The Banff Springs Golf Club has an active membership of junior golfers aged 8 to 18 from throughout the Bow Valley. Junior members have access to one of the world’s best known and most scenic golf courses, which they can enjoy along with a whole range of unique and rewarding experiences that children of all ages will remember for the rest of their lives.
While the cost of Junior membership covers unlimited golf, full access to practice facilities, and hands-on instruction from professional instructors, it also includes fun and challenging tournaments, entry into the junior club championships, all prizing, and an end-of-year banquet, ensuring you, as a parent, are not saddled with extra costs or volunteering expectations through the golfing season.
The junior schedule is filled with a mix of competitions, including club championships divided into age groups, as well as events that encourage adult participation, such as the Junior/Senior tournament which pairs one adult with three juniors, and the popular end-of-season Parent/Child scramble.
History of the Junior Division
When the Stanley Thompson course opened in 1928, particular attention was given to junior members. At the time, there was no official Junior division, but several offspring of adult members could often be found at the course. No family could outdo the Crosbys in this regard. Doug Crosby, Lou and Gertrude Crosby’s eldest son, took the junior championship in 1931, and their daughter Marion was soon challenging the older women in the club for the ladies’ championship.
Through the ensuing decades, junior members of the Banff Springs Golf Club have gone on to excel at all levels of the game, as well as representing colleges in Canada and the United States. Former junior members have also gone on to compete and win at provincial and national level tournaments, as well as play professionally in Canada and the United States.
Junior Membership
Junior membership is open to residents of the Bow Valley aged between 8 and 18. A junior member’s age is determined as of December 31. (For example, a child whose 8th birthday is in December would be eligible for membership as a seven year old).
The Junior division is divided into two programs: “Tunnel juniors” and “Stanley juniors.” Tunnel juniors (ages 8 to 12) have full privileges on the Tunnel Nine course while Stanley juniors (13-18) have full privileges on both the Tunnel and Stanley Thompson courses. While age is the main factor in determining junior category, skill level and a knowledge of the rules of golf are also taken into consideration. The decision on the category your child plays, or when current junior members are ready to move up from the Tunnel to Stanley program, is made at the discretion of a representative of the golf course.
The Banff Springs Golf Club does not charge a joining or initiation fee for junior members.
The Junior program is operated by the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course.
Annual Junior rates can be found in the Membership Handbook
Rates include:
- unlimited play on either the Tunnel or Stanley Thompson courses
- unlimited play on either the Tunnel or Stanley Thompson courses
- access to all practice facilities, including the driving range
- weekly tee times blocked especially for juniors
- weekly instruction by Banff Springs Golf Course professionals
- tournaments and prizing throughout the season
- end of year banquet, with trophies and more prizes
- pro shop, snack bar, and restaurant discounts
- discounted guest rates
- Golf Canada Gold membership
Junior Division Links
Junior Membership Application
Junior Handbook
Golfing etiquette
Junior Clinics
Lessons typically start the third week of May and run to the end of August.
Other Junior Golfing Links
For juniors looking for a competitive experience beyond the Banff Springs Golf Club, we recommend the following:
Alberta Golf
Future Links Golf Canada
Canadian Junior Golf Association
Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour