Named for the edible berry native to the region, Saskatoon is the largest city in the prairie province of Saskatchewan, in the heartland of Canada. With summertime temperatures averaging 23C and a full 16 hours of daylight in June and July, the opportunity to play golf every day is there for the taking. Put Saskatoon on your list of golf destinations when in the Great White North and try these tests of golf we’ve chosen for you.
Dakota Dunes Golf Links
Lying along the shores of the South Saskatchewan River is a Graham Cooke masterpiece design that incorporates natural sand dunes and emphasizes the effects of the natural rolling terrain. Dakota Dunes is just minutes south of the city of Saskatoon, and as a home course of PGA tour players, is the highest rated public course in the prairie province of Saskatchewan. While the undulating fairways and large contoured greens can feel imposing, the four sets of tees available allows for all players to test their skills at a length that suits their abilities. An abundance of wild flora including yellow violets, crocuses and wild roses cast their spectacular shades of color on the sandy mounds that frame the holes and create distinctive pictures that your mind will forever hold as a memory of your round at Dakota Dunes Golf Links.
Elk Ridge Resort
The finest all-season resort in the province, it is only fitting that Elk Ridge is host to three championship 9 hole loops for your playing pleasure. With all three routes melding seamlessly together, your choice of which to play and in what order has no adverse consequence on your incredible experience. The Tamarack Nine is carved through a boreal forest and offers a peaceful tour in a serene setting with a fine set of holes to challenge you. The most scenic nine, The Birch, features elevation changes offering magnificent vistas and the signature second hole that provides a panoramic view of the entire property and world class lodge. Maybe you just want to focus on the task in front of you and test your full scope of abilities, well then, The Aspen Nine will suit you fine. Undulating fairways and contoured green complexes are the calling cards of the newest course to be added to the trio of tracks that make up this spectacular resort located south of the city of Saskatoon.
The Willows Golf and Country Club
Winding through an upscale residential neighborhood in the heart of the city, The Willows offers 27 holes of unrivalled inner-city championship golf. The club places an emphasis towards aesthetics, and thus your first impression of this design will inevitably have you marveling at the condition of this magnificent property. Whether you choose The Bridges Nine, The Lakes Nine or Xena Nine, the flow of the holes through the dunes and lovely homes along their edges will consistently have you appreciating the manicured fairways and greens at every turn. Stay focused on the task at hand however, as this is not a pushover test of your skills, regardless of which of the four sets of tees you choose to compete from. A true golf community where the staff upholds the motto of first class service in a relaxed setting, make The Willows a part of your golf tour when in the city of Saskatoon.
Moon Lake Golf and Country Club
It seems appropriate that your fifteen-minute drive from Saskatoon to Moon Lake is along Scenic Valley road, as this is your opportunity to let go of focus and just absorb views and relax the mind. Once you have stepped to the first tee of any of the three 9-hole tracks on this property, you will require concentration and intensity to navigate the Scottish Links style design.
Boasting the highest slope rating in the entire province of Saskatchewan, this routing that takes you through a verdant forest with holes framed by dunes and mounding, is not for the faint of heart. Avoid mental distractions as you choose and commit to targets on your full swing shots in order to reach the challenging putting surfaces in as few strokes as possible. Choose your lines and pace accordingly when striking putts as well, for the speed of these contoured greens can be penal, and no one likes a three putt (or worse).
Wildwood Golf Course
A city run muni on a must play list? Has your reviewer gone mad? To answer in order, absolutely yes, and quite possibly but not on this call. Wildwood is a typical parkland style 18-hole championship layout that harbors tiny greens framed by large trees that run the length of the fairways on virtually every hole. Heralded as a training ground for the top junior players in the province, the public track is not just for kids. Four sets of tee offerings let you select a degree of difficulty you’re comfortable with, and for those choosing the pro blocks, the best of luck to your brave soul. Put Wildwood on your list of must plays while in Saskatoon and see for yourself, this little muni is an absolute gem.
