Royal Ottawa at Golf Royal Ottawa

Royal Ottawa Golf Club, established in 1891, holds the distinction of being the oldest golf club in continuous existence in North America. The club moved to its current location in Aylmer, Québec in 1923, where Willie Park Jr. designed the present course on rolling terrain along the Ottawa River. Tom Bendelow contributed to earlier iterations of the layout before the move. The course occupies a naturally undulating property with mature tree-lined fairways and strategic bunkering that reflects Park's design philosophy of rewarding thoughtful play over pure length.

The routing takes advantage of elevation changes throughout the round, with several holes playing along ridges that offer views across the river valley. The layout features a mix of doglegs and straightaway holes, with greens that tend toward moderate size and subtle contours. Water comes into play on a few holes, though the primary defenses remain the trees, bunkers, and the need for accurate approach shots to hold the putting surfaces.

Royal Ottawa has hosted numerous national championships, including multiple Canadian Opens in the early twentieth century and several Canadian Amateur Championships. The club maintains traditional membership values and operates as a private facility with strong ties to the Ottawa region's golfing community. The clubhouse and grounds reflect the club's long history, with an atmosphere that emphasizes the game's heritage and the continuity of golf in Canada's capital region.