Terrebonne project sold, RCGA investigate other potential Montreal clubs

When it was announced in 2002, the Terrebonne project (sometimes called CCQ), owned by Angus Glen proprietor Gordon Stollery and his business associate, Mike Columbos, was expected to hold the 2006 Canadian Open as part of a plan dreamed up by then RCGA executive director Stephen Ross. The plan called for two 18-hole golf courses, including one designed by Tom Fazio, and a significant practice facility. The RCGA also offered financial support for the plan if needed.

The course was delayed repeatedly, and sometime in the past few weeks the property was sold by Stollery, voiding the deal with the RCGA, confirmed current RCGA ED Scott Simmons. Thus ends the plan to create a version of Glen Abbey for the Montreal market.

“All I can say is the project has been sold and it allows us to investigate other exciting opportunities in the Montreal market,” Simmons said when asked.

The course has been cleared and ready for construction for sometime, but the project has been stalled for the past few years.

Originally there were grand plans for the project:

CCQ will develop and operate two 18-hole championship golf courses on a 1,000-acre parcel of land in Terrebonne, while the RCGA plans to construct and operate a 120-acre national training centre on the property. The Royal Canadian Golf Association has committed to bring the Bell Canadian Open to the CCQ courses five times over a 20-year period, with the first Open tentatively scheduled to be there in 2006. In addition, the RCGA will bring four national amateur championships to these courses over the same 20-year period.

The question is where now? With the Open in Toronto next year, and Vancouver the year after, one has to assume the RCGA will be interested in Royal Montreal for 2012, or a return to Glen Abbey. There is speculation that the RCGA is investigating other options in Montreal, and a return visit to Hamilton seems likely before 2015. Other options could potentially include Ottawa Hunt, and London Hunt, as well as Westmount, depending on whether RBC stays on as sponsor past 2012.

Regardless, the end of the Terrebonne situation certainly frees the RCGA up to investigate other opportunities.