
Bearspaw Course
Bearspaw Country Club

About this course
Bearspaw Country Club sits in the foothills northwest of Calgary, occupying rolling terrain that offers views toward the Rocky Mountains. The course was designed by Bill Newis and opened in the early 1970s, with subsequent renovations by Graham Cooke and Wayne Carleton helping to refine the layout and modernize its conditioning standards. The property's natural elevation changes and mature tree growth give the routing a distinct character within the Calgary golf landscape. The design takes advantage of the topography, with holes moving through corridors of spruce and pine and playing across varied elevations. Water comes into play on several holes, and the green complexes feature modest but strategic contours that reward accurate approach shots. The layout balances risk-reward opportunities with straightforward holes, making it playable for a range of skill levels while still testing better players from the back tees. Bearspaw functions as a private country club with a membership drawn largely from Calgary's northwest communities. The club maintains traditional country club amenities including dining facilities and social programming that complement the golf operation. Its location in the foothills provides a setting that feels removed from the city despite relatively easy access, and the course benefits from the cooler microclimates and drainage characteristics typical of higher-elevation sites in southern Alberta.
Quick facts
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, CA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1984
- Holes
- 18
- Designer(s)
- Bill Newis, Graham Cooke, Wayne Carleton
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,750 yards
- Difficulty
- 78.7/148
- Course Vaults score
- 7.6
Getting there
Bearspaw Country Club sits on the northwestern edge of Calgary, accessible via Calgary International Airport (YYC), roughly a 30-minute drive northwest through the city's expanding foothills corridor. The route traces the Trans-Canada Highway before peeling away into the rolling terrain where the Canadian Rockies begin their distant rise, the landscape shifting from urban sprawl to open grassland dotted with aspen and conifer. For those arriving by private aircraft, nearby airstrips serve the region's affluent communities, though YYC remains the primary gateway for most visitors. The final miles wind through Bearspaw's quiet residential enclave, where the clubhouse emerges against a backdrop of native prairie and mountain views - a serene arrival that marks the transition from city to countryside in mere minutes.

FAQ
Common questions about Bearspaw
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Bearspaw has a Course Vaults score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 5 logged golfers.
Bearspaw was designed by Bill Newis, Graham Cooke, and Wayne Carleton.
Yes. Bearspaw is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Bearspaw is 71.
Bearspaw plays 6,750 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Bearspaw is 148.



