I will say up front that I have never been a fan of the Blue course at Royal Montreal. The architecture featured alternating greens, 45 degrees right followed by 45 degrees left all round long. After a while this became monotonus. Additionally, each one was usually set 6 feet above grade and guarded by two bunkers front and one bunker back. The pattern has some variation on theme, but not to often.
The club is in preparation for hosting the presidents cup and has brought in an architect to rebuild every green, tee and bunker on the course. They have picked up some additional yardage, but mainly kept the routing. The biggest change will be at 12 and 13 where a three and five will both be rebuilt to make better use of the land.
I have posted the front nine photos, since the back will be tackled this fall. I was so interested to find out what they have accomplished, since I was not a real fan of the origional course. See what you think.
Of note, there was a huge storm the days leading up to this and I was getting rained on while shooting photos. The photos are corrected, and the lacey edge bunkers on the 5th, are actually created by washouts. The bunker forms are simple and smooth lined.
The two Red Course photos are to supply context of what the architecture used to look like. Agin I have always found the Red far more charming than the Blue; but the bunkers were similar on both courses.
The first hole from about 200 out
The second from the left loking at the carry bunker on the corner
The par four third from the landing area
The par five fourth
The par 3 5th
The second shot on the short par five 6th
The 7th, par 3
Taken from the right of the landing on the 8th
The approach shot on 9
Picture of the green right beside on the red course for context of what the old style was like.
One of the par threes again for context.
