A short drive into the mountains from Calgary lies the city of Canmore, Alberta.  It is a vibrant bedroom community with condos and lavish homes.  Without having the restrictions to Banff National Park, just next door, it has grown with everything from art galleries to sporting good stores to designer fashions and more. Silvertip Resort Golf, at Canmore, was in our plans.

There are several Championship courses in the Rocky Mountains. Banff Springs Golf Club Hole #4 is one of our country’s most reknown holes in Canada and the course was designed by the very famous designer Stanley Thompson. There are awesome courses from Crowsnest Pass all the way to Jasper.

But back to the main story.

Having a V.I.P. Card is a must for those of us who like to play at many courses. For members like Ruth and me we can play at several courses near us at a reduced price from the regular price at the course.  Many specials are offered at resort courses and all this with an annual up-front fee.

One special offered ending June 30 was for 18 holes at Silvertip Golf Resort at Canmore. I had played this course many years ago and enjoyed it and Ruth had never played it so I suggested we give it a try. Of course we had to weigh in the timing of when we were both available, if the course was available in  mid mornings, and needless to say, the weather forecast.

Our only opportunity to play Elbow Springs Golf Club this week was Monday morning and drive to Canmore after golf, stay overnight and play Silvertip on Tuesday morning.  Cooler, rainy days were forecast for Wednesday through Friday. We also were fortunate that Ruth’s daughter offered  us with a place to stay in Canmore on Monday night.  Many thanks.

Monday morning was a bit cool to start on the Mountain course at Elbow Springs Golf Club.. The first hole could have been much better as I shanked my second shot!  However this didn’t happen again and I played the best so far this year with an 84 total.  A quick stop back home to pick up our overnight bags and our cooler and we were off the 123 klm’s to Canmore.

Arriving in the city to find Main Street was blocked off due to construction we decided to check out the stock at the Canmore Golf and Country Club. We found nothing to bring out the plastic from our purses.

The Iron Goat, a favorite  neighborhood eating establishment, was our next stop for a Michelob Ultra Light beer. It was our first rest stop for the day and a wonderful few minutes enjoying the view of the Three Sisters (Faith, Hope and Charity) from the deck.  We then checked in for the night in the condo.

The view from Stoney’s Bar and Grill. Hole #18

We arrived at the Bag Drop at Silvertip just befor 8:00 a.m. in time for a full breakfast at Stoney’s Bar and Grill.The resort areas in the Rocky Mountains always attract workers from around the world for summer employment.  Canmore is no exception: the Bag Drop guy is from Australia, the check in guy at the Pro Shop is from Indonesia and our waitress in the Stony Grill is from Ruth’s home town Guelph, ON.

Silvertip #1 Tee Maureen and Ruth – June 20, 2017

Silvertip is a beautiful, challenging, course and that is just what seems to be the up and down and round and round klm’s of CART PATH! There are a few valley holes but most are in the high elevations. Some of the Par 5’s were quite difficult to get up to the greens. All in all, we had a wonderful golf experience: sunny, warm day, beautiful vistas and we pretty well had the course to ourselves.

One of the exciting  Par 3’s – Hole #15

There are several memorable holes at Silvertip.  Some really good aspects of the course were the reachable in two Par #4’s and the short Par 3’s.

Ruth was on in two from around 111 yards. My drive was almost in the water with a sharp downhill, sidehill lie. I was lucky to be just in front of the green in two and chipped closet to the pin. Two pars. Nice way to end the day.

What more can I say?

Thanks to all who made this a memorable two days: sun, fun, food, light beer and golf.