Founded in 1891 as the Ottawa Golf Club, Royal Ottawa Golf Club earned its Royal designation in 1912 by King George V. It has played a central role in Canadian golf history, hosting the first-ever Canadian Amateur Championship in 1895 and serving as the site for multiple national championships, including the Canadian Open in 1906 and 1911, and the duMaurier (LPGA) Championship in 2000.
Course Design & Layouts
Royal Ottawa features The Main Course—its 18-hole championship golf course—as well as The Royal Nine, which plays to a of par-35 and 2700 yards. The Royal Nine is the perfect place for a leisurely round, complimenting The Main Course beautifully.
When it comes to The Main Course, it is a true shining star in the Canadian golf landscape that remains relatively unknown. Architect Tom Bendelow laid the original plan, with strategic refinements by Willie Park Jr.—twice Open champion—to emphasize the courses natural terrain and strategy. The course retains a Scottish character, which makes it unique amongst Canadian golf courses, in similar vein to Calgary Golf & Country Club (another Willie Park Jr. design) and Stanley Thompson’s Cape Breton Highlands Links. Royal Ottawa was laid-out before the days of massive earth-moving equipment, which means every hill, bump and hollow was there to play with—not against.
Championship Heritage & Records
Royal Ottawa is no stranger to historic moments and big tournaments. In fact, it is currently preparing to host the 2025 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in July. Its history also includes:
- Hosting the 2000 duMaurier LPGA Championship, where Meg Mallon claimed a victory.
- Hosting the Canadian Amateur Championship on eight occasions, most recently in 2016—a testament to its enduring quality and strategic depth.
- The PGA of Canada was also founded at Royal Ottawa in 1911, with legends like Karl Keffer as the long‑time head professional, later honoured in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Practice Facilities & Recent Enhancements
It is not often that I will take much note of a clubs practice facilities, but Royal Ottawa recently invested heavily in modern player development and features one of the best practice facilities I have ever seen. A TrackMan range, extensive short-game area with five greens, and versatile practice bunkers make it one of the most comprehensive training facilities in all of North America.
Why Royal Ottawa Stands Out
- Heritage and prestige: Royal status, early championship host, and home to significant figures in Canadian golf lore.
- Architectural pedigree: Bendelow’s foundation and Park Jr.’s strategic refinements.
- Scenic, strategic holes: Too many holes of note.
- World-class practice facilities: From TrackMan tech to pitching, chipping, and putting complexes.
- Member‑focused experience: Easy pace-of-play, classic clubhouse ambiance near the Gatineau Hills, and a tight-knit golfing community.
Final Take
Royal Ottawa Golf Club beautifully marries tradition with modern facilities. It is a testing, scenic layout that demands thoughtful shot-making, set within a storied venue just minutes from Downtown Ottawa and Canada’s Parliament Hill. Royal Ottawa remains a quiet masterpiece of Canadian golf heritage and modern excellence laid upon a beautiful parcel of land with tumbling topography and a classic layout. If you have not had the chance to play Royal Ottawa, I strongly urge you try to attend the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, or any other tournament that allows the public to walk its glorious property. It is a stroll unlike any other.
