Budfan

It's a fair hike to get to this course from Edmonton, but this 9 hole course is in immaculate condition and the 5 tee boxes allow for lots of choice and range of difficulty. Every tee, fairway and green is lush and the sand in the traps is consistent and nicely grained. Unfortunately for us we assumed this was a full 27 hole course (since it is not at all apparent on golfnow or any other advertising we saw that it's not), and so we were very disappointed when we arrived at the course to hear that only 9 holes were available to play. The intern pro did say they anticipate the 2nd 9 will be finished and available to play by September, but there sure looks to be a lot of work needed to get the 2nd 18 in good playing condition. My partner and I played different tee boxes on each 9 so that added a bit of variety, but we agreed we will only return when the full 18 holes is complete.

Ironhead continues to be my favorite course in this region since I first played it over 10 years ago. It's definitely a driver's course, as the fairways are generous but not easy and you are rewarded for keeping your ball in the lush, well cared for fairways. The greens, which are large and inviting, are always well kept and putt very true. Most every hole is visually pleasing to the golfers eye as the designer took full advantage of the contours and natural beauty of the land's rugged terrain by Lake Wabamun. Good separation between holes also means it's a wonderfully quiet course to play, even when it is crowded. There are certainly more high end, pristine courses around (which are also all much more expensive), but I would say that Ironhead rivals every public course I have played in and around the Capital Region for beauty, challenge and value.

My buddies and I have been playing The Springs for quite a few years now, and we are all pleased that the owners are finally working on the course in ways that are turning this very attractive course, which has a good and challenging but fair layout, into a top course to play in the area. The staff is friendly, though you virtually never see a worker on the course. Good pace of play during the week even while busy (our walking round took 3:45 yesterday afternoon and we started at 2:35). We have definitely noticed that the fairways this year have grown in and are much more lush than in the past (new cart paths throughout the course will make a difference here too), attention to the tee boxes is obvious, and most of the greens are quite large, inviting, and now very nice to putt on - though they should all be cut more often and at the same time so they are at least consistent. Most of the traps need a lot of work and much better sand, though the answer to that for us golfers is to stay out of them! A course we would definitely recommend to anyone looking for great value and a course that rewards good shots well and doesn't overly punish those who don't hit the ball straight down the middle. Great golfnow deals on this course so check them often.

Black Bull is a wonderful and fair test of golfing skills for golfers at all levels. The course has been artfully sculpted out of the trees in the quiet and picturesque area surrounding Pigeon Lake. There are a few rather bland and straightforward holes on the course, although they are more than compensated for by the rest of the holes that present golfers with a unique and beautifully challenging golf experience. I couldn't say the course was pristine, for some of the tee boxes were in need of work. However, the greens and fairways are lush, very well maintained, and the turf on the entire course is wonderfully soft and dense.