Origins (1910–1914).
Fieldwork began in 1910 on a largely swampy tract on the Kahnawake Reserve; extensive ditching, blasting and clearing preceded construction. The plan was drawn by Royal Montréal professional Charles Murray with his brother Albert assisting. Fifteen holes opened in late summer 1913; by 1914 the full 18 was in play. Notably, a ridge created by historic railway embankment borrow pits runs from today’s 12th green to the 4th tee, shaping hole corridors, while the 9th green occupies a filled “bowl” where rock and earth were deposited to raise grade.
Ross’s putative involvement (1919–early 1920s).
Contemporary press indicates that Donald Ross visited Kanawaki early in 1919 “and suggested many improvements.” Later periodicals refer to his surveying the course “two years earlier,” consistent with an advisory role around 1919–1920. These notices, however, do not enumerate specific drawings or construction phases; the club’s own published course history does not credit Ross, and no Ross plan sheets or invoices have been surfaced in public archives. Pending discovery of primary documentation (club minutes, correspondence, drawings), the safe reading is that Ross advised on improvements while the in-house team and/or the Murrays continued to steward design changes into the 1920s–30s.
Documented alterations (1930s–1970).
The club’s history provides an unusually granular chronology of post-opening changes: in 1933 the 3rd—originally a single large green—was split into two small targets; in 1953 the membership approved elimination of one of two consecutive short holes (11–12) and opened the present 14th, rebalancing the inward nine; and in 1970 the 2nd and 3rd greens were substantially remodeled and the 5th green was repositioned on higher ground near the 6th tee.
Twentieth-century clubhouse and infrastructure.
Electrification (mid-1920s) and well/water infrastructure upgrades were followed by clubhouse expansions in 1928 and subsequent decades; a major irrigation project from the St. Lawrence Seaway was completed in 1963. The clubhouse itself saw renovation supported by revenue from 2004 filming of The Greatest Game Ever Played.
Unique Design Characteristics (as they exist today)
Kanawaki’s identity rests on its compact routing and mature tree framework, intentionally cultivated from the outset and still governing angles and sightlines. The front nine is “essentially the same” sequence conceived by the Murrays; the club chronicles subtle and not-so-subtle evolutions to its greens and hole lengths, but the overall order survives. On the back side, the mid-century decision to remove a consecutive par-3 pairing at 11–12 and to introduce today’s 14th altered rhythm, spacing, and recovery demands coming home. The 2nd and 3rd greens’ 1970 remodeling and the relocation of the 5th green to higher ground materially changed approach play—especially in prevailing winds—yet the corridors remain those of a classical, pre-modern walk. Two micro-landforms are particularly characteristic: the curving railway borrow-pit ridge that influences the 12th–4th axis and the filled bowl beneath the 9th green, both legible on the ground and in historic descriptions.
Ross-specific survivals? If Ross’s 1919–early-1920s recommendations were implemented, their visible vestiges are not presently documented by hole number in public sources. Candidates—based on timing—would logically lie on the back nine, which saw early re-arrangement after the initial 1914 build, but confirmation requires plan sheets or a construction ledger tying specific green or bunker works to Ross or his associates.
Historical Significance
Within Canadian golf, Kanawaki is historically prominent as the host of the 1929 Canadian Open, won by Leo Diegel with Tommy Armour as runner-up; the national championship returned to the Montréal area often, but Kanawaki’s staging is remembered for Diegel’s fourth Canadian Open title. The course also hosted the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship (won by Gene Elliott), reinforcing its continuing competitive relevance. Additionally, its selection as a filming venue for The Greatest Game Ever Played speaks to the course’s intact “period” look—architecture and setting convincing enough to double for 1913 Brookline.
In the Ross context, if the 1919–1920 consultation is affirmed by primary sources, Kanawaki would represent a Quebec-area touchpoint in a Canadian portfolio otherwise concentrated farther west and east (e.g., Elmhurst, Pine Ridge, St. Charles; Algonquin’s 1927 redesign). As of today, the club’s own written history and mainstream references emphasize the Murrays’ authorship, leaving Ross’s role as an interesting but unresolved footnote pending archival confirmation.
Current Condition / Integrity
Routing integrity. The front nine largely preserves its original 1913–14 sequence. The inward nine reflects the club’s mid-century rebalancing (loss of one par-3 at 11–12; opening of today’s 14th). As a result, Kanawaki reads as an authentic Murray-era framework with layered twentieth-century edits rather than a single, pure Ross narrative.
Greens, bunkers, and trees. The most significant modern alterations called out by the club involve the 1970 work at 2, 3, and 5, which necessarily altered green contours and approach strategies; earlier, 1933 brought a two-green experiment at 3 later undone. Long-running tree programs begun at construction matured into today’s enclosed corridors; any Ross-era bunker or green refinements (if executed) have not been publicly inventoried hole-by-hole.
Practice and competitive set-up. Practice facilities were substantially invested in circa 2003, and recent national senior championship set-ups (par-70, ~6,4xx–6,5xx yards) demonstrate the venue’s ability to test elite senior amateurs on firm, fast surfaces within the classical footprint.
Bottom line on integrity. Kanawaki is best characterized today as a Murray original with layered modifications, some of which have been precisely dated by the club. Ross’s imprint—though supported by period press references to his visit and advice—remains unverified in terms of which holes or features survive from that consultation.
Citations and Uncertainty
Uncertainties & disputed attributions.
• Ross at Kanawaki (scope and extent): Contemporary magazines report Ross’s 1919 review and recommendations; some modern commentators cite “early-1920s contributions.” The club’s history does not credit Ross and provides detailed change logs without naming him.
• Architects of later works: The 1970 green projects and the 1953 routing change are documented by date and effect but not by named architect in the club’s public history; secondary sources note Albert Murray undertook remodels at numerous Québec clubs, including Kanawaki, but precise authorship of each Kanawaki change warrants verification from club files.
Sources & Notes
Kanawaki facility and scorecard: Golf Canada facility page (facts: par, yardage, private status) and the club’s official scorecard PDF (yardages, rating/slope).
Course and clubhouse history (construction chronology; front-nine continuity; 1933, 1953, 1970 changes; infrastructure; film use).
— Golf Canada, “A historical look at Kanawaki Golf Club” (Sept. 13, 2017).
Ross involvement—contemporary press (advisory visit and recommendations).
— Canadian Golfer, July 1919: note that “Donald Ross went over Kanawaki early in the season and suggested many improvements” (PDF archive).
— Canadian Golfer, late-1920s item referencing Ross survey “two years earlier” (contextual corroboration).
Murray authorship and remodeling activity (context within Québec).
— Golf Québec, “Albert Henri Murray” (biographical note listing remodels including Kanawaki).
Tournament significance (1929 Canadian Open; 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship).
— RBC Canadian Open, Past Champions (lists 1929 at Kanawaki; winner Leo Diegel).
— Golf Canada, “Gene Elliott wins 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship” (event at Kanawaki).
Golf Canada – Golf. It’s Good For You.
— Top100GolfCourses, “Kanawaki Golf Club” (location within Kahnawake; mid-century hole changes).