Bearspaw Country Club

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.