Fort McMurrray (Big River & Black Bear) - Alberta - Canada

Hewn from the Borealis Forest and set out next to the Athabasca River, the 27-hole layout at Fort McMurray Golf Club offers a challenging round of golf with shots to be played over valleys and creeks at each of the three loops of returning nines.

The Big River and Black Bear combination is regarded as the “championship” 18-hole course at the club but the Fox Tail nine has many admirers, not least for its demanding par four 3rd which is rated the toughest hole on that particular circuit.

Holes to watch out for on the Big River nine include the long par three 4th and short par three 6th, both of which play to heavily sand-protected offset greens, along with the 561-yard 8th, where a winding creek cuts across the fairway in front of the green.

On the Black Bear nine, the 1st hole doglegs right across another creek to the green. This circuit then concludes in similar style, with the 599-yard 9th (rated stroke index 1) played over a further winding water course that runs in front of the home green.