Golf Art: The Stories Behind Those Paintings in Your Clubhouse
You walk past them after every round, those paintings hanging in your clubhouse. Turns out, they’re part of a tradition that’s been going strong for over 350 years. Golf art isn’t just pretty decoration. It’s the visual story of our obsession with this crazy game, and some of these pieces are worth more than your entire bag.
The Old Masters Who Got It Right
The oldest golf painting we know about? Created in 1658 by Dutch artist Pieter de Hooch. His “The Golf Players” shows wealthy Dutch folks playing an early version of golf called “kolf”, dressed in old-time get ups, ready to hit the ball with their clubs.
Jump ahead 200 years to Scotland, where Thomas Hodge became the first guy to actually make a living painting golfers. Working out of St Andrews in the 1850s, he painted portraits of Royal and Ancient members and earned the nickname “the golf artist of St Andrews.”
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But here’s the real treasure: In 1910, artist Harry Rountree teamed up with Bernard Darwin (yes, Charles Darwin’s grandson) to create “The Golf Courses of the British Isles.” Rountree painted 64 stunning watercolors of famous British courses. Original copies now sell for thousands because they captured these courses exactly as they existed over a century ago—before modern maintenance, before redesigns, before everything got manicured to perfection.
What You’re Seeing Today
Modern clubhouse art has evolved big time. Here’s what’s popular now:
- Course photography as fine art – Those dramatic sunrise shots over the 18th green that make you want to book another round immediately
- Custom course maps and hole layouts – Show your home track in artistic detail, perfect for your den or office
- Abstract golf art – Modern pieces that capture golf emotions rather than just golf scenes
- Digital reproductions of classics – Museum-quality prints of those legendary Harry Rountree watercolors without the massive price tag
Contemporary artists like Steve Sunenblick and Claire Nilan create golf art that speaks to how we actually play today. They’re not just painting pretty pictures; they’re capturing the emotions we feel on the course.
Why This Actually Matters
Golf art isn’t just decoration. It creates atmosphere and keeps you mentally connected to your game between rounds. Think about how you feel walking into a clubhouse lined with golf art versus one with generic corporate posters.
Starting your own collection doesn’t require a huge budget. Maybe it’s a print of your home course or a vintage tournament poster. The key is choosing pieces that enhance your personal connection to golf.
Main Takeaway?
From 17th-century Dutch paintings to your Instagram shots of that perfect approach, artists have been trying to capture what makes golf compelling. The best golf art doesn’t just show what golf looks like, it shows what it feels like.
Next time you’re in your clubhouse, take a closer look at what’s hanging on the walls. That painting you’ve been ignoring might have a story worth knowing, or it might be depicting your course from decades ago when it looked completely different.
Golf art is the visual diary of our shared obsession with this impossible game. Now you’re part of that story too.
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Writer/Editor: Danny Kapp is a passionate golf enthusiast and a 9-year veteran golf blog writer for Rock Bottom Golf, offering his unique perspective on the game. With a keen eye for detail, he covers various aspects of golf, ranging from technical insights to the latest trends in golf equipment and golf technology.
