Maybe that's what legendary Canadian course designer Stanley Thompson had in mind in 1928 when he carved out what is arguably the country's most scenic track at Banff Springs Golf Club.
Measuring 7,083 yards from the pro tees, Thompson's original 18 holes wind along the Bow River in the Rockies, under the mindful watch of snow-capped Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain.
"If you build a mountain golf course today, this is the template," says course marketing director Evan Winter. "And the layout has never changed." Banff Springs G.C. may be 82 years young but the area has not developed as a golf destination until recently.
"We find in the golf world, there's a lack of knowledge about the golf side of things here in Banff," says Winter. "The area has always been marketed as an outdoors adventure destination, but golf is taking off."
An adventure it is with sightings of elk, lynx, wolves and bears not uncommon.
Rocky Mountaineer includes a round at Banff Springs with its Gold Leaf-themed Golf Adventure.
Also on the slate is Predator Ridge golf resort in Vernon, B.C.
The gem of the Okanagan Valley, host to the World Skins Game twice, built its reputation with the toothy Predator Course, featuring tricky undulations and deep greenside bunkers framed by rolling hills.
The resort reaches super stardom this summer with the opening of The Ridge course designed by Doug Carrick. The signature hole on the new track is the fourth, with a stunning ridgetop view over Lake Okanagan.
Between rounds, the full-scale, four-season resort offers luxury accommodations in lodge, cottages and villa settings, with full kitchens, dining areas and fireplaces.
Rounding out the golf trek is The Harvest in Kelowna, a forgivingly wide layout that meanders through a hillside orchard laden with fruit trees and vineyards.
RIDE AND PLAY PACKAGES
The full Golf Adventure (Vancouver-Kamloops-Banff-Calgary) includes two days on the Mountaineer with Gold Leaf service, three nights accommodation at Fairmont hotels, four nights of deluxe accommodation in the Okanagan, seven breakfasts, four lunches, seven dinners paired with wine, services of a concierge, private bus transfers, two rounds of golf plus optional rounds, private limo to the train in Vancouver, choice of golf or activity in Banff, transfers from Banff to Calgary, luggage handling, a National Parks pass and an exclusive attractions pass. For a complete list of Rocky Mountaineer adventures, visitrockymountaineer.com or call 1-800-665-7245.
GOLFING THE ROCKIES
Are you "up" for a challenge? Check out the courses at harvestgolf.com, predatorridge.com and banffspringsgolfclub.com.
WINING AND DINING
Some suggestions along the way: Gray Monk Estate Winery (graymonk.com) in the Okanagan, run by George and Trudy Heiss who spearheaded the renaissance of B.C. wines; award-winning Summerhill Pyramid Winery (summergill.bc.ca) in Kelowna where all food and drink is 100% certified organic.
In Ontario, the Nissan LEAF is eligible for a $8,500 IncentiveRocky train ride in B.C.
