In 1994, my parents traded the cozy charm of the Sussex neighborhood in Shaker Heights, Ohio, for a larger home nestled near Laurel School. The two homes were connected by South Woodland Road, a stretch I came to know well from the backseat of our family car. As we drove past stately homes with sprawling lawns, I’d catch fleeting glimpses of manicured fairways and pin flags peeking through the trees. Even at ten years old, I was captivated. My dad leaned over and said, “That’s Canterbury Golf Club.” It wasn’t just any course, it was the course.
That summer, my older brother met a group of local boys who caddied at Canterbury. They’d bike over at sunrise, hoping to snag a loop or two. I begged to join, but I was too young, and far too scrawny. He returned each summer, growing stronger and more seasoned with each oversized golf bag he carried. In 1996, Canterbury hosted the U.S. Senior Open, and our neighborhood buzzed with excitement. We walked the mile from our house, turning onto South Woodland Road, past lemonade stands and kids selling pop (Midwestern for soda), and through Canterbury’s iconic stone gates marked “Private.” That was my first look at Herbert Strong’s 1921 design: a 7,012-yard, par-70 masterpiece.
My brother, a lefty, insisted we follow Bob Charles, the surprisingly spry sixty-year-old southpaw. Jack Nicklaus, Ohio’s favorite son, drew the biggest crowds, but I was there for Lee Trevino, my Skins Game hero.
Though I never caddied at Canterbury, devoting more to practicing the game during my high school years at Shaker Heights High, I was able to include a few rounds on its tree-lined, punishing layout in my teen years. It was the kind of course that didn’t just challenge you, it humbled you. Years later, the club partnered with Rhebb & Johns to develop a Master Plan, removing hundreds of trees and breathing new life into the course. I’ve been fortunate to return and play a few more times during visits to Cleveland.
This summer, I had another reason to return. A friend was competing in the Picard Cup, Canterbury’s premier amateur event named after Henry Picard. He served as the club’s head professional from 1945 to 1964 and was the last winner of the Augusta National Invitational in 1938 before it became The Masters.
On a cool August morning, I brought my dad along as my photography assistant to capture the action. The Picard Cup is a 54-hole, two-person event played over two days, featuring Better Ball and Alternate Shot formats. The field included top mid-amateur and senior-amateur players from across the country, many supported by Canterbury’s respected caddie program. That same program taught my brother the value of hard work and etiquette 30 years ago, and it remains strong today. In 2024, three of the seventeen Western Golf Association Evans Scholars came from Canterbury, with two more named in earlier this year.
At the conclusion of the tournament, fellow Fliers Club member Nick Fiore and his partner Brian Joseph, both Canterbury members, secured the win with a score of 11 under par. They are the first team composed entirely of Canterbury members to win the Picard Cup in 10 years. The last double Canterbury victory came in 2015, when Brian’s father, Larry Joseph, and Fred DiSanto claimed the title.
When asked how it felt to win, Nick responded, “Winning such a prestigious event with such a strong field at our home course is incredibly special. Canterbury means the world to both of us. Having our names on the wall of such a storied clubhouse next to the great champions of this event is an honor that is hard to put into words.”
During this year's Picard Cup, Bailey was unable to compete since he was off on other business at The Olympic Club, where he reached the final 32 in the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Andrew Bailey, a mid-amateur legend in Ohio and winner of the Ohio Amateur in 2023 and 2024, is a past champion of the Picard Cup in 2018. He joined Canterbury and followed up with another win in 2019. He is now part of the Picard Cup family. “It is a privilege to be involved in hosting great players from across the country at Canterbury and to share Henry Picard’s legacy as a player and golf professional. Canterbury has a rich history of championship golf. This event is a yearly reminder that hosting competitions is part of our identity as a club.”
Amateur events like the Picard Cup offer rare access to world-class courses. I attended the Ireland Amateur at The Island Golf Club in Dublin in 2022, and I make it a point to attend the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett each June in Rhode Island. There are many opportunities around the world for those who seek them. -NL
If you are interested in future competitions at Canterbury Golf Club, visit the Picard Cup website. Upcoming U.S.G.A championships include the 2027 U.S. Girls' Junior, the 2033 U.S. Senior Amateur, and the 2039 U.S. Women's Amateur.
