Golf art (part 3): 2017 paintings

"Far and Sure". Oil on canvas.

Walking out of the clubhouse of Royal Liverpool Golf Club one morning in late April I happened to look round just as the sun burst through the clouds and lit upon the stone lintel above the front door. I had never noticed the beautiful stonework before depicting our club's emblem the Liver bird, and in that brief moment it glowed. I took a photo on my i-phone and ten days later I completed a small oil painting, named after the club motto "Far and Sure".

"The Alps". Oil on canvas.

"The Alps". Oil on canvas.

This is the third year that I have provided the prizes for the Open Scratch Mixed Foursomes tournament which is held over the August bank holiday weekend. This time round I chose the famous "Alps" short hole, the 11th, with views from the tee and looking back from behind the green.

The so-called "Red Room" paintings have been very popular with a set of limited edition prints sold out last year and now, two new commissions for original painting versions of the same theme. One is shown below.

"Red Room". Acrylic on board.

This year's Captain Bruce Taylor kindly asked me to provide two paintings as prizes for the Long and Short courses Captain's Prize this year. His request was for a depiction of the short 13th hole, Rushes. A hole of happy memories for Bruce where some years earlier he had shaken hands as he won the Captain's prize. Again, I chose views both from the teeing ground, and from the green looking back.

"Rushes". Oil on canvas.

"Rushes". Oil on canvas.

I was delighted to provide a painting of the short 5th hole at Formby as a gift to Tony Ensor presented at the Old Malvernian Golfing Society's Northern Meeting in early September in recognition of his 80th birthday and his superb record in running this meeting for 43 years and counting. What a star.

"The Fifth at Formby". Oil on canvas.

Tony Ensor - two holes in one at the fifth!

A golfing pal from Tokyo who grew up in St Andrews sent me a photo of his father on the Eden course. They were just finishing their round - possibly the last time they will play together given his father`s age - when a rainbow appeared. He commissioned me to capture this moment.
Note the liberal use of `artistic license`...the building (toilet/shelter) had to be sacrificed - and the stormy sky, rainbow and gorse bushes intensified - to increase the drama.

"Rainbow over the Eden" Oil on canvas

Finally, getting somewhat bored with traditional golfing compositions I experimented with a completely different approach, more Andy Warhol than Graeme Baxter! Not sure exactly if this study 'worked'...I have had several reactions, mostly agreeing with this scepticism! Let me know what you think, and if you are interested in commissioning an original piece of golf art....whether 'traditional' or 'different'.