Practice golf regularly to improve… Yes, but how?

Golf, like all sports, requires lots of training and long hours of practice. It requires effort, rigor and willpower in order to see progress.

Despite this great season, is it that you can't seem to get your score down and you're losing enjoyment of the game? Here are some tips to quickly improve your golf game, acquire good technique and become comfortable on the course.

Train regularly to play better

Do you want to be more accurate and efficient on the course? To become a good golfer, you will need to practice consistently and seriously. You should alternate between playing on the course and practicing effectively. To perform, you must groove your swing by hitting lots of balls in order to build a good swing, an automatic routine and consistency.

To achieve a perfect swing requires hours of work on your posture, your alignment, your body weight, the position of your hands and the pressure they exert on your club, learning to manage the speed of your club as well as its angle of attack on the ball.

Over time, increase the difficulty, practice using all the golf clubs in your bag, add different drills to your routine and perform all the shots you might have to play on a course such as low shots, high shots, full power, etc.

Work on your putting

It is impossible to play golf well without good putting! In fact, putting well is the best and fastest way to lower your score. To improve quickly, you must practice your putting assiduously so that you gain confidence in your stroke and can execute it without thought. Let it happen naturally. In an 18-hole round of golf, more than half the shots are putts and approaches!

Take golf lessons

To progress more quickly, no matter your level of skill, take lessons with a professional. Your mistakes can be corrected immediately and your posture revised before you fall into bad habits. A professional will advise you on how to adjust your shots and determine the right trajectory for your ball as well as how to read a green.

Investing in golf lessons, regularly practicing different exercises and working on your putting will undoubtedly help you improve.

At Summerlea Golf & Country Club

You will enjoy golfing and benefit from the advice of our associated professionals. To facilitate your play, we provide our members with excellent practice facilities, including several driving ranges and practice holes (unique in the area) and TWO practice greens for putting and chipping (where most clubs have only one).

We offer an enjoyable golf experience for players of all levels with two exceptional 18-hole courses from which to enjoy the incredible scenery.

Please contact us for more information on golf, lessons or membership options.

How to take advantage of your golf club's pro shop

The 2021 season marks the 100th anniversary of Summerlea Golf and Country Club. What better way to celebrate this exceptional event than to offer its members the pleasure of a complete renovation of their pro shop?

The well-being of golfers has always been at the heart of Summerlea’s operations, and they will continue building on this solid foundation with exceptional services and golf advice for members and guests, thanks to a rejuvenated boutique and a new Head Professional.

Come and meet our new Pro and his team for an unparalleled golfing experience.

Equipment and advice: the know-how of the Pro Shop

Clothing, shoes, accessories: Summerlea is abundantly qualified to equip you with quality products. With many brands to choose from, it's exciting to select the ones that will be your best allies during the season. What to wear? What are the differences in equipment? What about price, comfort and style?

Our staff is knowledgeable and ready to provide good advice and guidance. Summerlea's attention to detail is renowned and the clothing styles on display have details that can affect your play and your enjoyment! You will benefit from products that work for you and your golf game.

And don't worry: listening to your needs also means listening to your budget and your style. New products are regularly added, in different price ranges and models. You'll begin your season with equipment that offers unparalleled value for your dollar.

Personalized service: Summerlea's Pro Shop know-how

Actually trying a club on the range is the best way to find out if it’s right for you. And trying on shoes and clothing, rather than ordering blindly with online retailers, is the advantage that your local Pro Shop can offer.

The success of your day on the golf course can be greatly influenced by your equipment. Your clubs should fit your swing, not the other way around. Summerlea’s professionals offer club fitting expertise. Clubs that fit your unique swing will help you hit the ball straighter, farther and aid to consistently lower your score…with a little practice, of course! And if you take advantage of private lessons, you will gain even more in-depth knowledge of your own game and your own potential.

In addition to these professional advantages, we add the charm of a beautiful pro shop and a dedicated team offering to share their passion for golf, their enthusiasm for collaboration and their desire to build trusting relationships and club fellowship. This is what sets Summerlea apart.

Summerlea Golf & Country Club celebrates 100 years!

Even though the 2021 season is only about to begin, golf enthusiasts can already add an event to their agenda: the 100th anniversary of Summerlea Golf & Country Club. But what would such a venerable age be without a retrospective look into its history, its trials, and its greatest successes?

Throughout its history, the Summerlea Golf & Country Club has definitely left its mark.

Summerlea Golf & Country Club: A rich and epic history

It all began in Lachine in 1921 where land was purchased, and a foundation laid at the site of a former town called "Summerlea". By the following year, the club boasted 400 shareholders and more than 200 female members. This club had a progressive and family-oriented approach that quickly became its trademark.

The official opening ceremony and golf course christening took place on June 30, 1923 and competitions for men and women commenced. Between 1924 and 1928, several provincial and national competitions were held, giving everyone the opportunity to test their skills at Summerlea.

This prosperous period, however, gave way to the Great Depression, which weakened the financial situation of the club as well as all other clubs and businesses. But Summerlea persevered.

Unfortunately, the Second World War pushed Summerlea to its limits and into bankruptcy. In this difficult period, the club owes its resurrection to Senator Donat Raymond who invested heavily in Summerlea, in particular through the construction of a grand new clubhouse following a fire in 1949 which completely destroyed the entire building. On more than one occasion, Senator Raymond steered Summerlea on the road to success. His passing in 1963 was a true loss, especially as Summerlea settled that very year on a new site in which to re-locate the club to Vaudreuil-Dorion.

The years pass and the successes mount. The club becomes well-known thanks to its championships, its reputation, and dedication to its members.

In 2018, Summerlea is sold to a group of private investors composed of: Raymond Allard, Jean-Marie Bourassa, Marcel Bourassa, Benoit Lefebvre, and Sylvain Ménard. This group of astute businessmen are committed to perpetuating the values of excellence and inclusion for which Summerlea is known. Clubhouse renovations and the hiring of a new general manager, Marco Jetté, perfectly illustrate this desire.

This hilly ride of trials and successes shows, above all, the great passion that continues and always drives those who directly and indirectly contributed to the history of Summerlea.

Notable member: Graham Cooke

Graham Cooke is an accomplished amateur golfer with a highly remarkable list of golfing achievements, some of which are:

• Winner of more than 100 amateur tournaments;
• Being inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame, the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame, and the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame;
• Representing Canada in 7 international team events;
• Representing Quebec in 27 Willingdon Cup Teams;
• Being a member of the Big Ten Golf Championship Team playing for Michigan State.

And also including these fine career highlights:

• Runner-up in 2 Canadian Amateurs
• 7 titles as Canadian Mid-Amateur Champion
• 4 titles as Canadian Senior Champion
• 4 titles as Quebec Amateur Champion
• 5 x winner of the Duke of Kent
• 4 x winner of the Alexander of Tunis
• Runner-up in 2 British Senior Championships
• And, of course, numerous titles as the Summerlea Club Champion

In addition, his own company has won many awards for golf course designs in both Canada and the United States.

We are proud that Graham Cooke has been a Summerlea member for more than 50 years!

Duke Doucet inducted into the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame

Among all the head professionals who have forged the club's legend, Duke Doucet is certainly the one who has taken Quebec golf beyond its simple borders. His swing has shown brightly on the European circuit, the South African Tour and the Canadian Tour.

Winner of more than 35 professional tournaments, his career spanning more than 50 years, we bear witness to an exceptional career. The year 1972, during which he won eight of the nine professional tournaments played in Quebec, attracts particular attention. Often compared to Byron Nelson, aficionados are sure to recall that while the American, Byron Nelson, won 11 straight tournaments in 1945, Mr. Doucet won nine titles in ten starts in his fabulous 1972 season!

His involvement at Summerlea has been limitless since he began his career in 1976. He successively took on the functions of Assistant Professional, then Head Professional, Clubhouse Manager and finally, General Manager.

“Passionate” is not strong enough to describe his relationship with golf especially considering that he won the Beaconsfield Open in spring 1997 (his third victory in this event!) while at the same time celebrating another victory: the one against cancer.

Mr. Doucet also supported a grander vision by serving as Captain and President of the P.G.A. of Quebec. As well, already a member of the Sherbrooke Sports Hall of Fame, in 2020 Mr. Doucet was the 32nd person inducted into the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame. A great way to acknowledge this athlete, to pay tribute to this dedicated man, and to enrich the history of the Summerlea Golf & Country Club which he helped to grow.

Looking forward to celebrating with you soon, dear members, friends, and golf enthusiasts!

Sources : GolfQuebec.org. Membres intronisés au temple de la renommée du golf du Quebec

Au19e.ca. Billet Mario Brisebois | Duke Doucet a été notre Byron Nelson du Québec. 2020.

Association régionale – Golf Cantons de l’Est. Trois légendes intronisées au Temple de la renommée du golf du Québec en 2020 dont le DUKE de Windsor. 2020.

Golf: the perfect family activity for this summer

With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic requiring us all to change our lifestyle and leisure habits, it can quickly become a challenge to find activities to do with family. Outdoor activities are especially helpful, to help them use up all that built-up energy! Like many, you are probably searching for ideas. Have you thought about playing golf with your family? It’s a fantastic idea for an outdoor activity.

Golf is not only a perfect sport to be in the great outdoors with the family in a large space (even better these days!), but it also helps to instill good lifestyle habits.

Why golf with your family?

Golf is already a sport enjoyed mostly with family or friends since it is usually played in small groups of 2 to 4 people.

Golf is a true benefit for your health

Have fun with the family hitting a few little white balls and spending some quality time outdoors in the heart of nature for a few hours. This is a great opportunity to talk, joke, laugh, have fun with your family, and create special moments, family stories and lasting memories.

Take the opportunity to walk the course, get some fresh air, change your mind and lower your stress level. In addition, an outdoor activity such as golf will allow young people to increase their level of concentration.

Regular golfing also has beneficial effects on your kids’ health because it allows, among other things, to reduce the risk of diabetes (which affects kids more and more these days) and promotes excellent physical development by strengthening muscles, including stabilizers, and improving the coordination of movements.

Golf contributes to the good development of young people

On top of it all, good golf practice allows children to develop fundamental values such as self-control (by learning to deal with good, bad shots and challenges throughout the game), resilience, hard work, honesty, concentration, respect for rules, for oneself and for others, etc.

How to introduce your child to golf?

Golf is competitive, demanding, but also fun and enjoyable.

Just start by giving him or her a few practice shots on a driving range, then he can have fun and get used to the swing. Then practice on 9-hole courses or par-3 courses that are shorter and often less demanding. And you can always have them start the hole at the 150-yard or 100-yard marker instead of on the normal tee area…keep in mind the goal is to make the game fun and help them build confidence.

It goes without saying, make sure they are properly dressed with well-fitting gear and clothing: this will encourage them to practice regularly.

You can also enroll them in golf lessons taught by professional golfers so that they can acquire good technique right out of the starting gate.

At Summerlea Golf Club, we offer an elite junior education and development program in a fun environment. In addition, we offer a family package so that you can share the golf experience with the youngest members of your family. And don’t forget our fabulous swimming pool to also enjoy with those in your family who aren’t golfers. Contact us for more details and to come and play family golf this summer on our excellent courses.