Few businesses or organizations can boast of reaching the magic milestone of 100 years in operation. But that is precisely what club Laval-sur-le-lac will celebrate this year.
Club Laval-sur-le-Lac was founded in 1917 and is closely linked to the city of Laval-sur-le-Lac. This remarkable institution has survived two World Wars, the stock market crash of 1929, the Grande noirceur under Quebec Premier, Maurice Duplessis, and many other social and political upheavals.
Not only did it survive, but it wears the halo of a ne reputation. Golf champion Mike Weir, and his associate, golf architect Ian Andrew, redesigned the newer 18-hole Parcours bleu, while the original Parcours vert was designed by Scottish architect and two-time British Open winner, Willie Park Jr. (who worked pro bono because he liked the site so much!). Park worked in cooperation with the Montreal Botanical Garden to create a truly unique course. Gold legend Gary Player said the course at Laval was one of the most “unique in the world.”
“Our founders wanted to build the rst major private club speci cally for French Canadians,” says Marc G. Bruneau, member of the Centennial Committee and keeper of the club’s archives. “Leaders of the French-speaking community instantly made it ‘their’ club. The celebrity of Willie Park Jr. made his contribution a huge factor, right from the start. When then Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, chose Laval for his golf rounds on visits to Quebec, our reputation really took off. For 12 years, until 1936, when the Prince became King, we had the honour of being under his patronage, which gave us the right to use his logo on our letterhead. It was a very important association for us.”
Bruneau maintains: “In 1934, we hosted the Canadian Amateur Championship. It was the rst time the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA, known today as Golf Canada) had granted the honour to a French-Canadian club. Another big moment came in 1945, when Jules Huot, probably the greatest golfer in Quebec history, and the rst Canadian to win a PGA tournament, joined the club as golf pro, following three invitations to the Masters Tournament. He stayed with us for 25 years as pro, and then as honourary member until his death.”
Laval-sur-le-Lac hosted the 1962 Canadian Open, where Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player competed, and former Premier Jean Lesage was a regular in his day.
“For our 100th-anniversary celebration, we want our members to become better acquainted with this rich history, and understand how far we have come,” says businessman, Gilles Vézina, member of the board and chair of the Centennial Committee.
“When I joined 35 years ago, the club was not very open to women or children. I am so pleased with how we have changed. Golf is no longer just for ‘the boys’; it’s become much more of a family affair.” The proof is in the number of women, who now account for 325 of the 1000 or so members.
What Vézina particularly appreciates is the “atmosphere, the social life and the strong sense of belonging that we successfully created together. “As for the game, we have two fabulous courses that are completely different from one another. It’s always a thrill to play here,” he concludes.
True to its motto, À Nul Aultre Ne Cède (second to none), which re ects its determination to create a memorable experience for every person, every time, Club Laval-sur-le-Lac can rightly claim: mission accomplished. Let the celebrations begin!