A history of passion since 1922
Founded in 1922, the Val-Morin Golf Club is one of the oldest in the Laurentians. It offers golf enthusiasts the chance to play their favourite sport on a top-quality course, all set in a enchanting landscape.
Redesigned in 1997 by internationally renowned Canadian architect Graham Cooke, the Golf Val-Morin course runs along the Rivière du Nord and is surrounded by mature trees.
Owner since 2009, Mario Leclair, president of the company “Équipe 4 saisons”, has made numerous improvements to Golf Val-Morin, totalling an investment of $3,500,000.
These major changes include the addition of a practice range, a new parking lot, a new, more spacious clubhouse, and modifications to certain holes.
After all these decades, our mission remains to exceed our customers’ expectations and build their loyalty by serving our clients’ interests fairly. Year after year, we continue to offer one of the best golf experiences in the Laurentians!
Val-Morin Golf Club celebrates
100 years of history
Val-Morin Golf Club is one of the oldest in the Laurentians. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, this heritage site is a source of pride for the people of Val-Morin. More than 30,000 rounds are played there and about 25 outdoor tournaments are held each season. We’re taking this unique opportunity to wish all golfers a wonderful season and a happy centennial!
1922
Val-Morin Golf Club founded (9 holes)
This was the year Val-Morin Golf Club officially opened. According to some, there were at least three holes before that date—namely the 14th, 15th, and 16th.
It also seems that the white house across Morin Street served as an unofficial clubhouse for M. Little and his friends. This house was known as “Chez Nous.”
During the same period, in 1925, the first clubhouse was built, which also served as a workshop for equipment repair and sales.
1938
The clubhouse and the scorecard
Click the images below to see the scorecard in 1938:
1962
Design of 3 additional holes by architect Howard Watson
Mrs. Viau’s practice-field land was purchased by the club. This purchase made it possible to build the first three holes of today’s course, designed by golf architect Howard Watson, who was very popular at the time (Royal Québec, Royal Montréal, etc.). These holes have undergone very few changes and have aged very well. They were mainly used for juniors under ten as well as beginner players.
1974
Golf Val-Morin becomes an 18-hole course under the leadership of Mr. Laurent Gendron
On that date, the club purchased the land to the right of the 10th hole from a Mr. Green (owner of the white house known as “Chez Vous”). In fact, it was more of a marsh, since the land flooded in spring and after every heavy rain. After years of filling, the area eventually became today’s holes 11, 12, and 13. Mr. Laurent Gendron, president at the time, led these works. We should also note that Mr. Gendron personally guaranteed the loans that made this project possible.
On that same date, holes 6, 7, and 8 took on their current form.
1980
4th reconstruction of the clubhouse
The clubhouse over time…
The previous clubhouse, built in 1950, was set on fire by a neighbor with mental health issues, forcing the clubhouse to be rebuilt for the 4th time since the first construction in 1925.
1980 was also an important year for the Golf Club: that year, the president at the time, Mr. Jean Grenier, introduced gender parity regarding access to the course.
1995
First woman appointed as Club President
Mrs. Suzanne Lachaine was among the first women elected president of a golf club in Quebec.
During her 2-year term, Mrs. Lachaine aimed to raise the holes that were flooded each year by snowmelt and during heavy rains.
She devoted a great deal of time and effort—especially through many exchanges and steps taken with the Ministry of the Environment—to obtain the necessary authorizations.
Her determination was rewarded at the very last annual shareholders’ meeting under her presidency. The Board of Directors presented a financing plan to carry out the work, and it was accepted by the majority of shareholders.
It should be noted that a small group of shareholders, fearing the cost impact of such work, gave up their shares. However, the administrators who took over were able to bring the project to completion, greatly benefiting our course.
1996
1996 to 1998: Major elevation work on the course
Under the presidency of Mr. Pierre Deschamps and Mr. Denis Simpson, the golf club gave Graham Cook (golf architect) the mandate to complete, straighten, and fully rebuild holes #10 to #16, as well as the 18th hole. The 12th, 13th, and 14th holes were raised by one meter to better control spring flooding.
2009
Mario Leclair and Lynda Savage become owners
Since the early 2000s, golf has been declining across North America, and Val-Morin Golf Club has not escaped this phenomenon:
- Aging membership
- Lack of new members coming up
- The 2008–2009 economic crisis put the club in a precarious financial situation.
All of these factors led shareholders to decide to sell the golf club, and that is how Mario Leclair and Lynda Savage became its sole owners.
Several conditions, over five years, were tied to this sale:
- Repay the amount owed to shareholders for their shares
- Restore the course to excellent condition
- Purchase new equipment
- Replace the outdated clubhouse
We would like to highlight that Mario fulfilled all conditions with great success—in less than three years—for the benefit of us member golfers of the wonderful Val-Morin Golf Club.
2022
The Town of Val-Morin celebrates its 100th anniversary
The Town of Val-Morin is also celebrating its centennial this year and created a video for the occasion.
Golf pros
over the years…
- Georges Ireland 1922-1952
- Bob Grant 1953-1954
- Jack Bissegger 1955-1965
- Bill Walsh 1966-1976
- Jean Morin 1977-1981
- Claude Mallette 1982-1995
- Sylvain Courcelles 1996-2008
- Martin Bergeron 2010- present