the hole as a three-shorter will try to play left to leave a clear view on the second, while golfers hoping to reach the par-5 in two will likely choose to play right, leaving a semi-blind shot but a more open green front.




The third is a difficult hole to gauge for the first-timer as the dogleg par-4 requires a blind tee shot over a corner -- much to my surprise the ideal line is a long way from the fairway cut, over the trees on the right.  Arguably the best green site on the golf course awaits over the hill, benched perfectly into the hillside and falling sharply with the lay of the land.

[Wayne_Kozun]

Great pictures Mark - I look forward to the rest.  How is the conditioning of the course?

[Adam Clayman]

Hard to believe it was 10 years ago that gca made one of it's first officially sponsored trips to these two Thompson gems.

We were fortunate to get to play Banff in it's original route. The results proved Dr. Klein's adage about stupidity's relationship to the rich. Finishing the round along that river, below the massively looming hotel, was palpably spiritual. Further proof of the adage was discussed at breakfast when both Ran and I couldn't get over the ipo price of Google. $85. What idiot would buy that? Was the gist.

Jasper Park was surreal, with it's infinite variety. Mr. Cooper related stories of Mr. Thompson and the unique nature of maintaing that specific course. I don't know of another course that could elicit so many feelings.

On the drive back from Calgary, we were engrossed in dissecting the minutia of both courses, Ben literally bypassed the entirety that is Calgary. We had to turn around and laugh, while appreciating how significant the reason for that detour was.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Very cool. Mark, what's the altitude and how does / did the design account for it?

[Emil Weber]

This is not nearly getting the attention it should. Please keep it up!

Emil

[Ronald Montesano]

Canadians golf?

[Wayne_Kozun]

Yeah eh!  We need to have something to do between hockey and curling seasons. So our curling clubs put in golf courses so that members would have something to do in the summer.

[Mark Saltzman]

Jasper Park is sometimes called 'easy' - I wonder how many other golf courses with two 230+ yard par-3s on one nine are called easy?  Not that many will take the option, but like Tillinghast's Reef par-3s, there is an option for the golfer who chooses to play this par 3.5 as a lay-up and pitch hole.  Taking on the narrow green brings larger numbers into play, particularly if the golfer finds the bunker 30 yards short of the putting surface.




Perhaps it's holes like the 5th, a downhill 480-yard par-5 that lead some to call the course easy.  I suppose the problem is easily remedied if we change the par on the scorecard to 4.  The centreline bunker is a tremendously placed hazard, leaving sufficient width on either side to tempt most to challenge it. 




There is little boldness in the contouring in the greens at Jasper, though the green at the 5th is a standout.  Not only does it tilt generally away from the mountains, but it confounds with two front shoulders, a ridge across its centre and a collecting rear portion.




The 6th is an awkward mid-length par-4 that bends to the right around trees.  Only the foolish will try to play around the corner as the direct line is blocked by trees and the fairway narrowed by fairway bunkering on the left.

[Mark Saltzman]

When comparing Jasper Park and Banff Springs, I would argue that Banff offers more consistent quality in its golf holes, but less often does it achieve the fun, quirk and complexity of Jasper's best holes.  The 7th, though not a bad hole, is among the least interesting at either course and though routed in a different direction, is similar in playing characteristics to the par-3 12th.  The mid-length par-3 requires an all-carry tee shot to a green protected by a fronting bunker / false front combination.  The back-to-front pitch of the green will help to contain tee shots, though those that carry a tee shot too long will leave a treacherous recovery.

The 440 yard, par-4 8th hole is a wonderful combination of quirk and challenge.  Set into the side of the mountain, the hole falls from right to left, and requires the golfer play a perfect tee shot along the right side of the fairway should he wish to have any view of the flag.  Tee shots too far right will find the hillside and tee shots too far left will fall to a lower portion of fairway.  The approach is played, often blind, through a chute created by two hillsides to a fantastic and simple bunkerless green, set at an angle to reward the golfer that had challenged the right side from the tee.




From the tee, with a mountain peak immediately in line with the green (unlikely a coincidence!), the 230 yard ninth is a stunning golf hole.  But, it's not until the golfer reaches the green and sees the severity of the surrounds, does he realize the true challenge of this golf hole.  A bit like Ross' famous Volcano hole at Bedford Springs in Pennsylvania, merely building a hole such as this one, especially so long ago, required some serious bravado.  Short bunkers are cleverly aligned to give the impression that an all-carry tee shot is required to reach the putting surface, but there is considerable yardage between the right and left sets, and a further 15 yards of fairway between bunker and green.  Golfers able to keep their ball on a straight line and make the 200 or so yard carry over the bunkers are rewarded with a funnel to the green.  Golfers that are offline, even slightly, or even worse, long of the green, are met with 30 foot drops to grass and flat bottomed sand bunkers.

[Guy Nicholson]

Some great shots of Cleopatra, Mark. Note also how the chute on 8 aligns with the mountain valley in the distance ... Thompson was so clever at this.

[Adam Clayman]

If I recall correctly, Mr. Cooper singled out the rear bunkers as being one of the reoccurring changes Mr. Thompson made over the years, at Jasper. From my layman perspective, I attributed it to Dr. Mackenzie's influence.

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