Henry Picard, former golf professional at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio, will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla. Picard will be honored posthumously on Oct. 30 along with well-known inductees from the modern era, Larry Nelson and Vijay Singh.
Picard, (“Pick” to those who knew him) was a professional player in the 1930s and early 1940s. He accumulated 26 PGA Tour wins during his illustrious PGA career which in addition to being highlighted by winning the Masters in 1938 and the PGA Championship in 1939 was also memorable by playing on the victorious U.S. Ryder Cups teams in 1935 and 1937.
In the era of the 1930’s to the 60’s it was not unusual for a playing PGA Tour pro to also be the head golf professional or playing golf professional at a prominent country club or golf club. Such was the case with Picard. He served the Hershey Country Club in that role until 1945 when he became the head golf professional at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland.
Picard served the membership of Canterbury until retiring in 1964. He actively competed on the PGA tour, playing in many events in the 1940s, 1950s and even into the 60s, notably participating in the PGA in 1950 with a third place tie and U.S. Open and Masters appearances in the 1950’s and 60’s. In addition to his competitive prowess and his service at Canterbury, Picard was a long-time friend of Ben Hogan and frequently is credited for sharing his teaching abilities with Hogan and helping Hogan to prepare for the Masters for many years while serving during the 1950’s as the winter Golf Professional at Seminole Golf Club in Florida.
Following his twenty-year tenure at Canterbury, Picard retired with his family in the Charleston, S.C. area until his death in 1997. Picard will long be remembered at Canterbury, standing on the first tee dressed in a white shirt and tie, wearing the green jacket symbolic of his Masters Championship, greeting each and every member as they began their round of golf, wishing them well. Throughout his life he represented all that is good about the game of golf.
Recognized during his era as a leading teaching professional in the country as well as an accomplished player, Picard was an “honoree” earlier this summer at the Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. In April 2006 Picard was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and will be inducted in the October ceremonies.
Canterbury Golf Club will remember Picard in September during the Henry Picard – Canterbury Cup. Named in honor of Picard since its inception in 1995, this national level amateur event recognizes Picard’s contributions to golf, achievements and service to the Canterbury Golf Club and its rich heritage. During the event and the tournament dinner on Sept. 14, the club and tournament committee will join Picard’s son, Lawrence, and others whom Picard taught or played with during his career at Canterbury in a special tribute.
Canterbury Golf Club, a perennial top 100 course was founded in 1921 and has hosted among many prominent championships multiple US Opens, Western Opens, U.S. Amateurs, a PGA Championship and most recently the 1996 U.S. Senior Open, cherishes its deep golf heritage and its association with Henry Picard.