Golf Balls, Clubs and the Game Inspire Art

Golf balls, golf clubs and the game in general has been inspiring artists for centuries, despite the tacky gift card image of the sport.

An unlikely subject

It may seem like an unlikely subject for artists but golfers hitting golf balls on the green fairways have inspired artists such as the Scottish artist, illustrator and writer, Hugh Dodd, who grew up surrounded by the game. Like football or fishing, usually the only artistic impressions you'll find are of stereotypical golfers putting golf balls on the game on rather tacky Father's Day cards. Perhaps that's why paintings that feature golf are outside the traditional art canon.

Art history and golf

But there is a strong art history beyond the cheap cards featuring golf balls. As Hugh Dodd knows, the humble golf clubs and golf balls have captured the imagination of artists throughout history. But perhaps because of the subject matter, paintings featuring golf don't always receive the critical acclaim they perhaps should.

Dramatic backdrops

Scotland 's East Lothian Coast has some of the world's most famous links, and the landscapes the golfers hit their golf balls across are rolling, evocative backdrops often with extreme, turbulent weather to add to the atmosphere.

Spiritual home

The fact that so much golf inspired art has come out of Scotland , despite the fact that the game is huge throughout the world from Asia to America , is because Scotland is considered to be the spiritual home of the game. Here the first ever golf balls and golf clubs were hand-made and important names from royalty to modern-day celebrities have all graced the courses of St Andrews .

Original golf balls

There is still however debate about where golf originated with artists from the Netherlands such as Van Ostade and Van Der Velde painting a form of the game known as �kolf'. Some believe the Dutch and Scottish traders adapted aspects of each other's game which evolved the clubs and golf balls into the much loved game as its known today.

Famous works

Hitting golf balls became such a popular pastime that even the great master Rembrandt did an etching of a golfer in 1645. Other well-respected artworks featuring golf clubs, golf balls and the game include:

• Portrait of the Macdonald brothers, painted in the late 18 th century by William Mossman.
• Portrait of William Inglis, club captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1787 by David Allan.
• The Grand Match by Charles Lees, depicting a game played at St Andrews in 1841.

Popularized

Paintings in the 18 th century tended to be of rich, well off or renowned gentleman due to the fact the game was not yet widely accessible thanks to the expense of buying hand-made golf clubs and golf balls. As it became popular, the medium depicting the game did too � Sir Leslie Ward's Spy caricatures for Vanity Fair became all the rage as golfers became household names.

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