"A. W. (Andrew Warren) Tillinghast was hired as the course architect. By sheer foresight or luck, the founders had engaged one of the "Golden Era's" premiere golf course designers. Elm Ridge would be one of only three courses the legendary Tillinghast designed in Canada, the others being Scarboro Golf and Ciountry Club and the Anglo-American Club at Lac de L'Achigan.

"Tillinghast was widely regarded as golf's eccentric genius. The creator of such masterpieces as Quaker Ridge, Baltusrol, and Winged Foot, was handed a relatively plain canvas to work with at Dorval but made the most of it.

"Whether or not he ever considered the fact that he would be designing a course for a coterie of mostly novices is unknown. We do know, however, that "Tillie the Terror" didn't believe that golf had to be fair, and he didn't spare the early members from the devilishness of his signature "fingered" bunkering.

"The original course was created out of a parcel of farmland in the Parish of Lachine known as the "Savage Property". The farmers from whom the land had been bought would come watch, chewing thoughtfully on straws as their former property was shaped into a golf course.

"One can imagine the Philadelphia-born Tillinghast, habituated to riding around in chauffeur-driven limousines and dressing in tails, directing the perspiring workers from beneath the shade of a large elm, as the former owners gazed in disbelief at the transformation of their fields.

"A cloudy, overcast day marked Elm Ridge's official opening on Sunday, July 26, 1925. The weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of members nor the hundreds of invted guests, including prominent and hard-working community members, and the Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Dorval.

"President Abe Sommer, in recognition of his central role in promoting the creation of the Club, was presented with a silver Loving Cup and an inscribed golf club on the occasion - possibly the one he used to drive the first ball and officially launch the Club.

"The founders could not have anticipated how quickly the appeal of Club membership would be surpassed by interest in the game itself. By the end of its first season in 1925, the Club had 221 members. It became apparent that the course would have to expand from its initial 9-holes to a full 18 in short order.

"In 1926 Abe Sommer presented a plan to raise funds for a second nine by means of a bond issue, with each member subscribing according to his means. Tillinghast was called back, and the back nine was completed by the summer of 1927.

"It is widely accepted that the calibre of play in the early years was, to put it politely, interesting. One major impediment to rapid improvement was the fact that Elm Ridge did not have a formal practice tee. Members could usually find some available space between the 4th and 5th fairways, but this arrangement was not ideal. Sometimes heated words were exchanged when caddies mistakenly "retrieved" balls in play along with those that they were supposed to be shagging.