Pickering Valley Golf Club: 30 Years of Chester County Golf

Pickering Valley Golf Club sits off the Malvern/Phoenixville exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Chester County, about 45 minutes northwest of Philadelphia. It's a family-owned public course that has been open for more than 30 years, and the kind of place that quietly builds a loyal following without much fanfare.

The Thompson family runs the operation, and that ownership shows in the way the course is maintained and in how staff treats golfers. Regular players describe the atmosphere as genuinely welcoming. That matters more than it sounds when you're looking for a course to add to your regular rotation.

The Layout

Pickering Valley plays to a par 72 over terrain shaped by Ice Age glacial activity in the Great Valley. The land rolls throughout, with tree-lined fairways and elevation changes that give the course its character. From the Blue tees, you're looking at 6,455 yards with a course rating of 71.5 and a slope of 127. The White tees measure 5,963 yards (68.7/124), and the Forward tees come in at 5,135 yards (65.5/118). There's also a natural turf driving range and putting green on-site to warm up before your round.

The par threes here deserve attention. Hole 2 stretches to 216 yards from the tips, and Hole 6 adds another long iron at 215 yards. These aren't pitch-and-putt holes -- you earn your pars. Hole 10 offers a shorter respite at 155 yards, but the greens across the course are consistently more challenging than first-time players expect.

The Par Fives

Four par fives are spread evenly through the round. Holes 4, 8, and 14 each measure in the 470-490 yard range from the Blue tees, reachable for longer hitters but not giveaways. Then there's Hole 17 at 558 yards, the longest hole on the course. A par five that asks you to manage your game over a significant stretch of ground while still leaving yourself a workable approach. Walking off 17 with a par feels like an accomplishment.

Conditions and Upkeep

The course was in notably good shape as of 2024, according to players who track these things round to round. Considering the volume of public play a course like this handles, that reflects consistent work from the grounds crew. The greens read faster and more complex than their modest appearance suggests -- a common note from golfers playing Pickering Valley for the first time.

Amenities and Access

The pro shop handles rentals and merchandise. Walking is allowed, which is increasingly rare at suburban public courses. Tee times are bookable online through the course's website. The location makes it convenient from Philadelphia, King of Prussia, Lancaster, and Wilmington, DE -- enough geographic reach to draw a consistent weekend crowd without becoming overcrowded.

Group outings are actively welcomed here. If you're organizing a company event or friend group scramble, Pickering Valley has the layout and the staff to handle it.

Who Should Play Here

Mid-handicappers will find Pickering Valley engaging without being punishing. The course rating and slope sit in a range that rewards smart play over length. Lower handicaps will appreciate the par three challenges and the subtlety of the greens. Higher handicaps get room to breathe on the wider fairway corridors while still having multiple tee options to find the right challenge level.

At over 30 years in operation under the same family, Pickering Valley has earned its standing as a Chester County staple. This isn't a flashy resort course or a high-profile ranked layout. It's a well-run public course with good bones, good conditions, and a staff that makes regulars feel like regulars.

Ready to see the full scorecard? View tee-by-tee yardages, ratings, and hole details for Pickering Valley Golf Club on Stymie.