1. Historic Venue

As one of the oldest clubs in North America founded back in 1873, Royal Montreal exudes rich tradition. Its origins began with just eight pioneering golfers playing on the grounds of Mount Royal park in Montreal. Over 150 years later, it now holds the distinguished honor of being a Royal club, bestowed by Queen Victoria herself in 1884.

The club has seen changes over time, relocating to its current superb site on Ile Bizard in 1959. From there, the storied Blue Course has hosted 10 RBC Canadian Opens, truly cementing its place as a hub of Canadian golf. Major winners like Weiskopf, Gilder and Clark have all triumphed there, joining the likes of Jones and Verplank.

An overhead view of The Royal Montreal Golf Club. (PGA TOUR)

However, Royal Montreal's duty to present a stern test for the game's best players saw necessary improvements in recent years. Renovations by legends Jones and PGA TOUR Design tweaked the layout, lengthening it closer to 7,300 yards while tightening fairways. These changes will enhance this historic course's ability to challenge International and American stars alike when the Presidents Cup spotlight shines on Montreal once more.

2. Course Design

Dick Wilson was a true titan of 20th century golf course architecture. Born near Merion Golf Club, he learned his craft under well-respected designers before establishing himself as one of the pioneers for the modern game.

Wilson knew how to design courses to strategically challenge low and high handicappers alike through balanced testing of all aspects. At the same time, he valued an aesthetic which instilled intrigue in players through tricky bunkering and tricky green complexes. Nowhere is this spirit better realized than his crowning achievement - Royal Montreal.

Wilson popularized principles like false fronts and multi-tiered surfaces which create visually deceptive breaks. At Royal Montreal, his perched greens surrounded by penal bunkers demand precision with every club. Over half a century since his passing, the course continues showcasing his masterful ability to inspire both fear and skill.

“A golf course should require equal use of every aspect of the game, rather than make a disproportionate demand on one or two phases, such as driving or putting,” he said.

For all loyal golf travelers, a visit to discover Wilson's lasting legacy in-person at Royal Montreal truly is an architectural pilgrimage not to be missed. The details precisely crafted there cement his status as one of history's most influential designers.

3. Notable Moments

True to its parkland roots, the subtle undulations and tree lines of Royal Montreal's front nine emphasize precise strategic play. Wilson established a design mantra focused on guile over force, rewarding golfers who pick their spots rather than bomb-and-gouge.

This nuanced test becomes even more engaging down the compelling inward half. Water elements enhance the eye throughout and must be treated with caution. Likewise, Weir will surely welcome Wilson's perched surfaces and their protective complex bunkering. Leave the shortest club in the bag and disaster could well await.

A view of the ninth hole at The Royal Montreal Golf Club. (Matt Garies/PGA TOUR)

Though generous for amateurs, Royal Montreal's lands have been tightened for the world's elite. Weir understands this redesigned landscape as well as any, and ensuring penal rough allows his International squad to further limit margins for error. Past champions like Clark and Verplank let their irons do the talking - an approach sure to be critical once more under the spotlight of the Presidents Cup.

Control and craft will prove paramount on this historic canvas. Those able to walk the fairway-bunker-green tightrope consistently may well find the recipe for success.

4. Local Hero

When Royal Montreal welcomes the Presidents Cup later this year, spectators are sure to flock to the par-4 14th green. It was there in 2007 that U.S. team member Woody Austin provided one of the event's most hilarious incidents.

Attempting to force an unlikely chip-in, Austin misread the terrain and tumbled into the lake. Soaked but smiling, he laughingly described "hammering a rock" before taking an unwitting dip. True to his persevering spirit, Austin rebounded to save halve his match - no doubt aided by 15,000 energized fans.

“You don’t ever want to concede the hole without really playing the hole,” Austin said. “We just felt if there was any minor miracle that I could get it to the bank, then I might be able to chip it in. What I didn’t know is there were rocks in there, and I hammered a rock with the club so I didn’t even have a chance to get to the ball. Then I stepped on another one when I lost my balance, and I was done.”

They roared even louder when Austin donned scuba gear for his return to the 14th the next day! While lighthearted, it served as a reminder that he was never one to shy from a challenge. Austin's career was full of such triumphs over adversity, with three of his four TOUR titles coming after age 40 - a testament to his tireless work ethic.

When Aquaman arrives once more at Royal Montreal for the Presidents Cup, patrons would surely love to see him recreate his moment of lake fame! And who could blame them - few incidents have so perfectly encapsulated this historic venue's ability to produce spectacle and smiles across generations of golf.

Read more: Rules of Golf Review: Are Chipper Clubs Legal or Banned?

5. Challenging Finishing Hole

Iconic Canadian professional Mike Weir will have fond memories of his Presidents Cup triumph over Tiger Woods at Royal Montreal in 2007. Now, as International Team Captain, he'll aim to inspire hischarges to success on the hallowed grounds once more.

Weir's crowning moment saw him edge Woods in an epic final match showdown, thrilling the massive home gallery clustered around the storied 18th green. That hole now plays even more demanding at lengtheneddistances, with water and a ruthless putting surface awaiting missed shots.

With a trio of talented Canadians on his squad, Weir knows the energyof his supporters could make the difference. His experience navigating Royal Montreal's nuanced test will prove invaluable as the worlds' bestgo head to head.

Though the International Team fell short overall in 2007, Weir showcased persistence in battling through early struggles against Woods. As Captain, he'll hope his leadership and knowledge of what it takesto conquer this historic layout translates to narrowing the gap againstthe powerful Americans in 2024.

“For all the pressure that he had all week, it was pretty phenomenal how he played,” said Woods. “I mean, not a lot of people could actually have dealt with the things he had to deal with all week. And the way he came out and represented all of Canada was impressive.”

For Weir and Canadian golf fans, few settings could rival the theatreof his participating where he etched his name into Presidents Cuphistory. Another chapter surely beckons at the historic venue where Aquaman once splashed, and Weir himself stood tall on golf's biggest international stage.