There was NO WAY hiatus golf was going to miss the PGA in MTL. From a perspective all our own, we swung through the week of the Presidents Cup, chasing down all the new faces in golf.
As soon as we set foot at the Royal Montréal Golf Club, we felt all the gravitas of an event of the magnitude of the Presidents Cup. Located on Île Bizard, the private club was accessible by shuttle service, which we took full advantage of.
The first person we sat down with is Camille Laroche, who helped orchestrate some of the logistics for the PGA Tour. The manicured course was nothing short of breathtaking. The long grass around the greens complicated things for the players but made for an incredible show. And the fairways! Impeccable.
Saturday was a whirlwind (and that’s besides the networking event in a private suite), but nothing compared to the experience of walking the course.
The area between the 12th green and the 13th tee (par 3) is where we set up for the weekend, but we still want to shoutout the 6th green (par 5) where a few players managed to get the job done in just two shots. We knew we’d made a great choice when we bumped into our friends from Muni there, too.
What truly sets the Presidents Cup apart is its format. Two teams, USA vs. International, compete in head-to-heads or singles matches to rack up points. When all was said and done, the win went to the US (18.5 vs 11.5 for INT). This was the 10th consecutive Presidents' Cup won by the Americans, a competition that has been held every two years since its inception in 1994.
And how about these (weird but still cool) highlights from the PGA Tour?
In a week that was far busier than we ever expected, we ran into countless partners and collaborators. At one of the off-sites events on Thursday night, we met W Hotel Insider Mauricio Villalobos, who cohosted a soirée with ultrahip Malbon Golf.
Earlier in the day, we stopped by the Presidents Cup downtown pop-ups at Place Ville-Marie, where Muni gave fans a sneak peek of their simulators coming this fall and hosted a beat the pro competition with the talented Etienne Papineau, probably the best-positioned Quebecer at present to reach the PGA Tour.
The city was absolutely buzzing, and we had so much fun sharing our passion for golf with so many fascinating fellow golf lovers.
Keep scrolling to see it all in pics
Q&A with Camille Laroche, PGA Tour Operations Coordinator
Responsible for mobility, logistics and relations with the city of Montréal
How’s the Presidents Cup different from other events?
All the decorum that surrounds it. Everything has to meet the rules and standards that are set for the event. The quality and attention to detail are unprecedented for an event held in Montréal. Just to give you an idea, I’ve been working on the Presidents Cup for more than 18 months and dedicated 100% of my time to it these past 11 months.
My role (and my biggest challenge!) in terms of mobility is making sure each stakeholder’s needs are considered, from the police and fire departments to the borough and city, and then coming up with a viable and efficient plan to get people to the site within a realistic timeframe. When the project first got underway, there were even talks to build a new bridge, but that didn’t happen. We had to find creative solutions quickly, and I’m very proud of the result. We’re talking about 25,000 people plus 1,500 volunteers on site every day!
What’s been the highlight for you?
Definitely when the gates opened at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. It was such a beautiful morning with a breathtaking sunrise. Even though everyone was exhausted, as soon as the gates opened and people started arriving, the excitement was palpable. Just seeing people line up at the First Tee and blasting the music! We all started dancing to warm up. It was such an adrenaline rush. I’ll never forget it.
Q&A with Mauricio Villalobos, W Hotel Montréal
What’s the 19th hole?
I’ve been following Malbon since day one, and I’ve always loved what they do. One day, I started following their par3 podcast. I really admire how Stephen and Erica Malbon started it all. Then I watched the episode with Ryan Evert, and that’s when it really clicked that I should connect with them. A few DMs later, a chat with Ryan and the Presidents Cup 19th hole party (Malbon x W Hotel) was coming together.
What’s your role at the W Hotel?
My role is to curate and take personal care of all the VIPs, bachelor/bachelorette groups and celebrities who stay with us and provide them with a next-level experience that’s tailored to their needs. I send them to the best restaurants, bars and clubs and make sure they get the VIP treatment during their stay. I have a very big network in the hospitality business, and that’s what creates unforgettable moments so my guests leave Montréal with really special memories. I also send prearrival emails to all our guests a week in advance so we can prepare for their arrival and give them the best experience. I work very closely with the concierge team, as well. My position as W Insider is a unique role, and I really enjoy it.
What values should fashion and golf hold?
Golf is a very hard game to play. Dressing up should be the easiest part, and Malbon nailed it. All the Malbon pieces match, and you feel comfortable whether your game is good or bad. Golf brings people together and makes people happy. You disconnect from the world, stay off your phone and enjoy nature all around you. That’s priceless!
What does a brand like Malbon represent in the golf ecosystem?
Tiger Woods has always been my inspiration, and I used to buy all his collections. When the Nike and TW deal ended, I stopped buying Nike (except a few special edition kicks!). Malbon came along at just the right time, and now it’s the supreme luxury brand in golf. I was wearing the special edition Malbon Presidents Cup crewneck, and every single person I crossed paths with stopped me to talk about the event. Malbon’s also streetwear so you can rock the outfits off the course, too. I’m so happy there’s a brand like Malbon. They really brought the game to the next level for golfers all around the world.
