Exceptional Golf
As a more experienced golfer, you may appreciate the challenge that The Royal’s eighteen-hole, championship-style course offers. This is an old-fashioned shot-maker’s course that demands more of a golfer with each round played. The Royal Nine offers a par-35 course, the perfect environment to improve your game and relax with friends.
Course Info
The Royal Ottawa Golf Club offers the finest courses in the area. Graced by the natural beauty of the Gatineau Hills, our 18-hole facility spans 6600 yards, par 71. As a Member, you will enjoy the Club’s in-town location, availability of tee times, and speed of play; every golfer’s dream.
The Main Course
The original course architect was Tom Bendelow of Chicago, who at the time was a leader in the industry. The original design was subsequently amended by Willie Park Jr., winner of the British Open in 1887 and 1897. In recent years, Graham Cooke was a principal Course Architect. The current Course Architect is Neil Haworth, who spearheaded the design of our new Range & Practice Facilities.
The Main Course is a natural, old-fashioned layout, designed according to what has been called ‘the Scottish principle’, where emphasis is placed on the natural lay of the land, rather than artificially created hazards. These features are emphasized on holes number 9 and 15 which require precisely placed tee shots to be followed by woods or long iron approach shots for all but the longest of hitters.
Click here to view Course Map
The topography is unique as it was built before the days of massive earth-moving equipment. The hills and dales have always been a source of both joy and frustration. The various tee positions fairly challenge all calibre of golfer. At the end of a round, one will have used every club in the bag.
The greens are fast and smaller by design requiring accuracy, clubface control, and skill. For example, the first three holes of the back nine challenge the golfer to hit precise shots to the green. Number 10 is as small and well protected a green as can be found while landing the ball in the wrong area of Holes 11 or 12 often results in a three-putt due to the slope and speed of the surfaces.
The Main Course caters to those who like to walk. Tees are located close to the majority of the previously played greens so that there is little delay. Our expected pace of play is four hours, which can easily be accomplished without feeling as if one has “raced” around the course. As well, the Club boasts a spectacular variety of trees and animals on the property that offers the player an excellent backdrop of changing colours throughout the year.
After a satisfying round of golf, there is no better place in Ottawa/Gatineau to enjoy a post-game refreshment than The Royal’s exquisite patio or verandah. The golf course views are spectacular.
The Royal Ottawa Members are committed to continuing the tradition of maintaining a superbly conditioned golf course; unquestionably one of the premier golf courses in North America.
The LPGA tournament was played at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in 2000 with the cumulative combined scores of all players being above par, attesting to the challenging nature of our course. The feedback from these professional golfers was extremely positive.
The Royal also holds the record for hosting the most Canadian Amateur Championships – a milestone we are proud to hold.
For these reasons Members never tire of playing The Main Course. Our course has the feel of being in Scotland or Ireland. We enjoy playing other fine courses but always look forward to returning home.
The Royal Nine
The Royal Nine is the ‘jewel’ of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club. At just over 2700 yards, and boasting three levels of tee decks, our 9-hole course is the perfect venue for the most seasoned golfers or new golfers of any age. A great way to introduce children to the game and the perfect place for experienced golfers to hone their skills.
Click here to view Course Map
To make the Royal Nine more challenging, the course has undergone a significant transformation in recent years; including rerouting and the addition of two new holes (#4 and #5) which made room for our state-of-the-art TrackMan Range, completed in 2020.
Many of our Members make an afternoon of it and enjoy the challenge of the Royal 9 followed by dinner in the clubhouse or at one of The Royal Ottawa’s sumptuous barbeque dinners. Our popular “Nine and Dine” special package offers our Members the opportunity to bring guests for a round on the Royal Nine with dinner in a relaxed yet challenging and fun environment.
Practice Facilities
The Range
The Royal’s new, eight-acre Range sports a 55,000 square foot main tee deck equipped with both natural grass hitting bays and 24 Turfhound artificial hitting mats for use during inclement weather, shoulder seasons, and for rotating maintenance days. This keeps our Range accessible with quality hitting surfaces for longer periods of time than a standard range.
Our TrackMan radar-enabled Range is double-sided, with a 3,500 square foot teaching deck on the opposite side, allowing for private lessons with our Professionals or overflow space for busy days.
Built to emulate the unique uneven lies, fairways, first cuts, and rough conditions of The Royal, the entire Range is powered by the latest in TrackMan Radar technology; accessible by mobile devices at every hitting bay and practice area.
Never miss a fitting session or lesson due to Mother Nature thanks to
The Academy
The Royal’s new Teaching Academy, situated next to our practice range, features two state-of-the-art, TrackMan-enabled teaching and fitting bays equipped with the latest in club fitting technology from major brands. Each bay provides a focused learning and practice environment where every Member can stay focused without distractions.
Access a wide array of technology in one place for ease-of-use & efficiency during fittings, lessons, & seminars. From TrackMan to 3D Motion Capture, from Pressure/Force Plates to Swing Analysis Video – The Academy is an unparalleled source of on-demand metrics for every golfer, privacy & comfort for every student, and fun & entertainment for every group of friends.
For fun in the off-season, TrackMan Simulators access dozens of mini games & dozens of full golf courses from around the world (including The Royal!), so you can play full games – even in bad weather!
Each fitting bay is equipped with a 12 foot tall retractable door that transforms the bays into completely private teaching & practice bays on The Range in good weather. In poor weather or in shoulder seasons, the doors close and the bays become climate-controlled rooms where you can continue to work on every aspect of your golf game, year-round, regardless of weather.
In addition to a high-definition projector screen dropped over the bay doors, each bay also features two high-definition screens, one on each wall, allowing both right & lefthanded golfers an easy view of their metrics as they are displayed on the screen after each swing.
Multi-Purpose Short Game Area
Opening Summer 2022 – The Royal’s new multi-purpose short game area, featuring dedicated practice sections for pitching chipping, short drives, putting, and more.
Worldwide Reciprocal Privileges
Membership at The Royal Ottawa carries the distinct benefit of accessing playing privileges at more than 60 of the world’s most prestigious golf clubs in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, Australasia, and Africa.
An Active Junior Golf Program
The Junior Golf Program provides activities that serve the needs of three categories of Junior Golfer: newcomers, developing, and competitive golfers.
Club-sponsored activities that begin in early May continue through to the school exam schedule in mid-June — then resume during the first week of July.
Our practice facility and Royal Nine golf course provide excellent opportunities for Juniors who wish to learn, develop skills and enjoy the game with friends and family…practically any time of the week, all year.
Juniors can join as early as age six years (with some playing restrictions until age nine years)…all designed to encourage family play.
The Golf Professional team are key supporters of skill development through coaching, clinic and camp instruction and have developed well-structured golf school specifically tailored to our Juniors. The program includes two four-day camps during the first week of July and August that is geared to newer golfers. In addition, there is a six-week coaching program, twice per week from May to mid-June for developing players. We also have a series of four Saturday clinics during May and June for our newer golfers. All in all, the Club is a true supporter of Junior Golf.
The Professional Shop & Staff
Hours – In season
Professional Shop – opens 30 minutes prior to the first tee time.
Practice Range – opens 30 minutes prior to the first tee time and closes one hour prior to dusk.
Professional Staff
Paul Carrothers – Director of Golf
Originally from Montreal and a graduate of McMaster University, Paul is a 30-year veteran in the golf industry having learned the game from some of Canada’s finest Golf professionals in Quebec and Ontario. Paul has been recognized as a true ambassador of the game by being appointed to both national and regional level board positions, along with serving as Ontario PGA and Ottawa Valley PGA President. Paul was named 1992 Ontario Assistant Professional of the Year, 2004, 2007 and 2008, Ping Fitter of the Year and 2005 Head Professional of the Year. He is a certified Level II hockey coach, and a Ping, Callaway, and Titleist club fitter. Paul is happily married and a proud father of an Intermediate Member of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.
Derek MacDonald – Academy Manager
Originally from Brockville, Ontario and a graduate of the University of Ottawa, Derek is a PGA of Canada Class A Professional who has devoted the last 15 years to the profession. Derek began his career as the Assistant Golf Professional at Smuggler’s Glen, then became the Head Golf Professional for an eight-year tenure at the Brockville Country Club, and later moved to The Marshes Golf Club as the Head Teaching Professional and Head Golf Professional for four years before arriving at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.
Derek has had the privilege to teach and coach players on the PGA Tour, Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada, NCAA Div 1, Team Canada players, and through to beginning players. He also has coached the University of Ottawa and Carleton University Golf Teams. Currently, Derek is the Head Golf Coach for the OVGA Junior Development Team for the region.
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Marc Rouse
Originally from small-town Port Rowan and a graduate of Niagara College in the Golf Club Management program, Marc grew up an athlete playing highly competitive sports but found a passion for golf and the golf industry at a young age. He is a former employee of The Royal Ottawa Golf Club completing his two-term co-op with us. From there, he spent four years in London, Ontario gaining knowledge and an understanding of the industry, dedicating himself to the Members, and advancement of the game. Marc looks forward to sharing and helping you enjoy your experience at The Royal each day.
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Dave McDonald
Growing up in Smiths Falls, Dave played many sports but found a passion for golf at the age of 13 when he started working in the back shop at the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club. A graduate of the Professional Golf Management Program at Humber College where he played on the National Championship Golf Team in 2005. A few playing highlights include Spring Open Champion (2011), and the winner of the PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship in 2015 and 2016. Dave was named Assistant Professional of the Year for the Ottawa PGA in 2015 and nominated in 2016 & 2017.
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Josh Patry
Born and raised in Ottawa, Josh grew up playing competitive sports and started golfing when he was 11 – becoming immediately hooked on the game. Josh worked as a Back Shop Attendant and later on the Grounds Crew at the Canadian Golf Club when he was 14. A graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Law Program, Josh spent 4 years working as a Pro Shop Assistant at the Stonebridge Golf Club where he developed a passion for the industry and working with other golfers.
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Duncan Heywood
Growing up in Ottawa, Duncan has been involved in competitive sports his entire life. His love of sports was applied to competitive hockey, football, and provincial-level lacrosse. Later in life, Duncan found a passion for golf and he has dedicated his life to the sport ever since.
After high school Duncan attended the University of Ottawa and then completed the Golf Course Management program at Humber College, where he graduated with honours. During his time at Humber College he completed an internship at The National Golf Club of Canada and Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland. Following these experiences, Duncan worked at the National Golf Club. For the last 3 years Duncan has been teaching the game of golf at the Kevin Haime Golf Center. During this time he achieved Class “A” designation with the PGA of Canada. He is a certified club fitter with Ping, Callaway, Titleist, Taylormade, Srixon, and Cobra. Most recently he has welcomed a baby boy into his family, and looks forward to working for The Royal Ottawa to share his love of the game of golf.
The Professional Shop
The Professional Shop prides itself on carrying a wide variety of the industry’s finest men’s, ladies’ and junior apparel to best suit our Members golfing and fashion needs. A full complement of fitting systems are present on-site and are available to properly fit your personal equipment needs. Video teaching is another service offered to provide the very latest in teaching. The Professional staff is always on hand to assist you with any golf or equipment-related questions.
Teaching & Lessons
Our PGA of Canada Professional staff has flexible schedules that easily accommodate booking private or group lessons. Available to fit your golfing improvement needs, the Professional staff offers a variety of instructional opportunities. These include: video analysis, on-course playing lessons, coaching programs, private lessons, group lessons, and clinic settings. It is the initiative of our Golf Professionals to work with the student to best establish a program that will see growth, improvement, and enjoyment in their golf game.
Information for Guests
Click here for a PDF containing directions, dress codes, and other useful information about visiting The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.
Click below to view our Scorecards
Main Course (Black/Blue/White) (Silver/Green/Orange/Gold) | Royal Nine
The Club is conveniently located only minutes from Centertown Ottawa-Gatineau. At just 10 km from the Parliament Buildings, The Royal offers exceptional accessibility for a quick nine before work or a leisurely eighteen on a warm summer evening. As The Royal Ottawa is a private golf club, the Member who introduces you should provide you with all the necessary information to make your visit to our Club a memorable one. Below are a few guidelines that will enable you to have a relaxing day at The Royal.
Upon arrival, please present yourself to the Professional Shop personnel who will be pleased to assist you with further directions and any other assistance you require.
The Royal maintains a dress code policy that is in keeping with the traditions of the game of golf. Feel free to contact the Professional Shop at 819-777-0593 and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Please be reminded that audio or video calls on your smart devices or cell phones are not allowed in all areas of the Clubhouse, including all lounges, reception areas, verandah and patio, range and practice areas. (Men’s and Women’s locker rooms, and the parking lot are excepted.)
We pride ourselves on our ability to maintain a normal pace of play of two hours per nine holes and a total offour hours for 18 holes.
We hope you enjoy your day at The Royal.
After the game, we hope that you have an opportunity to enjoy our clubhouse facilities including our excellent menus and services.
Dress Code Guidelines
The Royal maintains a dress code policy that is in keeping with the traditions of the game of golf.
Golf Course
Men
Golf shirts with a collar or turtle neck tucked in, tailored golf shorts no higher than three inches above the knee cap and sockettes or knee-length turn-down socks are accepted. Blue denim, cargo shorts and golf sandals are not permitted.
Ladies
Golf shirts with collars, turtlenecks or mock turtlenecks (sleeve or sleeveless) are acceptable. Golf shirts without collars must have sleeves. Sleeveless shirts must not be “cutaway” or halter style. Unless the style of shirt dictates otherwise, shirts must be tucked in at all times. Midriff-baring shirts are not permitted. Full-length golf trousers or Capri-style golf pants are permitted. Golf skirts, golf dresses, and Bermuda style, or tailored golf shorts, of an appropriate and tasteful length, designed by the clothing industry for wear on the golf course, are permitted. They may be no shorter than mid-thigh. Knee-length socks, sockettes, or quarter socks are acceptable.
Clubhouse
After golf when you join your group in the Clubhouse or on the Verandah, all attire listed above as appropriate for the golf course is permitted. In addition, the following guidelines are applicable: socks are optional; women may wear dress sandals, but they are not permitted for men; and golf hats, caps and visors must be removed when inside the Clubhouse except when in transit to and from the locker rooms. Other fashions appropriate to the occasion are also acceptable.
Restrictions
Cargo style and spandex pants or shorts are not permitted at any time in any of the dress categories. Guests should use discretion to ensure that any clothing logos are golf appropriate and discreet. Blue denim is not permitted in the Dining Room or Presidents’ Lounge or on any part(s) of the golf course, practice facilities or putting and chipping greens. All attire must be neat and clean. It may not be frayed, or contain any holes, tears, rips or be faded to the point of being tattered and must fit appropriately.
Smartphones/Tablets
When on Club property, wireless communications devices must be set to silent or vibrate mode at all times. Smart devices are not to be used for voice communication in the Clubhouse, on the Verandah, greenside patio, putting green, or on practice areas. Cell phones may be discreetly used for texting or email communication, however. Designated voice communication spots are available in the Clubhouse. On-course use of devices should be limited and must not detract from other members’ enjoyment of the golf course.