HISTORY
of SUMMERLEA
You'll find here :
- Highlighting veteran members (& family)
- Articles by our Historian, Marion Dunn
- Our historical timeline
"First and foremost, a family oriented club."
Summerlea values camaraderie and friendship amongst our members as one of our defining characteristics.
EST. 1921
Articles about Summerlea's HISTORY
Interesting snapshots in time from "our Historian", Mrs. Marion Dunn.
Over the years, one of our members, Mrs. Marion Dunn, meticulously documented Summerlea's history, and this dedication has earned her the respectful title of Summerlea's "official historian".
We are infinitely grateful to Mrs. Dunn for her contribution to Summerlea.
We hope you enjoy...
Notable member: Doran "Duke" Doucet
Notable member: Graham Cooke
The Summerlea Story
The history of Summerlea, as is the case with so many older golf clubs in Canada, began in a location other than where it presently is situated. It was at its original site in Lachine that the club first gained the distinction as one of the finest in the country.
In 1920, the remnants of the First World War were all but forgotten. The recovery years brought prosperity as the revitalization of Montreal was just taking hold. At the same time, the game of golf was reaching a feverish pitch forcing the Montreal Golf Association to rename its banner as of The Province of Quebec Golf Association.
1921
Land purchased at the site of a former town called “Summerlea”.
Willie Park, Jr., course designer from Scotland, headed the 2-year construction.
1921
1922
Summerlea is incorporated and membership grows to 400+ shareholders and 200+ lady members. Temporary clubhouse & 9-holes used for 1st season. Expected completion June 1, 1923 for 27-holes.
1923
Official opening ceremonies including the course christening and both men’s & ladies’ competitions. The Summerlea “family-oriented club” was on it’s way!
Jock R. Brown, of Scottish descent, named club professional.
1923
1924
Completion of clubhouse, 2 1/2 stories high with verandas on 3 sides. Its large dining facility could accomodate 125 people.
1924-1928
1928 - Letter of Shares
1924-1928
1929
Market crash and the start of the Great Depression. During the decade of the "Dirty Thirties", over 600 golf clubs across North America closed their doors. Summerlea struggled onward, through severe financial difficulties.
1929 - Article on larger golf ball coming in 1931
1931
1931
1935
1935
DOCUMENT 1 - 1940 Article
DOCUMENT 2 - 1942 Chit for guest fee
DOCUMENT 3 - 1943 Member solicitation letter
1940 Letter to bond holders, deferring interest payments
1936-1944
1944
In the midst of World War II, Summerlea was forced into bankruptcy.
DOCUMENT 1 - Notice of bankruptcy
DOCUMENT - 1944 Resignation of Club President
1944
1946
Senator Donat Raymond came into the picture and became the greatest benefactor of the club's history.
Unselfishly, Raymond purchased the property from the liquidators and leased the club back to the members. One year later, the members again resumed ownership, while Raymond held the mortgage and sat on the Board of Directors.
1946
1946
1946
Walter Lilly replaced Roland Huot as the head professional.
Born in Lachine, Lilly began his association with Summerlea at a very young age and rose through the caddie ranks to become assistant to Professional Jock Brown. His golf career had been temporarily interrupted by the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
1949
A fire destroyed the clubhouse and all its contents. Once again, Donat Raymond came to the rescue and worked out a suitable arrangement for the club to rebuild.
DOCUMENT - 1949, Emergency meeting after the fire
1949
1949
1948-1953
1948-1953
1953
1953
1953
1953
1953
DOCUMENT 1 - List of leading money winners
Publicity for Top Flite 
1954-1962
1954-1962
1959
1961
With ever increasing taxes and urban expansion encroaching on the club, the Summerlea Directors commissioned Geoffrey Cornish to design two 18-hole courses- the 6,845 yard par-72 Dorion and the 7,005 yard par-72 Cascades.
1961
1962
While Cornish was busy shaping the land, the architects firm of Affleck, Desbarats, Dimakopoulas, Lebensold, Michaud & Sise was selected to design the clubhouse.
The proposal of a bright and airy contemporary style is well-received. Positioned at the highest point of a cliff, the clubhouse offered spectacular views from its balconies.
1963
Senator Donat Raymond dies, only a few months after the relocation of Summerlea to its new site after being totally consumed by fire.
Walter Lilly retired, in ill health.
1963
1964
With the completion of the clubhouse, the members welcomed the arrival of a new professional, Alan Ogilvie.
Under his supervision, the junior program thrived.
1964-1975
1964-1975
1976
Alan Ogilvie was replaced by Bruce Fry, who came from the Hermitage Golf Club in Magog, Quebec, where he worked as an assistant for his father.
1979
Duke Doucet replaced Bruce Fry, becoming the sixth head professional at Summerlea.
Mr. Doucet first arrived at the Club as an assistant to Fry in 1976.
Not only was Mr. Doucet a successful amateur and professional golfer, he was voted "Professional of the Year" in 1990 and 1992, and also served the golfing community as President and Captain of the Quebec PGA as well as Director of the Canadian PGA.
TRULY, A SUMMERLEA HERO
AND LEGEND.
PHOTO OF DUKE DOUCET - Tournament 1967 (by Golf Quebec)
1979
1980-1982
1980
1980
1980
1981
PHOTO - Johanne Carner at Peter Jackson Classic
(photo by Bernard Brault)
1981
1991-1996
1996
1996
1999
Duke Doucet became Director of Golf in 1999 and Jim Vandette became the 7th Head Professional.
Jim had been a junior member of the club, attended university in the Southern U.S., and worked as Associate Pro to Duke for 3 years prior to becoming the Head Pro.
2002
2006
WEB ARTICLE 1 - Canadian Press
PHOTO - Signed Commemorative poster
WEB ARTICLE 2 - Canadian Press
PHOTO - Golf bag signed by participants (located in Summerlea clubhouse)
2006
2008-2012
WEB PAGE - Golf Quebec
WEB ARTICLE by Rick Young - 2008 Fire in Summerlea clubhouse
March 2010 - Article Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
2012 - ARTICLE 1, GolfNewsNow - Ontario Golf Hall of Fame
2015-2017
WEB ARTICLE, Golf Quebec
2015-2017
2018
Tough financial years and industry-wide challenges caused Summerlea membership to decline due to fears of assessment and financial instability.
In August of 2018, Summerlea Golf & Country Club is sold to a group of local businessmen: Raymond Allard, Jean-Marie Bourassa, Marcel Bourassa, Bernard Lefebvre and Sylvain Ménard. The new owners commence clubhouse renovations, as well as bringing on board Mr. Marco Jetté as the new General Manager. Mr. Jetté’s experience and financial expertise, in combination with solid financial backing from the new owners, will help guide Summerlea into a sound future.
2019-2020
2019-2020
2020
PHOTO - Duke Doucet younger years, at Peter Jackson Classic
WEB PAGE, Golf Quebec
2021
2021
2021
2022
PHOTO -
L-R: Shawn Farrell (club captain), Marco Jetté (General Manager), John Scott (Superintendent), Olivier Ménard (Winner, 2022 Quebec Amateur), Jean-Marie Bourassa (Summerlea Owner's Group)
2022
2022
2023
Gary Lagden, former Head Pro and General Manager of Le Blainvillier, becomes the new Head Professional of Summerlea.
Summerlea also brings on board Marc-André Berthiaume to commence the new Golf Academy.
