Belmont Golf Course was formerly a 50-acre bean field in the heart of beautiful farm country. In 1960, George and Jan Loughlean bought the property and George would make the long trek back and forth between Walkerton and Belmont every week to build the golf course. They brought their family down from Walkerton June 1961 and opened as a nine-hole golf course on July 1, 1961. George and Jan proudly speak of their course being “a working man’s golf course” with the goal of making it accessible to all.
In 1987, George and Jan bought the farm property next to the clubhouse to build a second nine holes. George worked hard the summer of 1987 to design and build the course to open the following year. That summer George was busy bringing in bulldozers to shape the land, planting hundreds of trees, and building a new well to augment the supply of water to help combat the dry conditions.
It was 27 years later, to the day, that the new nine holes opened on July 1, 1988 creating 18 holes. What looked seamless to many members, took 13 months of great ingenuity and vision – and a lot of hard work – to make it happen.
Belmont to this day is probably the only course in the country not selling beer in the club house. At Belmont, all you do is play golf. For members over the years, George and Jan organized hundreds of events that include mixed scrambles events to welcome members, men’s and ladies leagues, men’s and ladies club and handicap championships, and inter-club competitions for men and ladies.
George and Jan built a home and “a home away from home” for many others and earned their way in the small farming community they started almost 60 years ago.
In summer of 2022 Jan decided it was time to sell the beloved course. The Lauzon family purchased the course with the dream of keeping it as a family run business and allowing the legacy that George and Jan built to live on. When you visit now you will often see Karen, Dave, Emily or the grandchildren spending time chatting with golfers or running around.
For members who have come and gone, Belmont is a place where they feel welcome and just a part of their life.
Belmont Golf Club: 1961-2011. An Extended Family
In 2011 we published a book, you may download a free copy here:
Download a Copy (8 MB)
Sadly, George died on November 22, 2016.
He is sorely missed by all his family and by the thousands of members who over the years became his extended family.