The Larrimac Story

The following piece is composed of excerpts from Larry McCooey's letter to J. M. Manson, 28 January 1963. It is what we consider a prologue to the history of Larrimac, looking back at Gatineau he firstI first saw it back in 1919.

To 'go up to the Gatineau' in those Model T days one had the choice of a very rough motoring journey on a gravely, stony road which commenced at the junction of Hull and Wrightville, or to make the journey by train which was considered much the preferred conveyance. Larrimac, or Lacharite as it was known in those days, was a CPR flag stop.

Although misspelled, the name Lacharite was derived from that of a family of old time settlers by the name of Lacharity. The last of that family to own the surrounding acres was Owen - a bachelor farmer and about 50 when I first met him. Owen loved every inch of this land which his father and grandfather before him had cleared.

I visited Lacharite for the first time on my return from overseas in 1919.

I was married in 1921 and in June 1922 took up summer residence in the little cottage built for me on the hilltop. I discovered the wonderful rolling pasture land of Owen Lacharity's late in the summer of 1922. It so reminded me of certain features of a course on which I had played golf as a small lad I resolved there and then to lay out a "course" for my own pleasure in the following year.

1923 came and in early summer the laying out a a crude nine hole course. This was my playground. Civilization might well have been 500 miles away for such was the peacefulness of a very lovely spot which seemed to me part way to the sky.

I think it was about early July, 1924 that three people came over the hill from Kirk's Ferry-way and surprised me while I was happily swatting balls around my little course. They were Phil and Eta Sherrin and Bunty Carver. It was my first meeting with these very wonderful people and now, looking back, it seems that this meeting just had to be for because of it Larrimac was born, and born with that utterly mad enthusiasm that only golfers know.

I am afraid there exist no record of "Board" meetings in those early days or of brilliantly executed plan or development -- there just weren't any. But soon were mustered about a dozen or so of interested and fun-loving residents in the general area and it was decreed that a small club of sorts should be established and be called "Larrimac" after the founder. (Larry 'Mac'Cooey) .... membership fee $5.00; Owen Lacharity paid $1 0.00a year rental for use of his land; all available equipment owned by members should be made use of for "greens keeping" activities.

Helping considerably in the cutting of "fairways" were the sheep of Owen Lacharity.

Before the summer of 1924 had ended the little "Club" had become firmly established. Much hard work had been done especially by the four "charter" members --the founder, Phil Sherrin, Harry Periera and Arthur Elias.

There was, of course, no clubhouse -- but enjoyed were the picnic meals packed by members. To present day Larrimac members all this must sound very primitive -- perhaps primitive it was but this can be said that there was no happier group anywhere than these old-timers who with golfing equipment mostly relic of the early 1900s bashed balls over the old Larrimac.

It should have been mentioned while dealing with the summer of 1924 that among other things decided upon for 1925 was the laying out of an experimental 18 hole course! It was completely daffy -- like the founder who conceived it. Over locks and through trees and with the 18th

Tee on the site of Minnes' cottage and the 18th green on the site of the old Deruchie cottage! One had to be barmy to play the course -- but it was fun while it lasted and very soon the old course of nine holes was reverted to.

I have in my possession the Club Championship "Trophy" of 1925 -- a little silver cup the size of an egg cup -- the very first trophy and at the time all our meager funds would permit buying. ( I hope to have certain repairs made to it and if acceptable to the Club 1 will send along to the Club "museum".)

1932 saw the Club, after a tremendous amount of hard work, receive official incorporation under the Amusement Club Act of the Province of Quebec, and at the same time debentures were sold to members for the purpose of raising funds with which to buy our golf course land from the Gatineau Power Company.

The years 1936-37 and 38 were notable among other things or the purchase of the Club's first motor tractor; the employment of more labor; the building of a tennis court and the bringing into play of a new course that included three holes across the Gatineau Highway. To the present members I would say -- enjoy to the full the blessing of that little golf course which is yours in that lovely setting of the old Gatineau and once in a while give a kindly thought to the old-timers who made it possible.

Yours sincerely,
Larry McCooey

The year 1939 saw the final mortgage balance owed Gatineau Power Company paid off and with it commenced the retirement of debentures.

Larrimac had finally arrived!