The Main Course is a natural, old-fashioned layout, designed according to what has been called ‘the Scottish principle’, where the emphasis is placed on the natural lay of the land, rather than artificially created hazards.

The topography is unique as it was built before the days of massive earth-moving equipment. The hills and dales have always been a source of both joy and frustration. The various tee positions fairly challenge all golfers and the greens are fast and small by design.

The original course architect was Tom Bendelow of Chicago, who at the time was a leader in the industry. The original design was subsequently amended by Willie Park Jr., winner of the British Open in 1887 and 1897. In recent years, Graham Cooke was a principal Course Architect. The current Course Architect is Neil Haworth, who spearheaded the design of our Range & Short Game Area.

The Main Course caters to those who like to walk. Our expected pace of play is four hours, which can easily be accomplished without feeling as if one has “raced” around the course.

The LPGA tournament was played at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in 2000 with the cumulative combined scores of all players being above par, attesting to the challenging nature of our course. The feedback from these professional golfers was extremely positive.

The Royal also holds the record for hosting the most Canadian Amateur Championships – a milestone we are proud to hold.

Via Royal Ottawa GC