Summerlea is a club rooted in
History and Tradition
. . . yet progressive in approach and delivery of membership programs and activities.
Summerlea values camaraderie and friendship amongst our members as one of our defining characteristics.
Important moments in the history of Summerlea
The history of Summerlea, as is the case with so many older golf clubs in Canada, began in a location other than where it presently is situated. It was at its original site in Lachine that the club first gained the distinction as one of the finest in the country.
In 1920, the remnants of the First World War were all but forgotten. The recovery years brought prosperity as the revitalization of Montreal was just taking hold. At the same time, the game of golf was reaching a feverish pitch forcing the Montreal Golf Association to rename its banner as of The Province of Quebec Golf Association.
1921
1921
Land purchased
Land purchased at the site of a former town called “Summerlea”.
Willie Park, Jr., course designer from Scotland, headed the 2-year construction.
1921
1922
1922
Summerlea incorporated
Summerlea is incorporated and membership grows to 400+ shareholders and 200+ lady members. Temporary clubhouse & 9-holes used for 1st season. Expected completion June 1, 1923 for 27-holes.
1923
June 30, 1923
Opening ceremonies
Official opening ceremonies including the course christening and both men’s & ladies’ competitions.
The Summerlea “family-oriented club” was on it’s way!
Jock R. Brown, of Scottish descent, named club professional.
1923
1924
May 1924
Clubhouse completed
Completion of clubhouse, 2 1/2 stories high with verandas on 3 sides. Its large dining facility could accomodate 125 people.
1924 - 1928
- Through the years -
1924 Quebec Junior Championship
The first major provincial golf event held at the club, this would be the first of many major provincial and national championship tournaments, both professional and amateur, played at Summerlea.
1926 CPGA Championship
1928 Canadian Amateur
1924 - 1928
1929
1929
The Great Depression
Market crash and the start of the Great Depression. During the decade of the "Dirty Thirties", over 600 golf clubs across North America closed their doors. Summerlea struggled onward, through severe financial difficulties.
1931 - 1944
- Through the years -
1931 Quebec Amateur & Open
1935 Canadian Open
1936 Quebec Senior
1938 Quebec Junior Championship
1939 Quebec Amateur
1943 Quebec Open
1944 Quebec Senior Championship
1931 - 1944
1944
1944
War & bankruptcy
In the midst of World War II, Summerlea was forced into bankruptcy.
1945
1945
Out of the ruins
Senator Donat Raymond came into the picture and became the greatest benefactor of the club's history.
Unselfishly, Raymond purchased the property from the liquidators and leased the club back to the members. One year later, the members again resumed ownership, while Raymond held the mortgage and sat on the Board of Directors.
1945
1946
1946
Head Pro Walter Lilly
Walter Lilly replaced Roland Huot as the head professional.
Born in Lachine, Lilly began his association with Summerlea at a very young age and rose through the caddie ranks to become assistant to Professional Jock Brown. His golf career had been temporarily interrupted by the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
1948
1948
Quebec Senior Championship
1948
1949
Sep 13, 1949
Disaster strikes
A fire destroyed the clubhouse and all its contents. Once again, Donat Raymond came to the rescue and worked out a suitable arrangement for the club to rebuild.
1950 - 1960
- Through the years -
1950 CPGA Championship
1951 Quebec Amateur
1953 Quebec Senior Championship
1954 Quebec Open
1957 Quebec Senior Championship
1958 Quebec Senior Championship
1959 Quebec Senior Championship
1960 Quebec Open
1950 - 1960
1961
1961
Relocation
With ever increasing taxes and urban expansion encroaching on the club, the Summerlea Directors commissioned Geoffrey Cornish to design two 18-hole courses- the 6,845 yard par-72 Dorion and the 7,005 yard par-72 Cascades.
1962
1962
Quebec Amateur
1962
1962
1962
New clubhouse construction
While Cornish was busy shaping the land, the architects firm of Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulas, Lebensold, Michaud & Sise was selected to design the clubhouse.
The proposal of a bright and airy contemporary style is well-received. Positioned at the highest point of a cliff, the clubhouse offered spectacular views from its balconies.
1963
Jun 6, 1963
A true loss
Senator Donat Raymond dies, only a few months after the relocation of Summerlea to its new site after being totally consumed by fire.
Walter Lilly retired, in ill health.
1963
1964
1964
Alan Ogilvie, Club Pro
With the completion of the clubhouse, the members welcomed the arrival of a new professional, Alan Ogilvie.
Under his supervision, the junior program thrived.
1966 - 1975
- Through the years -
1966 Canadian Amateur
1971 Quebec Open
1975 Quebec Amateur
1966 - 1975
1976
1976
Bruce Fry, Club Pro
Alan Ogilvy was replaced by Bruce Fry, who came from the Hermitage Golf Club in Magog, Quebec, where he worked as an assistant for his father.
1979
1979
Duke Doucet, Club Pro
Duke Doucet replaced Bruce Fry, becoming the sixth head professional at Summerlea.
Mr. Doucet first arrived at the Club as an assistant to Fry in 1976.
Not only was Mr. Doucet a successful amateur and professional golfer, he was voted "Professional of the Year" in 1990 and 1992, and also served the golfing community as President and Captain of the Quebec PGA as well as Director of the Canadian PGA.
TRULY, A SUMMERLEA HERO
AND LEGEND.
1979
1980 - 1996
- Through the years -
1980 Chairman's invitational
1980 Quebec Amateur
1981 LPGA Peter Jackson Classic
1991 Quebec Amateur
1996 Canadian Men's Senior
1996 PGA Export "A" Skins Game
(Fred Couples, Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ernie Els)
1999
1999
Jim Vandette, Club Pro
Duke Doucet became Director of Golf in 1999 and Jim Vandette became the 7th Head Professional.
Jim had been a junior member of the club, attended university in the Southern U.S., and worked as Associate Pro to Duke for 3 years prior to becoming the Head Pro.
1999
2001 - 2002
- Through the years -
2001 Canadian Ladies' Senior
2002 LPGA Bank of Montreal Classic
2015 - 2018
- Through the years -
2015 Canadian Junior Boys' Championship
2018 Montreal Regional Junior Division 5
2015 - 2018
2018
Aug 2018
Summerlea sold to private investors
Tough financial years and industry-wide challenges caused Summerlea membership to decline due to fears of assessment and financial instability.
In August of 2018, Summerlea Golf & Country Club is sold to a group of local businessmen: Raymond Allard, Jean-Marie Bourassa, Marcel Bourassa, Bernard Lefebvre and Sylvain Ménard. The new owners commence clubhouse renovations, as well as bringing on board Mr. Marco Jetté as the new General Manager. Mr. Jetté’s experience and financial expertise, in combination with solid financial backing from the new owners, will help guide Summerlea into a sound future.
2019
- Through the years -
2019 Montreal Amateur D4
2019
2021
Feb 2021
Steve Deschênes, Head Professional
Summerlea is proud to welcome Steve Deschênes as new Head Professional.
2022
2022
Olivier Ménard
(Summerlea member)
Winner of the Quebec Amateur Championship
2022
2023
Feb 2023
Gary Lagden, Head Professional
former Head Pro and General Manager of Le Blainvillier, becomes the new Head Professional of Summerlea.
Summerlea also brings on board Marc-André Berthiaume to commence the new Golf Academy.
The history of the club was researched and written by golf writer, Tim McKeown. He would gratefully like to acknowledge the cooperation of Karen Hewson from the RCGA and Marion Dunn of Summerlea for the information provided.