Discover Canada’s Best Golf Courses

The 2026 SCOREGolf Top 100 rankings are out. Here is a deep dive into my reflections, some oddities and appreciations in this list.

The difference between a great golf course and a merely pleasant one has almost nothing to do with how green the grass is or how dramatic the scenery looks. It has everything to do with what the architect did with the land. Appreciating that architecture and distinguishing it from the noise of rankings, reputation, and false dichotomy of pristine conditioning takes a little bit of study and willingness to think about the details.

In the last couple months, i’ve delicately been planning itineraries for the 2026 season around some golf courses I still need to see. My goal with these trips is always to complement the known quantities with the unknown wherever possible. So here’s a look at the 5 golf courses I am excited to see that aren’t listed on any Top 100 list.

The green complex is often described as the "soul" of a golf hole. While a stunning tee shot or a well-placed fairway bunker sets the stage, the green is where the drama concludes. But what distinguishes a truly great set of greens from a merely functional one?

Canada’s golf landscape is a collection of golf courses resting on outdated laurels. While global architecture undergoes a sophisticated renaissance, domestic projects often lack the transformative vision required to reach a world-class standard. To truly evolve, we must move beyond half-hearted restorations and embrace bold, cohesive design. Check out a few opportunities lying in wait.