Picton
Overview
Understated - that’s the merit of a golf course like Picton. Its design traces back to George Cumming, one of Canada’s foremost early golf course architects. Today, the course is a nice, leisurely option in Prince Edward County.
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George Cumming (1907)
Redesign by Fred Purcell (1961)
9-hole addition by Steven Ward (1998)
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Not formally ranked
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A fantastic value play
Public Access ($44-$70)
Founded in 1907, one of the longest-running golf courses in Canada.
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Early Golf in Picton - Donald Childs
AT A GLANCE
About
Picton Golf & Country Club, is a quaint 18-hole facility located in Prince Edward County - roughly an hour’s drive from Kingston, Ontario.
Originally conceived around the turn of the 20th century by locals, Picton Golf Club’s first official iteration came in the form of a 9-hole course designed by George Cumming (1907). Cumming was an influential golf professional, and had his hand in many early Canadian course designs, including as an eventual mentor to the legendary Stanley Thompson. The Thompson family would leave a mark on Picton by way of Stanley’s brother, William (Bill) J. Thompson, who served as the club's teaching professional for a short period. Arranging exhibition matches with his brothers and even Olympic Champion Golfer George S. Lyon visiting for a charity exhibition match during the great war.
Ralph Revelle reporting in the Canadian Golfer Volume 1, No 4. wrote “Picton has a very sporting and quite difficult nine-hole course with a fine view of the Bay of Quinte. There are some excellent holes on the course and they have a good resident professional, a younger brother of Nicol Thompson of Hamilton”
Some 50-years later, longtime Picton head professional, Fred Purcell re-designed Cummings original layout. An additional 80 acres was purchased in 1994, with Steven Ward designing a second nine from 1997-1998. Today, the golf course remains much the same as it was in the late 1990’s.
Although Picton may never be featured in prominent Canadian golf publications, its understated strategic merit, playability for all skill levels, and affordability make it a fantastic option for both the local, mostly retired residents, and those finding themselves in the County for a short-term visit.
Featured Holes and Course Details
The land at Picton is fairly rudimentary - aside from a few holes with significant elevation change, namely the fifth and sixth, most of the course plays across flat terrain. This, coupled with its relatively short yardage — roughly 6,200 from the back — one might overlook Picton’s merit. Yet, to a trained eye, there are many prototypical examples of penal and heroic design. If one fails to meet the task, a more conservative player will be better off. Additionally, long hitters cannot wail with reckless abandon and expect to score well. The course demands accuracy, to achieve a good score.
Third Hole | Par 4 | 386 yards
After a gentle handshake on the opening two holes, the third hole ignites the senses in one’s mind. This subtle right to left dogleg sees its corner at 210 yards off the tee, out of bounds lining the right hand side of the hole. Players may opt to hit driver, cutting the corner of the hole, or one may take less than driver to ensure safety off the tee, but leave themselves a longer approach into the green.
Historically, there was a great strategically placed tree in the left rough, just past the corner of the dog leg, which maintained a level of accuracy required for the more conservative players to ensure an open approach shot. Unfortunately, this tree was removed, reducing the effects of this penal architecture element on this hole - creating easier paths forward for players. Ahead at the green, the surface contains a slight false front and slippery back to front slope; the latter being a common pattern at Picton.
Fifth Hole | Par 4 | 334 yards
The fifth hole stands out as one of the two holes with the most significant land movement at Picton. This two-shot holes begins with a blind uphill tee shot, providing some added difficulty and visual interest to the golf course. A thicket of trees frame the left, protecting the green from straight shots off the tee, requiring a towering 250-yard carry to eclipse them. The choice is clear, play aggressive or chase the safe play on this button hook like design.
The green on this hole is easily one of the most memorable, in part due to its severity from right to left and back to front. Being below the hole is absolutely paramount, with three putts commonplace. With that, the shot value in playing back to a comfortable yardage does entice players on an otherwise short par-4.
Sixth Hole | Par 5 | 472 yards
Opposite to the fifth, the sixth brings the player down the same landform. This significant downhill movement provides a fantastic opportunity to score on this short par-5; however, at just under 30 yards of width, the relatively narrow fairway, with boundary lines right and a few bunkers left, requires a straight drive, especially in firm conditions. Accuracy remains paramount to successful scoring at Picton.
With a straight drive, a long hitter has a great opportunity for a birdie, or even an eagle, but if even a little off line, the hole may quickly garner a bogey or worse; a stinging result when considering what could’ve been. Meanwhile, the shorter, more accurate player still has a great chance at birdie, at worst par if they play within their limits and keep it down the middle.
The green at number six is another fun complex, with a playable false front and subtle two-tier sloping from back to front. Similar to its fairway, this green is more narrow and long in orientation, requiring an accurate dispersion with some forgiveness on distance control for golfers attempting to reach in two.
Eleventh Hole | Par 4 | 385 yards
On its face, the eleventh is an intimidating tee shot. A large body of water runs down the left, just 10 yards separating fairway from hazard. Meanwhile, the player has just another 10 yards separating the fairway from the forest running parallel along the right. If it wasn’t evident through the first ten holes, accuracy is the name of the game at this short, but pressing test. The fairway is also narrow, estimated around 20 to 25 yards of width throughout. A wayward miss continuously poisoning the mind with doubt. Often, a player can also expect to be playing into the wind, making one of the longer par-4s, all that more challenging. At the green, the surface is abundantly welcoming compared to the prior test. Its width, depth, and significant short grass leading up to it, providing reprieve.
Thirteenth Hole | Par 5 | 500 yards
The thirteenth hole, is a good example that emphasizes Picton’s modern design language as penal. While players have a plethora of options off the tee, the hole is narrow and surrounded by hazards that jump from right off the tee to left down the remainder of the hole. From the back, a pond along the right requires a mighty 280-yard carry. With players who opt to push shots further left, playing into a narrow corridor that becomes pinched by a set of duelling trees - a single, large specimen on the right prop’d against the pond, and a thin cluster up the left. Beyond this pinch point, players who may carry the water hazard are rewarded with a larger landing area. While one might think the challenge of the hazards is over, the pond which stretches down the eleventh hole comes back into play. Forcing players to carefully consider hitting approach or lay up shots. Two large green side bunkers pinch the front, open side of putting surface, minimizing the chance of running the ball. Like almost all of the greens at Picton, the green is tilted from back to front with some small knobs sprinkled throughout. The thirteenth is not for the faint of heart. It demands precision and mental fortitude to evade the pitfalls of this penal design.
Seventeenth Hole | Par 4 | 354 yards
As your round nears its end, Picton throws one last short, dogleg left par-4 at you. While the recipes similar some of the other featured holes here, the penultimate test has a continuous downslope that allows for some highly creative shots to enter the green. A player utilizing a more aerial approach will need supreme distance and spin control to keep the ball below the hole, while the firm ground allows for unique running shots just the same. As you turn the corner of the dogleg, you’re met with a fantastic view of Picton Bay, the best of its kind on the property. This original green is an enjoyable part of concluding your round at Picton Golf Club.
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