Elbow Springs Golf Club is a semi-private golf club situated a few minutes west of Calgary (Alberta). The club offers three nine-hole courses — The Mountain View, The Elbow, and The Springs — embedded in the Elbow River Valley. Each course is enhanced by the beautiful landscape that not only surrounds Elbow Springs Golf Club, but is ingrained in its characteristics.
The club’s beauty reaches far beyond its fairways, greens and practice facilities. It permeates the peaceful clubhouse and lounge, ideal areas for social gatherings, or relaxing before or after a round.
The Mountain View at Elbow Springs
Built originally as the opening nine, Mountain View serves as a good warm up to the game with its straight forward par 4’s. The course has only 3 holes with water and offers lots of room off the tee. Although forgiving for high handicappers, this course offers lots of ‘risk-reward’ shots to challenge the lower handicapped golfer. A long well placed drive on the par 5, 4th hole can set up a gutsy, partially blind long or mid iron shot to the green for a chance at eagle.
The course gets progressively more difficult. The par 3, 8th hole, tests the nerves with water off the front of the tee and a large, undulating green that is heavily guarded with trees and two large bunkers. The finishing hole is a par 5 that presents an opportunity to gamble and go for the green in two if the tee shot has been well struck.
Overall, Mountain View favours long straight drives leaving many short approaches and birdie opportuniities. However, shorter controlled shots will also allow for commendable scores.
The Elbow course
Named for the Elbow River that meanders alongside the course, the Elbow nine serves as a more challenging course. It’s bound to test your nerves with water coming into play on eight of the nine holes. If you’re starting with Elbow, you’ll want to hit some practice balls before hitting the course.
Elbow, with its narrower fairways and variety of dog-legs, the average golfer may be inclined to leave the driver in the bag and use well-placed iron or 3 wood tee shots for many of the longer par 4’s. The fourth hole is one of the signature holes of the course. With a total carry across the pond to the green, this par 3 will be sure to test your skill. This pond is also home to our stocked trout so take a break from the game and feed the fish.
Many matches considered ‘in the bag’ are redefined on holes 7, 8 & 9. These equalizers bring golfers of all abilities back to neutral ground. Hole 9, a par 4, is the most difficult finishing hole at Elbow Springs. This long dog-leg left can make or break a round for all golfers. With a narrow fairway and a tight approach shot to one of the smallest greens on the golf course, this hole rarely gives up birdies. Par is always considered a good score.
The Springs course
The Springs nine is a thinking man’s course providing many decisions on every hole. Starting well on Springs usually leads to a good finish. With water and out of bounds coming into play on eight of the nine holes, Springs will test your skill and patience.
As golfers make their way to Hole 4, they will be enveloped in the serenity and scenic beauty of the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. On Hole 4, the black tee is the most elevated point at Elbow Springs offering a breathtaking view of the valley.
Hole 7 is the signature hole on the Springs nine. At 205 yards from the black tees, the shot is a total carry to the green over water. Hole 9 allows the opportunity to gamble and go for the green in 2. You must however, be able to carry the water in front of the green quickly stopping your ball on the green.
The Springs nine is a great course to practice your target shots and strategic game; another nine enjoyable and accessible for golfers of all abilities.
