Champlain at Golf Champlain

Golf Champlain sits in Aylmer, a sector of Gatineau in western Québec, along the Ottawa River corridor near the Ontario border. Designed by Howard Watson and opened in the mid-1960s, the course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the Outaouais region, where the Canadian Shield's influence creates natural elevation changes and mature tree cover. Watson, a Canadian architect active during the postwar golf boom, routed the layout to take advantage of the property's wooded character and modest topographical movement.

The course plays through corridors of hardwood and conifer forest, with fairways that require accuracy off the tee and approach shots that must account for sloping lies and elevated or protected greens. Water comes into play on several holes, reflecting the area's proximity to the Ottawa River watershed. The design emphasizes strategic positioning rather than overwhelming length, a common trait of Watson's work during this era when courses were built to accommodate a wide range of players.

Golf Champlain serves the francophone community of Gatineau and the broader National Capital Region, offering a traditional member-club experience in a setting that remains relatively quiet compared to the busier urban courses closer to Ottawa. The club operates in both French and English, reflecting the bilingual character of the region. The course provides a straightforward test of golf within a natural, wooded environment typical of southwestern Québec's landscape.