Historical Timeline

• 1647

  The earliest known record of the area on which the present Kahnawake Indian Reserve is situated, dates back to 1647, when Sieur de Lauzon, a royal counsellor of France, granted to the Jesuit Order a gift of land on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, extending from what is now St. Lambert to the foot of the Lachine Rapids.

  
• 1667

  In 1667 a palisaded mission for French settlers and Iroquois converts was established on the present site of the Town of Laprairie. Ten years later a grant of additional land was obtained by the missionaries, and the settlement was moved westerly to a location which they named "Kahnawake", a word derived from the Iroquois equivalent of "Village at the Rapids".

• 1716

  Many developments occurred during the ensuing years until the present location of the community was established in 1716. For a time, the reservation was named "Caughnawaga" which is believed to be a Dutch version of Kahnawake, while "Kanawaki", as used in the name of the Club, is an Anglicized adaptation of the Indian version.

• 1884

  Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries the mission was the most renowned in North America and the Indians played a prominent part in the early struggle between the French and English for control of the New World. Their superb skills as warriors, hunters and trappers, and their inherent desire for freedom sent many to outposts of the Northwest Fur Company and later the Hudson’s Bay Company. In fact wherever rivers afforded passage for their canoes, Kahnawake Indians were engaged in commerce with the white man. Because of their prowess in navigating hazardous waters, a contingent of them went on the Red River expedition of 1870, and on the Egyptian expedition for the relief of Khartoum in 1884.

  
• 1902

  In September 1902, a group of some fifty of these members undertook to organize the Outremont Golf Club. They arranged for the lease of the farm area bounded by Rockland and Pratt Avenues, and proceeded to finance the initial cost of a nine hole course. The first President was His Honour Mr. Recorder Weir, and the membership role listed 212 names. The Club continued in existence until the year 1922, although each year saw its territory further reduced by the sale of building lots.

  
• 1910

  In 1910, anticipating that a new location would sooner or later have to be found, Mr. J. Harry Birks spent much time looking over prospective sites. At one time a firm offer was made for a property in the Ville LaSalle area, near the approach to the present Mercier Bridge, but it was sold to a higher bidder. About that time an Indian named Meloche, from the Kahnawake Reserve, called on Mr. Birks to collect rent for an advertising sign on his property, and offered the suggestion that a part of the Reserve could easily be adapted to the requirements of a golf course. Arrangements were made with him to row a delegation of members, including Mr. Birks, across the river from Lachine to inspect the proposed site. They found it to be mainly swamp and dense scrub. A survey was undertaken and although the engineer’s report contained some reservations with respect to drainage problems, the decision was made to proceed.

  
• 1910

  Work on the property commenced in 1910 when numerous ditches were dug extending well beyond the Club’s boundaries. The property was completely fenced off, and the task of blasting boulders and clearing the land began. Many years previously, when the railway bridge across the St. Lawrence was built, much of the fill for the right of way embankment had been taken from the area which is now in front of the clubhouse. This accounts in part for the land feature extending from the 12th green to the 4th tee, and sweeping in a curve to the 4th green. The bowl of the 9th green was a large hole into which many tons of rock and fill were dumped to bring the bottom up to a suitable level.
  
  The road along the west of the property is of interest as it was the old right of way of the first steam railway to connect Canada with the United States, and ran from the wharf at Kahnawake to Mooers Junction, N.Y.

• 1912

  The Kanawaki Golf Club was incorporated by Act of Quebec Legislature (2nd Geo V Ch 131) assented to March 14th, 1912. The act provided that all members of the Outremont Golf Club would be members of the Club. Nevertheless, the separate clubs continued to operate for the next ten years until the leases in Outremont expired. Following this, the clubs merged.

• 1913

  In 1913, when it was built, the clubhouse comprised the present dining room, kitchen, a locker room on the ground floor, and the dressing rooms on the second floor. It was a modest structure but served the purpose very well for the next fifteen years with only minor additions. As there was no source of electricity in the district, acetylene lamps were employed to light the premises. The supply of water came from open wells, and it was pumped into a large reservoir located under the first tee. The dining room was operated on restricted lines, and advance notice was required if members intended staying for dinner. No alcoholic beverages were allowed on the premises, and to ensure observation of this rule frequent inspection of the lockers was made and any such supplies confiscated.

  
• 1914

  Birth of the Kanawaki Golf Club
  
  Fieldwork progressed throughout 1911 and 1912 based on a plan drawn up by Charles Murray, professional at Royal Montreal, and his brother Albert. It was not, however, until the late summer of 1913 that the course was opened for play when fifteen holes had been completed. By 1914 all eighteen holes were ready, although shortly thereafter the holes were lengthened as more and more ground was prepared.
  
  The first board of the club consisted of D.J. Baile- J.H. Birks- H.E. Moles- F.W. Hibbard- Jas. Lewis- Thos. Drummond- Hon. R. S. Weir

  
• 1919

  Kanawaki member William McLuckie wins the Canadian Amateur Championships

  
• 1922

  Kanawaki member C.C. "Hap" Fraser wins the Canadian Amateur Championships.

  
• 1925

  The first major improvements were started when electric power was brought from Adirondack Junction, and an artesian well was bored, followed by the erection of the water tank. At this time the membership was a full strength and the clubhouse facilities were becoming increasingly inadequate.

• 1928

  Approval was given to the Executive Committee to start a building programme which would include adding a wing to the west of the clubhouse to accommodate the office, men’s lockers and a pro shop; an extension to the east to provide more facilities for the Ladies’ Club; and an enlargement of the kitchen and addition of a snack room.

• 1929

  Kanawaki hosts the 1929 Canadian Open, won by legend Leo Diegel

  
• 1932

  Kanawaki member Gordon Baxter-Taylor wins the Canadian Amateur Championships.

  
• 1937

  Kanawaki member Heather Leslie-Tennant wins the Canadian Ladies' Closed

  
• 1956

  Major changes were made to the clubhouse. They comprised of the Club Room, conversion of the Snack Room to a Men’s Lounge or Trophy Room and modernization of the front verandah.

• 1971

  Kanawaki member Dulcie Lyle wins the Canadian Women's Senior Championships in 1971, and the US Women's Senior Championships in 1973.

  
• 2004

  The Disney movie "The Greatest Game Ever Played", starring Shia LaBeouf, and based on the true story of Francis Ouimet and the 1913 US Open, is filmed at Kanawaki, with some of its members having the privilege of being stand-ins in the filming of the movie. Our professional John Murray provided swing coaching for the actors and can be seen as a body double in the movie for certain golf swings.

  
• 2007

  Using the funds generated from the rights to use the premises for filming of the movie "The greatest game ever played" , modernization of the clubroom, the men’s and ladies lockerroom and showers, and the hallways were completed. A trophy case was also erected. The renovations were done in the same warm and traditional style of the old building, but using modern materials.

  
• 2014

  Kanawaki celebrates its 100th anniversary. Many events are organized throughout the year.

  
• 2017

  Kanawaki is proud to be hosting in 2017 the Canadian Senior Amateur Championship.