New holes for Golf Dorval
Golf Dorval will soon unveil two newly designed holes on its course as part of a $380,000 makeover financed by the city.
Golf Dorval, a public course adjacent to the airport that first opened in 1982, will replace current holes No. 3 and 6 with new ones made by Kirkland-based Huxham Golf Design Inc.
Golf Dorval used to have two 18-hole courses, designed by Graham Cooke of Hudson. But because of the expansion plans of Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the two courses had to be merged about five years ago. ADM owns the land in question and has been leasing it to the golf club for $1 per year.
“We will now have two new holes as part of the 18-hole course. There will also be three extra holes to be used by pros to give lessons for adults and juniors,” said Mayor Edgar Rouleau, who occasionally tees up at the “pay as you play” public golf course. “I hear players are anxiously waiting for these two new beautiful holes,” he added.
Rouleau notes the golf club is an important non-profit group backed by the city.
The new holes are set in place and, once the grass is ready, and weather permitting, should open for use in mid-August, said Golf Dorval manager Jean-Guy Côté.
The new third hole will be a par 4. It will be 425 yards from the back tee and 295 yards from the front tee, he said.
“The green will be located behind a big lake with three sand traps around it,” he continued.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for players to get their ball on the green.”
As for the new sixth hole, it will be a par 3, 195 yards from the back tee and 130 yards from the front tee.
“The green is very narrow,” Côté said.
“It’s going to be pretty tough. It’s a good challenge for the real golfers.”
About 30,000 golfers use the course per year, Côté said.
While one of the soon-to-be former Golf Dorval holes will be used by a golf pro for training sessions, another along Aviation Rd. is expected to be developed for commercial/industrial purposes.
The latter site was being considered by Montreal for a regional composting centre last year, but had to be dropped after ADM objected, citing concerns about it attracting birds and being too close to the airport runways.
Meanwhile, Montreal is now proposing to establish the composting centre on an industrial property on Henri-Bourassa Blvd. just east of Highway 13 in St. Laurent.