“No 18 at the Old Course at St Andrews Links”, Golf Painting

“This is the origin of the game, golf in its purest form, and it’s still played that way on a course seemingly untouched by time. Every time I play here, it reminds me that this is still a game.” -Arnold Palmer

This iconic view of the ancient trio is the most recognized composition in the golf world. The Swilcan Bridge stands out in the foreground of the painting. The R&A building is in the left background, while the Hamilton Grand is on the right. And while it may be the most recognizable landscape in golf, I never tire of seeing it. For this painting, however, I decided to take a bold approach and add a dark, approaching storm. Symbolism in art, of course, depends on the viewer. The storm could represent the global shutdown of courses due to COVID, or perhaps the mental struggles that golf can bring. For me, it’s much simpler: even with a storm on the horizon, if you have the chance to play the Old Course (or any St Andrews course), you play.

In September 2020, I started the painting using a reference photo by Reimar Gaertner, with his permission. I began with a sketch in charcoal and pastel.

Next, I applied an imprimatura wash for tonality.

I carefully built the painting layer by layer, first starting with the sky and then gradually moving to the distant background. I finished by adding details to the bridge, fairway, and green.

While many of us will have to keep the Old Course at St Andrews Links on our bucket list until travel opens up again, one great benefit of having a painting in your home is that you can visit it anytime you want.

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