Western Canada is ablaze. Over 300 forest fires are currently raging in British Columbia, leaving thousands of people homeless and cutting off important travel corridors to the west. In the east, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, another 170 forest fires have broken out. In Jasper – home to Canada’s largest national park and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations – the authorities have already taken action.Evacuation order of over 25,000 residents, visitors and seasonal workers.
The loss of life, property and environment will be immeasurable. Entire cities and natural ecosystems will be wiped out. It is a natural disaster of the highest magnitude. At times like these, golf – normally an escape from the world’s problems – loses its meaning. But that does not mean it is unaffected.
Reports late Wednesday indicate that the wildfire approaching Jasper National Park has reached the historic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and its namesake golf course, one of the top-rated (and most beautiful) courses in all of Canada.
The most important news is that employees and guests of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course were safely evacuated. Everything else is secondary. Unfortunately, the iconic property and golf course were already engulfed in flames, according to estimated fire data Wednesday evening.
The Stanley Thompson-designed course ranked 45th on Golf Digest’s 2024 list of the 100 best courses in the world and is known for its extensive bunkers, stunning scenery and undulating greens. Despite a fire Jasper Park Lodge GC has endured for 99 years in some of the harshest climates imaginable, despite the fire that destroyed the main lodge building in July 1952. We won’t know the true fate of the golf course or the town of Jasper as a whole until the smoke finally clears, but we certainly hope for the best.
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