Rouge at Golf St-Raphaël

Golf St-Raphaël's Rouge course occupies land on Île Bizard, an island community in the Lake of Two Mountains northwest of Montreal. Designed by Graham Cooke, a Canadian architect known for his work across Quebec and Ontario, the course reflects the region's characteristic topography—relatively gentle terrain shaped by the St. Lawrence River lowlands, with mature tree cover and seasonal water features that come into play during spring runoff and wet periods.

The routing takes advantage of the island's natural setting, incorporating wooded corridors and open meadow areas that define individual holes. Cooke's design philosophy typically emphasizes strategic options for players of varying abilities, with multiple tee boxes and fairway angles that reward course management over pure distance. The Rouge course features these hallmarks, offering a layout that requires thoughtful club selection and an understanding of how the land moves around greens and approach areas.

Île Bizard itself remains a quieter, more residential part of greater Montreal, with agricultural heritage still visible in the surrounding landscape. Golf St-Raphaël serves both members and daily-fee players, reflecting the accessible golf culture common to many Quebec facilities. The course operates within the region's compressed season, typically from late April through October, and benefits from the microclimate effects of being surrounded by water, which can moderate temperature extremes during peak summer months.