Picton Golf Club — a nine hole gem

By Neville Idour

A visit to Picton last month included a most enjoyable round at Picton Golf Club, yet another gem that probably flies under the radar somewhat. It is picturesque with many visual delights.

Caption: The eighth hole at Picton, a par three.

Graham Couldrey, one of the more senior members, spoke with great enthusiasm about Picton Golf Club. We asked him what were the best things about the club.

“I think its position in terms of Picton is a big plus,’’ Couldrey said.

``On state highway one and close but not too close to Picton (about 5kms and immediately next to SH1) which gives us plenty of green fee players popping in and a good income from them.”

How about course maintenance? When my wife and I played it was in lovely, well kept condition and the plantings and garden areas were a feature.

``The course is maintained by volunteers apart from two part-time greenkeepers who are not golfers. The man mows the fairways and rough while the lady mows the greens. The coring and sanding is all done by volunteers. The women volunteers do the gardens.”

The club has a new greenkeepers’ shed which replaced the old draughty one which has made a huge difference for the volunteers to work in. The club has its own machinery, much of it new and it is maintained by members. There are two other sheds to house the 12 members' carts. Interestingly the next door neighbour has six carts and golf clubs which can be hired. He has lived there a long time and is happy helping out the club.''

The clubhouse used to be where the practice putting green is which is near the current clubhouse. It has all the facilities to cater very well for a country club.

Current membership is 140 men and 40 women. However, the club does not have many younger members.

“A lot of the younger players who come from Picton to play will move away for better opportunities,’’ Couldrey said.

``We have quite a few players from out of town who join for the low cost $400 subscription because it gives them the opportunity to play anywhere in New Zealand at affiliated player rates. The upside is many of them will holiday in Picton and play as well.” So it is a win-win situation.

As for the course it is a very pleasant, not too taxing a walk. The white tees play 5356 metres and the ladies play 5087m. The first hole, at 320m, is no pushover with a dogleg left over a creek 80 metres out and up to an elevated green.

The second 150-metre par three requires an accurate shot to a drop down green. A par five follows with a dogleg left, requiring good positioning for the second shot. Each hole has its own character and greenside bunkers need to be avoided on holes six to nine.

A feature is how the tee positions for holes 10-18 on the second time around for the most completely change the way the nine holes are played. The hole-lengths differ and even the par rating may change. Sight lines may also mean a re-thinking of how you approach tee shots.

For example No 3 goes from a par five at 431m to a par four at 342m as hole 12.

Hole seven is a 445m par four while it becomes a 400m par four as hole 16. Hole eight, a 200m par three, becomes a 278m par four for hole 17. Finally hole nine, a lengthy 377m par four, becomes a 441m par five finishing hole.

Hole five, the most elevated on the course, is called The Butts because it was a shooting range prior to the Second World War. This hole also provides an excellent vantage point to view the course.

Hole one is also a feature with its hole in the hillside that is actually a cave. Couldrey said: “People like to think it is a goldmine which it isn’t. It is actually where ammunition was stored during the war.”

The club has an interesting history, although sadly I was unable to find a nicely chronicled outline. So I will briefly relate what I did find from two source — a recollection of memories by John Upson and the Picton Gazette’s 100th birthday feature of May 23, 2007.

The club was established in 1907 but unfortunately the precise origins of the original nine holes are shrouded in the mists of time. It is not known who designed and built it and it ceased to exist from 1961. However it served the club well for over 50 years and in itself was remarkably quaint and quirky. It would never have been acceptable in today’s world.

Caption: The opening hole at Picton Golf Club to a raised green.

Two questions used to crop up.

“Is it true that golfers used to play their drives across the highway” and “are there actually six holes on the clubhouse side of the highway.”

The answer was yes. Hole two was a 426 yards par five and the advice was “Keep your head down because you have to drive across the highway.”

Back in 1955 it was Highshore Road not highway No 49 but there was still traffic and it was the job of the others in your group to warn if there was a car coming.

Fast forward to hole five a 155 yards par three. It was death or glory hitting across the road to a nicely built up green. It was less than 100 yards to carry the road. They were quieter times on the road but there were still many close calls.

Fred Purcell, who hailed from the north of England, was appointed golf professional in 1953 and appropriately in the mid-fifties there were increasing calls for a new and modernised golf course. So in 1956 this truly remarkable person applied his prodigious talents and energy to designing and constructing the new nine which he achieved for the most part single-handedly.

One member remembered Purcell constructing the new greens with their contours and the bunkering with a shovel and tractor. For the really heavy work he was ably assisted by Bill Drew. Unbelievable when you consider his various tasks. From dawn to dusk he ran the pro shop, repaired clubs, maintained the golf course and gave lessons. When he found time, which was rarely, Purcell was a wonderful player who would regularly shoot two or three under par.

Caption: The clubhouse of the Picton Golf Club.

The year of 1961 heralded the opening of this brand new nine hole course thanks to the dedication and herculean efforts of their late and beloved golf pro Fred Purcell. Despite the 1990s popularity of golf and thoughts of another nine holes, the costs were too great so the club settled for nine new tees to produce 18 holes and therefore Purcell’s legacy deservedly remains today for all to enjoy.

Yes, Picton Golf Club is a 9-18 holer but is one you should not miss if you are in the area. At just $20 to play it is a steal.