By: Vanessa Langlois
Spring is always a busy and exciting time for the team at Club de Golf Joliette, long accustomed to managing the power of the Rivière L’Assomption as it overflows its banks year after year, flooding several holes of the beautiful course. But this year, it’s the celebrations for the club’s 75th anniversary that are energizing Caroline Mainville, the club’s general manager for the past 12 years.
Those who have had the privilege of playing there will confirm that this golf club in the Lanaudière region is a true gem. In 2012, when the Association des terrains de golf du Québec was still awarding course certifications, the course received a five-star rating. Despite this high recognition, the team has continued to work on developing and improving the facilities in order to preserve the course’s sophistication.
“The main building wasn’t up to the course’s five-star standard,” Caroline Mainville told me. “So we invested more than two million dollars in its renovation to make the experience for members and guests even more memorable.” Nothing seems to have been left to chance in this major renovation project.
Just think of the terrace expansion — it was doubled in size! And as if that weren’t enough, the club also prioritized guest comfort by adding heating, redesigning the locker rooms, and making other improvements that are less visible to the average visitor — such as upgrades to the irrigation system.
A 75th anniversary calls for special activities, and one of the most anticipated is undoubtedly the two-day pro-am event, open to everyone. Yes — everyone! As Caroline Mainville mentioned, “It’s not every day that an amateur gets the chance to play alongside a professional — especially on a perfectly manicured course.”
Towering trees, expressively trimmed cedars, and immaculate underbrush (no more excuses for losing balls) — nothing is left to chance at Club de Golf Joliette.
Between the stunning terrace and the golfing challenge, there’s no shortage of reasons to play at Club de Golf Joliette — and yes, visitors are welcome despite the course’s semi-private nature. The team even regularly welcomes outside tournaments as well as groups ranging from 20 to 100 people.
If you still weren’t convinced, know that the course is accessible to golfers of all skill levels. With its six tee markers offering a total of 10 distance combinations ranging from 4,120 to 6,640 yards, you’ll be able to choose the level of challenge that suits you best. The addition of extra tee markers several years ago reflects an accessibility initiative that remains close to the heart of the organization.
Those interested in becoming shareholders of this gem will need to be patient, as there is currently a waiting list. When you consider that many shareholder-members regularly drive an hour just to get there, it’s easy to see that the trip is well worth it. Ms. Mainville even told me that back in the day — before the tunnel work and the notorious traffic jams in Montreal — the club even had members living on South Shore!
Just like the game of golf itself, the club fully intends to keep evolving in the years to come. The most anticipated project is undoubtedly the modernization of the practice facilities over the next two years, bringing them up to the same high-end standard as the rest of the club’s amenities. No detail will be overlooked on the course, with plans to redesign certain bunkers, reshape select tee mounds, and continue maintaining the course’s beautiful trees. A new website is also expected to launch soon.
In the meantime, for more details, you can visit the website of Club de Golf Joliette at https://www.golfjoliette.ca/
