Golf is just the beginning

Members of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club share a bond that transcends golf. Although our love of the game first drew us to the club, the camaraderie that surrounds the sport transforms us into regular visitors.

Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

The Royal Ottawa Golf Club is a premier private golf club with a rich heritage, providing an exceptional Member experience.

Mission

In order to make this vision a reality, The Royal Ottawa Golf Club will:

  • Respect our fellow Members, our employees, our golf courses, our facilities, and the environment
  • Ensure the golf courses and practice facilities are to the highest standards of conditioning and playability
  • Nurture the spirit of the game, fostering a community atmosphere through participation, player development, competition, and enjoyment
  • Deliver a consistently exceptional Clubhouse experience by providing a high calibre food and beverage offering and quality service for Members and their guests.
  • Value our heritage, historic Clubhouse and Royal designation, giving thoughtful consideration to issues of change to ensure we remain a premier golf club
  • Encourage participation and pride of membership through communication and engagement. Attract new Members who share the Club’s Vision and Mission and contribute to the social and financial success of the Club.
  • Be fiscally responsible while investing in our assets and people to ensure an exceptional Member experience.

Values

Members and Staff of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club will embody the following core values:

  • Respect
  • Community
  • Inclusivity
  • Excellence
  • Responsibility
  • Environmental Stewardship

Club History

1891 – 1904

The Royal Ottawa is one of the oldest golf clubs outside of Britain. It was founded in the spring of 1891, in the dying years of Queen Victoria’s reign, by a group of business and professionals who decided they should organize themselves “for promotion of this healthy and satisfying game.” The inaugural meeting was held in the old Russell House Hotel on April 20.

Known as the Ottawa Golf Club, it was designated “Royal” in 1912 by permission of His Majesty King George V.

The members elected as their first president Hon. (later Sir) Edgar Dewdney, a minister in Sir John A. Macdonald’s government and one of his most faithful followers. After serving a one-year term as president, he left Ottawa to become Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia.

The first nine-hole course was on 50 acres of land lent to the club by Charles Magee, a real-estate developer, in Sandy Hill, on the banks of the Rideau, just west of the old Rideau Rifle range. There was a small clubhouse near the end of Gladstone Avenue, overlooking the course.

Club History 1

The first Canadian Amateur Championship was played over the Sandy Hill course, with its deep sand traps, ditches and even a swamp, in June, 1895. Tom Harley of Kingston won the silver challenge cup offered by the Governor General, Lord Aberdeen. Alexander Simpson of the Ottawa Club was runner up.

As Sandy Hill became a more fashionable place to live and property values increased, the club found a new site in Quebec, a mile north of Hull, along the old Chelsea Road. For $15 a year they leased 108 acres of farmland and, along with it, the old Brigham homestead for a clubhouse. The building, which still stands at 376 St. Joseph Boulevard in Hull, once belonged to a son-in-law of Philemon Wright, founder of the city. For a number of years it was a restaurant called Ferme Columbia, after Wright’s farm.

The course consisted of 12 holes, crossing and recrossing the Chelsea Road, and one had to play six of the holes twice to make up an 18-hole round.

In 1901, in order to buy the house and land from the owners, the club became legally incorporated under the laws of Quebec. The following year, the club sold the property to a cement company for a net profit of about $12,000, and went looking for another site.

The Committee, after considering a number of properties in the Ottawa area, settled on the McVeity farm on the Aylmer Road, site of the present club. On three acres of high ground that was Mrs. McVeity’s apple orchard, they built a comfortable and elegant clubhouse which a society columnist of the day described as being “worthy of being the Golf House of the capital of the Dominion.”

To design the course, they engaged Tom Bendelow of Chicago, reputed to be “the best expert on such matters on this side of the Atlantic.” Mr. Bendelow’s design was later amended by Willie Park, Jr., winner of the British Open in 1887 and 1889.

The clubhouse was officially opened with great ceremony in the spring of 1904. Five years later it burned to the ground.

1905 – 1931

On the night of October 20, 1909, fire broke out in the lockerhouse and then leaped 40 feet to the dry shingles of the clubhouse roof. The fire departments of Hull and Ottawa were of no help, and members spent the night fighting the flames and rescuing the club’s furnishings.

A hundred members showed up for a meeting the next day in the City Council Chamber and began planning to rebuild “with all possible despatch.”

A new clubhouse was erected on the same grand scale but 21 years later it, too, burned down. It was lunch-time on November 10, 1930, and Viscount Willingdon, the Governor General, and the Viscountess, were entertaining a small party when the headwaiter advised them that the building was on fire. His Excellency and his friends joined the other diners in carrying the club furniture, silverware and other valuables out onto the lawn.

 

Club History 2

As they had done 21 years before, the members met the day following the fire to make a fresh start. The present clubhouse, which reflects the grace and charm of its predecessors, was officially opened on September 19, 1931, by the Governor General, the Earl of Bessborough.

Members of The Royal Ottawa enjoy a lively social season but their principal interest is golf and the club has produced some outstanding players.

1932 – Present

The course record was established on June 18, 1979, by Eric Kaufmanis who scored 29-33-62. His card comprised nine pars and nine birdies.

One of the club’s best golfers was Mrs. W.G. Fraser, who was made an Honorary Member in 1934 in recognition of her winning the Canadian Ladies Golf Association Championship for the second time. Before her marriage, as Alexa Stirling, she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur three times in a row. Mrs. Fraser was Royal Ottawa ladies’ champion nine times.

The most club championship victories – 11 – were won by Alfred C. Bethune from 1927 to 1948.

John H. Oke, one of the club’s first professionals, won the very first Canadian Open on the Royal Montreal course in 1904 with a 36-hole score of 156.

Karl Keffer, who was the Royal Ottawa pro from 1911 to 1945, won the Canadian Open in 1909 and 1914.

The Royal Ottawa had the privilege of hosting the 2000 LPGA which was won by Meg Mallon . Average scores of all players exceeded par which attests to the quality and challenge of The Royal Ottawa course.

Although the appearance of the Clubhouse appears little changed over recent years, it has in fact been thoroughly upgraded with kitchen, mechanical facilities, pro shop and club storage among many time-to-time improvements. In 2002, a massive renovation was undertaken, creating wonderful new lounges, locker rooms, shower and restroom facilities.

The Royal Ottawa remains true to its heritage with regal conditions abounding inside the Clubhouse and around its 27 holes and splendid practice facilities.

Community Involvement

2019-2022

The ROGC Charity Classic had the pleasure of partnering with Ronald McDonald House Ottawa. 

2016-2018

The Royal Ottawa hosted the Sens Foundation tournament each September, just as spring training was beginning. Sens Foundation raised over $225,000 for the local charities it supports.

2013-2015

The charity golf tournament was hosted by National We Day Canada (a one-day event held at Canadian Tire Centre for local youth).

2010-2012

The Royal Ottawa was pleased to host a charity tournament for the YWCA-YMCA. For more information click here.

2007-2009

The Royal has lent its support to the Ottawa Snowsuit Fund with three Charity Golf Tournaments, from 2007 to 2009, that raised over $275,00 for this worthwhile cause. For more information click here.

2007

The Royal has been pleased to open its doors to the Hopewell Eating Disorders Support Centre’s Charity Fashion Show and Silent Auction. In 2007, the association raised $70,000 at the Stepping out for Hopewell event hosted by the Royal Ottawa. For more information click here.

2004-2006

For three years, The Royal Ottawa Golf Club partnered with the Ottawa Hospital Foundation to raise over $750,000. For more information click here.

1984-2003

the Royal Ottawa Golf Club hosted an annual Charity tournament for the Guide Dogs of Canada, raising over $500,000 in 19 years. For more information click here.

Job Opportunities

Join the Team

Welcome to The Royal Ottawa Golf Club career opportunities and seasonal employment section.

Available Positions

We have a variety of seasonal jobs available such as server, grounds crew, etc. If you’re interested in working at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, please email jobs@rogc.com with your resume and preferred work area.