Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Encyclopedia
The Royal Ottawa Golf Club is a premier private golf
club located in Gatineau
, Quebec
, Canada
. It was founded in 1891, and has made major contributions to the development of Canadian golf right from its early years, hosting many important championships and meetings, and continues to do so. Several significant champion golfers have been associated with the Club. The Club has 27 holes of golf.
(in June, 1895), and the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association (in July, 1911). Since 1895, it has hosted many significant amateur and professional championship tournaments (see below).
The Club's first site, a 9-hole course, was built on land lent by Charles Magee, a real-estate developer, in a section of Ottawa
(now near downtown) known as Sandy Hill
. The first Canadian Amateur Championship
was played on this course in June, 1895. Soon after that, responding to pressure on prime real estate in the rapidly expanding city core, the Club moved to a new site in the province of Quebec
, just across the Ottawa River
from Ottawa to the north, a mile north of Hull, Quebec
, along Chelsea Road. This course consisted of 12 holes, of which 6 had to be played twice to comprise an 18-hole round.
(now part of the recently amalgamated city of Gatineau), built a new course, and constructed a comfortable and elegant clubhouse, which opened in 1904. Five years later, it burned to the ground. Its replacement was built on the same site, and it burned down in 1930. The present clubhouse, which reflects the Victorian-era grace and charm of its predecessors, was officially opened on September 19, 1931.
In 1912, the Club received permission from King George V
to use the designation 'Royal'.
The Club presently has an 18-hole course and a 9-hole course, known as the Royal Nine. The main course was designed by Tom Bendelow
in a parkland style, and among its features are back-to-back par 3s (holes 11 and 12). The course was redesigned a few years later by noted Scottish architect Willie Park, Jr. (twice Open Championship
winner). The course has been modified in minor ways many times in the years since. The course is known nationally for its exceptionally quick, difficult greens. Royal Ottawa is affiliated with the Quebec Golf Association and the RCGA.
in 1895, and has hosted this championship six more times (in 1899, 1906, 1911, 1914, 1925, and 1951). It is scheduled to host this championship again in 2016. The Club hosted the Canadian Open in 1906 and 1911. It hosted the 2000 CN Canadian Women's Open (known at the time as the duMaurier Championship); this major championship was won by Meg Mallon.
event) and the 1939 Canadian Amateur Championship. Alexa Stirling Fraser, an American who married Ottawa doctor W.G. Fraser, had been a young golf prodigy and three-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion from Atlanta, Georgia
, before settling in Ottawa and joining the Club; she won two Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship titles, contended several more times, and won a record nine Royal Ottawa Ladies' Club Championships. Eric Kaufmanis of Ottawa holds the course record, with a round of 9-under-par 62, scored in 1979. Karl Keffer, David Black, Ken Black, and Alexa Stirling Fraser are all members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club located in Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded in 1891, and has made major contributions to the development of Canadian golf right from its early years, hosting many important championships and meetings, and continues to do so. Several significant champion golfers have been associated with the Club. The Club has 27 holes of golf.
Founding, early years
The Club was founded in 1891, as the Ottawa Golf Club. It was the host of founding meetings of the Royal Canadian Golf AssociationRoyal Canadian Golf Association
Golf Canada, formerly known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association is the governing body of golf in Canada.-Beginnings:The RCGA was founded on June 6, 1895 as the Canadian Golf Association at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. The Royal prefix was granted to the CGA in June 1896 by Queen Victoria through...
(in June, 1895), and the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association (in July, 1911). Since 1895, it has hosted many significant amateur and professional championship tournaments (see below).
The Club's first site, a 9-hole course, was built on land lent by Charles Magee, a real-estate developer, in a section of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(now near downtown) known as Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill
Sandy Hill is a bilingual neighbourhood in Ottawa, Ontario located just east of downtown. The neighbourhood is bordered on the west by the Rideau Canal and on the east by the Rideau River. To the north it stretches to Rideau Street and the Byward Market area while to the south it is bordered by...
. The first Canadian Amateur Championship
Canadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
was played on this course in June, 1895. Soon after that, responding to pressure on prime real estate in the rapidly expanding city core, the Club moved to a new site in the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, just across the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
from Ottawa to the north, a mile north of Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
, along Chelsea Road. This course consisted of 12 holes, of which 6 had to be played twice to comprise an 18-hole round.
Moves to current site
In the early 1900s, the Club purchased its current site in Aylmer, QuebecAylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
(now part of the recently amalgamated city of Gatineau), built a new course, and constructed a comfortable and elegant clubhouse, which opened in 1904. Five years later, it burned to the ground. Its replacement was built on the same site, and it burned down in 1930. The present clubhouse, which reflects the Victorian-era grace and charm of its predecessors, was officially opened on September 19, 1931.
In 1912, the Club received permission from King George V
George V
George V was king of the United Kingdom and its dominions from 1910 to 1936.George V or similar terms may also refer to:-People:* George V of Georgia * George V of Imereti * George V of Hanover...
to use the designation 'Royal'.
The Club presently has an 18-hole course and a 9-hole course, known as the Royal Nine. The main course was designed by Tom Bendelow
Tom Bendelow
Tom Bendelow , nicknamed "The Johnny Appleseed of American Golf", was a prolific Scottish American golf course architect during the first half of the twentieth century. He is credited with having designed some 600 courses in a 35-year span....
in a parkland style, and among its features are back-to-back par 3s (holes 11 and 12). The course was redesigned a few years later by noted Scottish architect Willie Park, Jr. (twice Open Championship
British Open
The British Open is the Open Championship men's golf tournament.British Open may also refer to:* Women's British Open of golf* British Open Show Jumping Championships* British Open Squash Championships...
winner). The course has been modified in minor ways many times in the years since. The course is known nationally for its exceptionally quick, difficult greens. Royal Ottawa is affiliated with the Quebec Golf Association and the RCGA.
Significant championships hosted
The Club hosted the first Canadian Amateur ChampionshipCanadian Amateur Championship
The Canadian Amateur Championship, begun in 1895, is the men's amateur golf championship of Canada. It is staged annually by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It was played at match play until 1968, went to stroke play beginning in 1969, and reverted to match play in 1995...
in 1895, and has hosted this championship six more times (in 1899, 1906, 1911, 1914, 1925, and 1951). It is scheduled to host this championship again in 2016. The Club hosted the Canadian Open in 1906 and 1911. It hosted the 2000 CN Canadian Women's Open (known at the time as the duMaurier Championship); this major championship was won by Meg Mallon.
Champions associated with Royal Ottawa
The winner of the first Canadian Open, in 1904, was John H. Oke, one of the Club's early professionals. Karl Keffer, Canadian Open champion in 1909 and 1914, served as head professional for many years. David Black was a professional at the Club in the early 20th century, and a founding member of the CPGA, before moving to Vancouver, B.C. to take a new job, and his son, Ken Black, who learned his golf at Royal Ottawa, won the 1936 Vancouver Jubilee tournament (as an amateur, becoming the first Canadian to win a PGA TourPGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event) and the 1939 Canadian Amateur Championship. Alexa Stirling Fraser, an American who married Ottawa doctor W.G. Fraser, had been a young golf prodigy and three-time U.S. Women's Amateur champion from Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, before settling in Ottawa and joining the Club; she won two Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship titles, contended several more times, and won a record nine Royal Ottawa Ladies' Club Championships. Eric Kaufmanis of Ottawa holds the course record, with a round of 9-under-par 62, scored in 1979. Karl Keffer, David Black, Ken Black, and Alexa Stirling Fraser are all members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame covering the history of the game of golf in Canada, and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of the most significant contributors to the game in that country...
.