Preston Country Club

Preston Country Club occupies rolling terrain in Kingwood, a small community in the Allegheny Plateau region of northern West Virginia. Ed Ault designed the course, bringing his characteristic approach to mountain and foothill sites where natural contours shape strategy and playability. Ault, who worked extensively throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian regions during the latter half of the twentieth century, typically routed courses to fit existing landforms rather than impose dramatic earthwork, and Preston reflects this philosophy with holes that move across ridges and valleys native to the area. The layout takes advantage of elevation changes common to this part of West Virginia, where wooded hillsides and open meadows create varied playing corridors. Golfers encounter approach shots that require accurate distance judgment on uphill and downhill lies, and greens that often sit at different levels than their fairways. The course serves primarily as a community amenity for local members and visitors exploring the Monongahela National Forest region, where golf facilities are relatively sparse. Preston Country Club functions as a traditional small-town club, offering a gathering place for the Kingwood area alongside its golf operations. The setting provides mountain views and a quiet, rural atmosphere typical of northern West Virginia, where courses tend to emphasize accessibility and straightforward design over tournament conditioning or resort-style amenities.