Golf practice field opens end June

“The golf project has stimulated a lot of interest”, said developer Matthew Calpakis during the island’s business club meeting on May 22 which was attended by several golfers. They were curious as to the opening date and green fees.

“Work has started now”, Mr. Calpakis confirmed. The $10 million project will create 100 jobs. It is a nine-hole golf course at a normal 32 by 2395 yards including four types of playing environments: wood, sand dunes, grass and natural marshland.

A golf school – “the only one of its kind in the island of Montreal” according to the developer - will complete the installations with a practice field measuring 325 yards. The service pavilion will be built this summer. “We’re carrying out tests to determine if it will be necessary to do the practice field in one or two stages”, Mr. Calpakis explained.

A modern clubhouse with a green roof will be built beginning August. It will house a restaurant and four conference rooms spread out over the building’s available 15,000 square feet. All the rooms will be able to accommodate 175 people. Already two wedding reservations have been received.

Apart from presenting the stages and details of the project, Matthew Calpakis answered the main question asked by the island’s players: green fees. “We’re aiming for corporate memberships. Just like companies purchase tickets for the Canadian hockey games, corporate members can distribute golf game tickets to whoever they wish. For players, the principle is the more you play, the less it will cost you.” A round of golf will cost about $35.00 during regular hours, the developer pointed out.

Other than rounds of golf, the players were also curious about other services. “We will have tournaments under the Challenge name as well as golf camps for the young and golf clinics”, Mr. Calpakis explained.

After more than a year of living with truck traffic in the area of the future golf course ,a resident of Verre sur vert said she was counting on the developer’s statement that the project will be completed soon. Another resident who attended the business club meeting said that it’s about time the island had its golf course and that this project will no doubt beautify the island.