Country Hills (Ridge) - Alberta - Canada

Set in the spectacular hillside of Sandstone Valley, a suburb to the northwest of Calgary, the private golf complex at Country Hills Golf Club was first unveiled to its membership in the early 1990s. Surprisingly, the two 18-hole courses were only into their second decade of operation when the club decided to upgrade both layouts.

Working to a master plan devised in 2006, Thomas McBroom has redesigned the renamed Talons course, emphasising its original links-style qualities with distinctive bentgrass and fescues as well as improving the strategic element of its bunkers.

By way of contrast, The Ridge course occupies a landscape that’s more parkland in nature, where trees and well-groomed, lush grass are the main aesthetic elements. The elevated outward nine holes offer wonderful panoramic vistas whilst the back nine is routed around a meandering creek.