Northern Bear Golf Course

Northern Bear Golf Course sits in Sherwood Park, Alberta, just east of Edmonton, and represents one of the province's most substantial championship layouts. Opened in 2002, the course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and carries his Signature designation — a distinction reserved for courses that meet the designer's highest standards of quality and playability.

The layout stretches to 7,352 yards from the back tees and plays to a par 72 across 18 holes of parkland terrain. Five lakes come into play across the course, while strategically positioned bunkers and tree-lined fairways demand accurate shot-making at nearly every turn. USGA-standard greens add a consistent, competitive surface underfoot. Nicklaus noted that each hole was designed to stand on its own merit, and the course holds to that philosophy by offering distinct challenges rather than relying on a single marquee moment.

Five sets of tees — ranging from 5,800 to 7,352 yards — make Northern Bear genuinely accessible across skill levels. Lower-handicap players chasing a stern test can press to the tips, while recreational golfers can find a comfortable and equally enjoyable round from the forward markers. That range of options makes it a practical destination for groups of mixed ability, and for solo travellers building an Edmonton-area itinerary, it functions as an anchor round worth planning around.

Sherwood Park itself is a short drive from central Edmonton, giving visiting golfers easy access to the full range of accommodations and services the Edmonton metro area offers.