Choosing a golf course that suits your style can be tricky. Even if there’s plenty of options among the best golf courses in Canada, there are certain criteria that you can use to determine the best fit for you.
Of course, location matters. Are you looking for a quick round while traveling, or do you have a local course more suited to regular play?
In addition, the terrain of each course differs depending on nearby geography and it's important to pick one whose fairways and greens challenge you appropriately.
If you’re looking for your next destination for a golfing holiday, here are the top 20 best golf courses in Canada!
The Best 20 Golf Courses in Canada
Every golf club or golf destination has a different backstory. Some heritage sites have also made beautiful golf clubs where you can play a round and take in the beautiful historical sights of the area around you.
Some of these golf clubs have had to spend decades reaching perfection but once they got there, they took the golf world by storm after opening, such as when Cabot Links opened.
Looking for some brand-new, top-notch golf clubs to improve your game? We have all sorts of golf clubs and complete sets at Just Golf Stuff!
Now, if you want to dig deep and find good deals around Ontario, you can take a look at UnderPar’s golf course deals in Ontario.
Canada has some of the top golf courses in the world! Most of Canada's top golf courses have made it to the list of the Top 100 Golf Courses Around The World, ranked by Golf Digest, some of which are swanky country clubs.
Below, we’ll share some of the best courses in Canada and how they fare on a worldwide scale.
1. Cabot Cliffs, Nova Scotia
With an overall rank being 10, this is one of Canada’s top golf courses with picture-perfect views of surrounding blue waters.
Located in Inverness, N.S., and designed by legendary designers Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw (2015), this public, walking-only course is ranked 10 of the Top 100.
6,854 yards long, Cabot Cliffs have ocean views from all the holes and 8 holes play right along the coast above the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
2. National Golf Club of Canada
Located in Woodbridge, Ontario, and designed by George Fazio and Tom Fazio in 1976, this golf course is ranked overall 22 of the Top 100 and is frequently referred to as the best course in Canada.
Notoriously difficult, it is a challenging course to play and has been called the toughest course in the country. The course has 18 holes over a total length of 7,234 yards.
3. George’s Golf and Country Club, Ontario
Located in Etobicoke, Ontario, and designed by Stanley Thompson in 1929, St. George’s Golf and Country Club has an overall rank of 32 out of the top 100.
George’s Golf and Country Club has a total of 18 holes and a total length of 7025 yards.
4. Cabot Links, Nova Scotia
Like Cabot Cliffs, Cabot Links is also located in Inverness, Nova Scotia, and was designed by Rod Whitman in 2011. Cabot Links has an overall rank of 39 out of the top 100 and is Canada's only authentic links golf resort.
Cabot Links has a total of 18 holes but a 10-hole version of the course was opened in 2011. The course has a total length of 6854 yards.
5. Hamilton Golf And Country Club, Ontario
Located in Ancaster, Ontario, and designed by Harry S. Colt in 1916, Hamilton Golf and Country Club was ranked 52 out of the top 100.
6. Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course, Alberta
Located in Alberta and designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson in 1925, Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is ranked 75 in the top 100 and is a public course.
7. Capilano Golf and Country Club, BC
Also designed by Stanley Thompson in 1937, Capilano Golf and Country Club is located in West Vancouver. It is ranked 76 in the top 100.
8. Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Alberta
Yet another one by Stanley Thompson in 1927, Banff Springs is ranked 88 in the top 100. It is located in Bow Valley at the foot of the picturesque Mount Rundle.
9. Tobiano Golf Course, BC
Located in Kamloops, BC, and designed by Thomas McBroom in 2008, Tobiano is overall ranked 90 of the top 100 and is a public course. It has been awarded Canada’s Best Golf Course by the World Golf Awards for three consecutive years from 2020, 2021, and 2022.
10. Cape Breton Highlands Links, Nova Scotia
Located in Ingonish Beach, N.S., and designed by Stanley Thompson in 1941, Cape Breton is ranked 94 of the top 100. The course runs along a rocky highland to the mountains of Cape Breton.
Planning a golf trip? Don’t forget to renew your golf gear and accessories to ensure you’ll perform at your best on the course!
11. Toronto Golf Club, Ontario
Located in Mississauga, Ontario, and designed by Harry S. Colt in 1912, Toronto Golf Club is overall ranked 96 of the top 100.
One of the oldest golf clubs in Canada, it hosted the Canadian Open five times from 1905 to 1927.
12. Memphremagog Golf Club, Quebec
This club is located in Magog, Quebec, and was designed by Thomas McBroom in 2008. This wonderful walking course is the project of Paul Desmarais II and his business partner Jean Monty.
13. Muskoka Bay Club
Nestled in wetlands and rocky ridges in Gravenhurst, Ontario, this course was designed by Doug Carrick in 2007.
14. Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club
Located in Vancouver, B.C., this club was designed by A.V. Macan in 1960.
15. The Paintbrush
This golf course is located in Caledon East, Ontario, and was designed by Michael Hurdzan & Dana Fry in 1992.
16. The Links at Crowbush Cove
This course is located in Morell, Prince Edward Island, and was designed by Thomas McBroom in 1994.
17. Beacon Hall Golf Club
This course is located in Aurora, Ontario, and was designed by Bob Cupp in 1988.
18. The Pulpit Golf Club
This golf course is located in Caledon Village, Ontario, and was designed by Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry in 1991.
19. Redtail Golf Course
This golf course is located in Port Stanley, Ontario, and was designed by Donald Steel in 1993.
20. Cobble Beach, Ontario
This 18-hole course allows for stunning views of Georgian Bay. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from Toronto, the course was designed by Doug Carrick in 2007.
Final Thoughts
Now you’ve got the inspiration for your next golfing holiday, stock up on anything else you might need at Just Golf Stuff!
Let the wonderful world of golf take you places you have never been before. Happy exploring!