Released … – will one of them be yours?
2026 CANADIAN ROCKIES GOLF TOUR
Welcome Golfers
PaR nz is excited to release the 2026 Canadian Rockies Golf Tour, our 22nd trip to Canada and with an exciting new itinerary.
Our most popular tour favourites such as Banff, Chateau Whistler, Predator Ridge, Kananaskis and Nicklaus North are of course in the line up! In 2026 we are including a visit to Jasper National Park, staying three nights at the 5-Star Fairmont Jasper Lodge, and playing the Stanley Thompson designed 18-hole Jasper championship course. The course which will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2025, was ranked 45th on Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest list in 2024, is noted for its expansive bunkering, stop-and-stare scenery and undulating greens. Few golf courses in the world can match the rugged majesty of this national treasure, rated Canada’s #1 Golf Resort for over 20 years by SCOREgolf Magazine.
We play Big Sky again in 2026 with the dramatic background of Mount Currie towering above every fairway.
We also welcome back in 2026, playing Furry Creek made famous in the Happy Gilmore movie, on the Sea to Sky Highway, from Vancouver to Whistler. The 1st tee at Furry Creek, a 400m drop to the green with Howe Sound in the background is simply, WOW! With our new tour itinerary in 2026, our Canadian Rockies Golf Tour is again a “bucket list –must do”! Please read on and check out the many images and great tour inclusions.
Our accommodation is first class with the 5-Star Fairmont Group being our hosts in Vancouver, Whistler, Jasper, Lake
call us on +64 9 486 1077
Louise and Calgary. One of our favourite ‘tour-homes’ is Predator Ridge and we will be back there in 2026 in golf resort one-bedroom style apartments – you will love this 4-day golf break!
Our touring days include travel in and around The Rockies, through the Icefields Parkway with wall to wall glaciers, we trace the mighty Thompson and Fraser Rivers and hold our breath through the very dramatic Duffy Lake Road. Eyes will be peeled on our travelling days and on the golf courses for the chance at any time to see wildlife, especially bears. The tour includes a free day in Whistler and Jasper, and a wine tour with lunch in the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s premier wine and fruit growing region.
PaR nz loves Canada – one of our favourite tours – we have been 22 times! So the question remains – will you be one of the 28 golfers that will tee off in Canada 2026 with PaR nz Golfing Holidays? If the answer is yes – don’t delay because this tour sells out very quickly.
Thanks, and cheers
Denise & Kim
PaR nz Tour Directors Email denise@parnz.co.nz or kim@parnz.co.nz
Canadian Rockies Golf Tour 2026 31 May – 18 June
Itinerary at a glance
Sunday 31 May
• Arrive Vancouver (or earlier with pre night stays possible)
• Check into the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver ~ Fairmont Deluxe Rooms
• Welcome Dinner with Drinks
Monday 1 June
• Travel to Whistler
• Golf en route @ Furry Creek
• Check into the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for 5 nights
~ Deluxe Slopeside Rooms
Tuesday 2 June
• Golf @ Nicklaus North
Wednesday 3 June
• Golf @ Big Sky
Thursday 4 June
• Free Day in Whistler – try the Peak to Peak?
• Whistler evening – drinks & canapes
Friday 5 June
• Golf @ Chateau Whistler
Saturday 6 June
• Travel to the Okanagan Valley
• Check into Predator Ridge Golf Resort one-bedroom apartments for 4 nights
• PaR nz Hosted BBQ Dinner with Drinks
Sunday 7 June
• Golf @ Predator
Monday 8 June
• Golf @ Ridge
Tuesday 9 June
• Wine Tour including Lunch in the Okanagan
Wednesday 10 June
• Travel to Jasper National Park
• Check into the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge ~ Deluxe Lodge Rooms for 3 nights
Thursday 11 June
• Golf @ Jasper
Friday 12 June
• Day sightseeing Jasper
• PaR nz Hosted Drinks
Saturday 13 June
• Travel to Lake Louise with sightseeing stops along the Icefields Parkway
• Check into the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise ~ Lakeview Rooms for 3 nights
Sunday 14 June
• Golf @ Banff with time in Banff for dinner (own care)
Monday 15 June
• Sightseeing Lake Louise including the Lake Louise Gondola and Lake Moraine
Tuesday 16 June
• Travel to Calgary
• Golf en route @ Silver Tip
• Check into the Fairmont Palliser Calgary ~ Fairmont Signature Rooms for 2 nights
Wednesday 17 June
• Golf @ Kananaskis
• Farewell Dinner with Drinks at the Fairmont Palliser
Thursday 18 June
• Depart Calgary or post night stays possible
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Fairmont Vancouver
Fairmont Lake Louise
The 2026 Canadian Course Line Up
Furry Creek
Furry Creek
North Vancouver, British Columbia
Designer Robert Muir Graves (1990)
Furry Creek is a world class golf course, known as “British Columbia’s most scenic golf course”. The area has origins dating back to 1893, rich in mining with copper, silver, and gold. Today it is a most sought after residential area as the City of Vancouver expands north along the Howe Sound towards Whistler.
Surrounded by the sparkling blue Howe Sound Bay, towering aged trees and snow peaked mountains, Furry Creek, located along the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Squamish/Whistler, encompasses what British Columbia is all about.
Furry Creek twists and turns through the rainforest in this unique ecosystem to offer you a golf experience like no other. With forced carries and layups across vast ravines, undulating greens, blind tee shots, uphill, downhill and sidehill lies abound on lush fairways, abundant wildlife from eagles, to black bear, to black tailed deer, Furry Creek is a unique experience you will never forget! Right from the 1st tee with its dramatic downhill elevation change to the to the 7th hole placed over 300 feet above sea level to the signature 14th hole located right on the shore of Howe Sound. We are delighted to begin our tour with Furry Creek in our 2026 line up.
North
Nicklaus North
Whistler, British Columbia
Designer: Jack Nicklaus (1996)
Designed by the ‘golden bear’ Jack Nicklaus, this par-71, 18-hole course winds along a gentle valley floor offering you a spectacular setting of the snow-capped mountains around Whistler as your golfing skills are tested to the fullest. Within his portfolio Jack has designed over 150 courses, and this course is the only one to bear his name!
Winner of numerous awards since its opening in 1996, Nicklaus North has played host to events such as the World Skins Game and the Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, welcoming some of golf’s biggest names such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames to name a few.
The signature hole on the course is definitely the 17th, a long and difficult par-3 with trouble on hand off the tee from the Green Lake and heavy bunkering to protect the green.
Nicklaus North is one of four championship courses in the Whistler area including Chateau Whistler, Whistler and Big Sky.
Nicklaus
Nicklaus North
Big Sky Golf Course
Whistler, British Columbia
Designer Bob Cupp (1993)
Big Sky Golf & Country Club, located just north of Whistler in Pemberton, is home to a championship golf course that is consistently ranked in Canada’s Top 50 Courses (#46 on SCOREGolf Top 100 in 2024). Perched at the base of Mount Currie, rising 8,450 ft above the fairways its gentle rolling, open parkland layout provides an excellent challenge for golfers in an untamed mountain setting. Players will have awe-inspiring vistas at every hole as they craft their shots around the valley floor and appreciate the excellent conditioning of the course which is kept high throughout the season.
Big Sky is owned by the Canadian Belkorp Group of Investment Companies, which is controlled by the Belkin family of Vancouver. The course was designed by American Bob Cupp who was a senior designer with Nicklaus Design for many years before going out on his own. Jack Nicklaus credits Cupp as being one of the cornerstones of his present global design firm. In addition to Big Sky, Cupp has designed over 140 courses. Unique to Big Sky is its metallic art at the entrance to Big Sky. Created by Italian immigrant, Davide Pan the artwork is part of a private collection of art by the artist who has famously hosted exhibitions in the USA, Europe and is currently on display at the Venice Museum of Art.
Big Sky
Chateau Whistler
Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club
Whistler, British Columbia
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Jnr (1993)
Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jnr, wildlife, scenery and incredible vistas are signatures of The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Course. Carved out of the slopes of the Coast Mountain range in British Columbia, this magnificent Whistler golf course right at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, allows nature to dictate the path without constraints of commercial influence.
The mountain course traverses creeks, ponds, ancient Douglas fir and granite rock. Elevation changes of more than 122 metres overall create an impressive golf opportunity and a naturally spectacular BC golf experience. Incredible to believe in winter the golf course becomes part of the downhill ski run!
One of the feature holes on the front nine is the long par-4 3rd hole which rises steadily from tee to green. The tee shot needs to be placed perfectly in the middle of the fairway to allow a dogleg crossing of Horstman River. The signature hole on course is undoubtedly the long par-3 8th hole with an elevated tee looking down upon a small green surrounded by a lake and a granite outcrop. It’s a tough shot to hit the green but equally a great hole to take a snap with your camera especially when the purple lupins are in full bloom.
Predator Ridge
Predator Ridge Golf Resort
Vernon, British Columbia
Designer: Les Furber (1991) / Doug Carrick (2010) Predator Ridge Golf Resort is a 36-hole golf resort community in the Okanagan Valley outside Vernon, spanning 1,200 acres and is home to a community of now over 2,000 people. Opened in 1991, Predator Ridge originally consisted of 27 holes, designed by Les Furber. The three 9-hole courses were named after resident birds of prey: The Osprey and The
Red Tail (built in 1991) and The Peregrine (built in 2000). In fact, there are over 120 different bird species in the area with 20+ being predator birds.
To expand into a 36-hole golf facility, Canadian architect Doug Carrick was hired to build nine new holes as well as renovate the original 9-hole Peregrine course. This new inland links-style 18-hole golf course was renamed The Predator Course. In 2010, Carrick opened another 18-hole course, a woodland-style course which was named The Ridge Course.
Predator Ridge
The Predator Course features rolling hills, long fescue grasses and undulating false front greens which provide a good challenge for every golfing ability. The putting tip on the Predator Course is to stay below the hole! The signature hole is the 18th, a great finishing hole with a partial island green, known by members as the inland Pebble Beach.
The Predator Course twice hosted the prestigious World Skins Game, the richest made-for-TV golf show. Regulars to the skins included Greg Norman (first seen hand-in-hand with Chris
The Ridge Course is a vastly contrasting golf course offering challenging holes with breathtaking views of Lake Okanagan (look out for the legendary Ogo Pogo) giving way to dramatic elevation changes, dotted with beautiful granite outcroppings and ravine crossings.
The most spectacular holes on the course are 4th and 10th holes with elevated tee shots framed against the Okanagan Valley backdrop.
Predator Ridge
Predator Ridge
Evert), Canadian Mike Weir and lodge owner Sergio Garcia.
Jasper
Jasper National Park, Alberta
Designer: Stanley Thompson (1925)
Stanley Thompson, Canada’s master golf course architect, displayed some of the finest work of his career with the design of Jasper Golf Course. The 18-hole layout offers elevated tee boxes, dramatic bunkering and holes aligned with distant mountain vistas. Thompson built wide fairways that carve tthrough thick forest, carefully following the natural contours of the mountainside, and blending in to make beautiful landscapes with majestic views. As a result, few golf courses in the world can match the rugged majesty of this national treasure.
It took 50 teams of horses and 200 men working together for a year in 1925 to clear the land of boulders and debris to prepare it for what would become one of Canada’s premiere golf courses. Since the opening of the mountain golf course, this jewel set deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies has been the setting of unforgettable memories for all of those who come to play. Let’s see what we can do in our round?
Whistler
Banff
Jasper
Banff Springs Golf Course
Banff, Alberta
Designer: Stanley Thompson (1928) / Cornish & Robinson (1989)
Renowned for its panoramic beauty, The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course is situated in Banff National Park, a mile high in the Canadian Rockies. With breath-taking views in every direction, it is a captivating and challenging course. The optical illusions created by the mountains towering overhead may deceive the eye of even the most skilled player. The course is regularly ranked in the Top 10 Best Courses in Canada.
Construction originally started in 1911 with Donald Ross building nine holes funded by the Canadian Pacific Railway. But the course didn’t really achieve its full potential until 1928 when world-renowned golf architect Stanley Thompson was engaged to create the full 18hole championship course. It was later complemented by the construction of an adjoining nine holes (the Tunnel Course) in 1989 designed by Cornish & Robinson.
Reputedly the original budget to build the course was $1M which is about $18M today. The most amazing feat was that the majority of work was done by hand by hundreds of workers using only a horse and cart! At the time and for a long time after, it was known as the most expensive course to build.
The most impressive hole on the course arrives at #4 – the Devil’s Cauldron (Ranked in the Top 100 Holes of Canada). A par-3 set in a deep high cliff valley, from an elevated tee you need to carry the ball over an eerily tranquil, crystal-clear pond to hit a bunker-guarded green. The back nine holes run along the fast-flowing Bow River with great views of Sulphur Mountain and Mt Rundle.
The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel perfectly backdrops holes #12, #13 and #14 and on hole #15 your elevated tee shot is set in the hotel grounds itself. This hole was the original #1 hole back in 1928.
During your play of the 18 holes don’t forget to read the ‘historic fact’ signs on each tee box – great stories of celebrities playing the course (Marilyn Monroe included), wildlife facts and First Nation myths abound. The Banff Springs Clubhouse in a ‘tee-pee’ design is full of historic snapshots of golf played on the course.
Silver Tip Golf Course
Canmore, Alberta
Designer: Les Furber (1997)
The Silver Tip Golf Resort is cradled in the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains, perched on the lower slopes of Mount Lady Macdonald. Silver Tip is one of those wow wow courses with thrill seeking elevation changes, over 600ft from top to bottom – you can easily see why carts are compulsory on this championship course. Silver Tip has it all –spectacular mountain peaks, lush waving grasslands, alpine forests, deep ravine carries, rocky outcrops and breathtaking vistas back over towards Banff and the small ski township of Canmore. Architect Les Furber has created a masterpiece at Silver Tip which is not only challenging but fun to play. This is our second Furber course on tour after Predator Ridge.
The feature we love the most at Silver Tip is the ‘nature corridor’ right through the course fairways – yes animals, big and small on their feeding and migration paths are often seen on course. Your camera will be worn out playing Silver Tip - there is no shortage of mountain back drops and dramatic hole layouts. The signature hole is the par 4 18th which plunges steeply downhill towards the clubhouse where the green is gallantly protected by a bright blue icy pond with cascading waterfalls –the final shot in is not for the faint hearted.
Silver Tip
Kananaskis
Kananaskis Country Golf Course
Banff, Alberta
Designer: Robert Trent Jones Snr. (1983) / Gary Browning (2018)
Kananaskis GC is located on the banks of the Kananaskis River, with the Kananaskis mountain range towering above – Mt Kidd (at 9705ft) and Mt Lorette (at 8157ft). The resort offers 36 holes of alpine golf at its best – two courses and both named after the highest peaks in the valley. The unique features of both courses are the different mountain views from every tee box, their blue glacial lakes and 120 perfect white bunkers! The courses were originally funded by the oil-rich Alberta Province Government when opened in 1983.
The courses are ranked #13 in Best Public Courses in Canada (2020).
The flow of the Kananaskis River throughout the course provides numerous water challenges but also created one of the most catastrophic events in the club’s history. The Calgary floods of 2013 which were the worst ever recorded (over $6 billion in damage to the local region) destroyed 32 of the 36 holes with the majority of the course being washed down the river. The budget to re-build the course was set at CAD$23 million but it took over five years for the reconstruction to happen and the course to fully re-open in 2018. Such was the political debate between local and federal government weighing up re-building homes versus re-building tourism infrastructure. Only three of the original 36 holes were modified in the rebuild – two to accommodate a wildlife corridor, and the other to improve the hole following restoration. Gary Browning (Copper Point) was given the responsibility of the rebuild project, preserving much of the original RTJ Snr layout.
The Mt Kidd Course offers a view of Mt Kidd right from Tee #1. The river is brought quickly into play, sweeping alongside the par-5, 2nd hole. The signature par-3, 4th is played downhill to an island-green which is often regarded as the most photographed hole on the course. The Mt Kidd fairways are slightly undulating and each hole is perfectly crafted within alleys of pine and fir trees. The design features subtle bunkering and waterways to take full advantage of its natural rugged surroundings which was the philosophy of RTJ Snr in designing the course.
The Mt Lorette Course has a flatter design and views of Mt Lorette don’t come into play until the back nine. The course is more open than the Mt Kidd Course, but water comes into play more often with many shots requiring cross over approaches, especially the final four holes.
Canadian Rockies Golf Tour 2026
31 May – 18 June 2026
List of Inclusions
17 nights in luxury accommodation throughout
• 1 night 5-star Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in Fairmont Deluxe Rooms
• 5 nights 5-star Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler in Fairmont Slopeside Deluxe Rooms
• 4 nights 5-Star Predator Ridge Golf Resort and Spa in one bedroom golf apartments
• 3 nights 5-Star Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Fairmont Deluxe Lodge Rooms
• 3 nights 5-star Fairmont Hotel Chateau Lake Louise in Fairmont Lakeview Rooms
• 2 nights 5-Star Fairmont Palliser Calgary in Fairmont Signature Rooms
10 selected Championship golf greats including:
1. Furry Creek
2. Nicklaus North
3. Big Sky
4. Chateau Whistlerlf
5. Predator Ridge
6. Predator Ridge
7. Jasper
8. Banff Springs
9. Silver Tip
10. Kananaskis
Food & Beverage
• Full cooked Canadian breakfast daily
• Special hosted Welcome Dinner in Vancouver with drinks
• Whistler evening – drinks & canapés
• PaR nz Hosted BBQ Dinner in Predator Ridge
• Drinks in Jasper
• Welcome drinks in Lake Louise
• Farewell Dinner in Calgary with drinks
Sightseeing
• Wine Tour, tastings and lunch in the Okanagan Valley
• Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Lake Louise – Athabasca Glacier and Falls. Glacier Skywalk, Crowfoot Glacier
• Lake Louise Gondola, and grizzly bear sightseeing – if we are lucky!
PaR nz Tour Services
• On tour PaR nz Golfing Holidays experienced tour guides and Golfers – Kim & Denise
• Souvenir tour clothing and player’s pack from Titleist / FootJoy
• Exclusive electronic Tour APP
• Souvenir Tour Booklet
• Travel tips, maps and restaurant suggestions
• Relaxed travel itinerary with many inclusions,
• Travel in A/C buses with a designated driver
• Arranging pre-tour flights to Vancouver and departure flights from Calgary
• Options available for partners and non-golfers
Exclusions
• International airfares, which can be quoted upon request
• Pre and post-night stays in Vancouver or Calgary
• Overall tour tip to be paid in cash to the PaR nz team in Calgary, CAD $250 per person (PaR nz will cover all drivers, baggage and other tips on tour for group services)
• Tipping own care as per standard practice in Canada
• Tips for extra services at hotels and club cleaning is at your own care
• Visa fees
• Meals and drinks, unless noted
• Travel insurance
SPECIAL FEATURE – PaR nz TRAVEL APP
When you register for this 2026 Canadian Rockies Golf Tour, you will receive a link to our special PaR nz Travel APP. A detailed electronic itinerary can be downloaded on your laptop, iPad or smartphone, enabling you to review tour highlights and access daily updates while on tour.
Q&A / Tour Information
Where do we start and finish?
The tour starts in Vancouver on the 31st May, at our hotel – the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – with welcome drinks and dinner from 6.00pm.
Arrival into Vancouver – airport transfers are at your own care; the journey should take approximately 30-40 minutes depending on traffic.
The tour finishes in Calgary on 16th June – breakfast is included on this day. Normal check out time is 11.00am. Taxis to Calgary airport should take approx. 20-30 minutes.
Do I need a Visa to visit Canada?
Many nationalities including New Zealand and Australia do not need a visa, as such, for entry into Canada for a maximum of 6 months, if they have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) obtained prior to boarding at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/ eta.asp – make sure you diary to do this ahead of your arrival into Canada.
What money do I need?
Cash is still widely used along with all major credit cards and WISE Cards. The local currency is Canadian Dollars. ATM machines can be easily located in cities and major towns. We suggest carrying some cash for tips along with credit cards. The pro shops are well stocked and there is great shopping in Vancouver and Calgary with much on offer in Whistler and Banff albeit a lot of tourist shops. Prices for food and beverage are similar to prices in Australia/NZ but with the added requirement for tipping. Please allow for CAD $250 per person for ‘tips’ handled by the PaR nz team which will be collected in cash in Vancouver at the start of the tour.
Do I tip?
Yes – tipping is a way of life in Canada like the USA. All staff at restaurants work on 15-20% tips and it is expected! If you don’t pay you will be asked!
PaR nz will pay for the included services such as the meals included, drivers’ tips, porterage and club handling fees. All other tips such as your own meals (and club cleaning, if you ask for this to be done) is your own responsibility to tip. Check accounts when you eat out – many times the tip or service charge has already been added – especially for groups of six or more.
A note on shopping: the retail price shown is not the final price payable. It is the net price without provincial and federal taxes added.
What clothing will I need?
We are travelling at the end of spring / start of summer and so we expect snow on the mountain peaks but mostly warm weather along the way. We do, however, play a lot of ‘mountain golf’ so daily conditions can change frequently? We suggest normal golf attire but make sure you take a jacket and wet weather gear in case.
All group dinner and planned evenings are smart casual attire –formal jacket and tie is not needed unless you personally wish to wear.
Fun Daily Golf Competition
The golf? We play a fun daily competition with all golfers mixed up throughout – partners, men, women and mixed. Our aim is to showcase some of Canada’s finest courses while also encouraging the meeting of new friends and renewing any past friendships. We have our own PaR nz Fun Stableford System™ with handicaps changing daily. Golfers are sportspeople and everyone likes to win – so yes, we support a fun daily challenge but first and foremost this is about a tour and enjoying the scenic golf that you will play!
2026 Canadian Rockies Golf Tour
Vancouver
Moose on lake
Howe Sound, BC
