Royal Montreal Golf Club
Founded in 1873, Royal Montreal is the oldest golf club in North America, and its Dick Wilson Blue Course is the championship heart of the place. A par 70 stretched to about 7,300 yards for the 2007 and 2024 Presidents Cup, it is history and tournament pedigree in equal measure.
Photo: Sylvain du-tremble via Google.
The verdict
No club on the continent carries the weight of history that Royal Montreal does. Founded in 1873 and granted its royal title by Queen Victoria in 1884, it is the oldest golf club in North America, and it has remained at the center of the Canadian game across three different homes. Today it sits on Ile Bizard at the western edge of Montreal, where Dick Wilson laid out the Blue Course that opened in 1959.
The Blue is a muscular, classic American championship test, the kind Wilson built better than almost anyone, with bold bunkering, water in play on the closing stretch, and greens that reward a confident long iron. Rees Jones refreshed it in 2004 and PGA Tour Design Services tuned it again before the 2024 Presidents Cup, the second time the matches were held here after 2007. For the traveling golfer it is a chance to walk the same turf as the world's best, at a club where the trophies tell two centuries of stories.
Royal Montreal at a glance
- Club founded
- 1873
- Designer
- Dick Wilson
- Blue opened
- 1959
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,300 yds
- Access
- Private members club
Club founding, designer, opening year and championship setup verified June 2026 from the club, the PGA Tour and leading course databases. Royal Montreal was founded in 1873; the Dick Wilson Blue Course opened in 1959, was renovated by Rees Jones in 2004, and was set to par 70 over about 7,300 yards for the 2024 Presidents Cup. The club is private and does not publish public green fees; access is normally by invitation or reciprocal arrangement, so always confirm any arrangement directly before traveling.
The holes worth the trip
The Blue Course shows its teeth in the closing stretch, where water and bold bunkering turn a steady round into a nervous finish. The par 5 closer has decided more than one championship, a reachable but heavily defended green that tempts the brave and punishes the greedy, exactly the kind of all or nothing finale that match play thrives on. It is the hole television remembers from both Presidents Cups.
Through the middle of the round Wilson asks for length and precision in equal parts. The par 3s are stout, the doglegs reward a player who can shape a tee shot, and the greens are large enough to demand real control of distance. The 2024 tuning sharpened the angles and firmed the surfaces without losing the classic character, so the course plays like a modern major venue dressed in 1959 bones.
It is a championship layout first and a members course second, which means it stands up to the best in the world yet remains a fair and satisfying test from the right tees. For an architecture and tournament enthusiast, a round here is a genuine bucket list tick.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; play normally limited to members, guests and reciprocal visitors |
| Green fee | Not publicly published; guest and reciprocal play arranged through the club (indicative, confirm directly) |
| Best route in | An invitation from a member, or a reciprocal arrangement if your home club has one |
| Walking | Walking and carts both available; caddies can be arranged in advance |
| On the day | Traditional golf attire expected; the clubhouse and its history are part of the experience |
| Getting there | Ile Bizard, on the western edge of Montreal, about 35 minutes from downtown and Trudeau Airport |
Access details verified June 2026 from the club and public sources. Royal Montreal is private and arrangements change, so always confirm access and any guest policy directly before traveling.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in downtown Montreal, a half hour from Ile Bizard, where the city's hotels, restaurants and old town make for one of the most enjoyable urban bases for a golf trip in Canada. For an airport handy stay, the Trudeau district has comfortable options that keep transfers short on the day of the round.
Royal Montreal anchors a strong Quebec golf cluster. Pair it on a trip with the Laurentians resorts to the north, the mountain golf of Mont Tremblant Golf Club and the dramatic Le Diable Golf Club, for a week that mixes championship history with resort scenery.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Royal Montreal.
Build a Quebec golf trip around the history
Royal Montreal is private, but we plan an entire Quebec golf week around the courses you can play, from the Laurentians resorts to the best of Montreal, and arrange tee times, stays and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Montreal questions
Why is Royal Montreal historically important?
The Royal Montreal Golf Club was founded in 1873, which makes it the oldest golf club in North America. It received its royal designation from Queen Victoria in 1884 and has been a cornerstone of the Canadian game ever since.
Who designed the Blue Course and when did it open?
The Blue Course was designed by Dick Wilson and opened in 1959 on Ile Bizard, after the club moved to its current site. It was renovated by Rees Jones in 2004 and tuned again by PGA Tour Design Services ahead of the 2024 Presidents Cup.
What is the par and length of the Blue Course?
For the 2024 Presidents Cup the Blue Course was set up to par 70 at about 7,300 yards. Members play a longer par configuration day to day. Always confirm the current setup with the club.
Has Royal Montreal hosted the Presidents Cup?
Yes. Royal Montreal hosted the Presidents Cup in 2007 and again in 2024 on the Blue Course, along with several Canadian Opens, including 2014. It is a private club, so visitor access is limited.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Club founding, designer, opening year and championship setup verified June 2026; access details verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.