The Most Famous Golf Pictures of All Time

Golf pictures are among the most popular and sought-after types of golf memorabilia. While there are a lot of generic golf pictures floating around, there are also a number of pieces that have acquired an almost cult status. If you’re looking for golf autographs, golf art or golf collectibles, these golfer photos and golf art pieces are among the best known and most popular.

Ben Hogan Golf Swing

Golfer Ben Hogan is generally acknowledged to be one of the greatest golfers in history. He was best known for his legendary golf swing and contributed greatly to the very notion of practicing your golf swing to perfect it. In 1957, “Sports Illustrated” published a five-part series on perfecting the Ben Hogan golf swing. That series was later compiled and published as a book, “Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf.” The book was illustrated by golf artist Anthony Ravielli. The illustrations of Ben Hogan’s golf swing are widely available, and photographs that show the Ben Hogan golf swing at each position are among the most popular golf pictures on the market.

Linda Hartough Augusta #12

Golf artist Linda Hartough has built her reputation on paintings of golf courses around the country, but her most famous golf paintings are those of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. Of particular note are her two paintings of Augusta #12, nicknamed “Golden Bell” for the forsythia bushes in the landscaping. For a complete retrospective of Augusta #12 – the central hole of the Amen Corner at Augusta – see also the painting of the Golden Bell by Marci Rule, another renowned golf artist.

The Lost Bet

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are two of the best known legends of golf, and their rivalry was the stuff of which legends are made. While there are hundreds of photos of each of them – as well as many golfer photos of the two of them together – none has the story and history shown in one of the most famous golf photos of all time. The famous photo captures a moment of golf history – Arnold Palmer, the acknowledged King and legend of golf, paying off on a bet he lost to Jack Nicklaus. The photo was shot by well-known golf photographer William F. Thompson in 1967, but wasn’t released until after Thompson’s death and after both Palmer and Nicklaus had retired from the game.

In addition to these famous golf pictures, there are other “genre” pictures that are very collectible, among them photographs of golfers bidding farewell to St. Andrews from the bridge overlooking the Clubhouse. If you’re looking for something more than just a “picture of a golf course,” consider one of the iconic golf pics that represent famous moments in golf history.

Five Reasons Golf Pictures Make Great Gifts

With the holidays creeping up, you may be looking for a gift for a golf enthusiast in your family. You could always pick from the common golf gifts – a bucket of golf balls, a putting cup or a pair of golfing gloves – but really, how many executive practice putting cups can you fit into one office? If you’ve never considered buying golf pictures as gifts for your favorite golfing enthusiasts, there are some very good reasons that you should.

Golf Course Art Is Beautiful

Whether you choose a photographic picture of a golf course or golf paintings, you’ll find some of the most striking, unique and beautiful landscapes among golf course pictures. Golf architects like Robert “Bobby” Jones, who helped design the Augusta National golf course, routinely chose the most beautiful land they could find on which to locate their golf clubs. From visually stunning seascapes to the attractive and well-manicured Augusta #14, Golden Bell, golf pictures featuring famous golf holes make beautiful accent pieces in any room.

Golfer Photographs Honor Great Athletes

Autographed photos of the legends of golf are the adult equivalent of sports hero posters. Framed golf memorabilia featuring golfer photos let you acknowledge and pay tribute to your golf enthusiast’s favorite athletes.

Golf Pics Feed a Dream

Maybe your golfer dreams of someday teeing off at St. Andrews or taking on the Amen Corner at Augusta National. Golf course art helps feed the dream and encourages him or her to keep working at it, and golfer photographs can inspire him and give him something to strive for.

Golf Memorabilia Makes Great Game Room Décor

Most golf memorabilia comes beautifully framed and ready to hang in your game room, den or golf room. The right golf pictures can elevate the decorating in any man cave or fit right in with an elegant and stately executive dining room.

Many Golf Pictures Will Increase in Value

Genuine golf memorabilia – particularly signed golfer photographs or golf course autographs – can become collectors’ items, and may increase in value year after year. When you give a piece of golf art, you’re giving more than just a picture – it’s an investment.

If you have a golf enthusiast on your gift list this year, consider breaking out of the mold this holiday season. Skip the usual golf gifts and take a look at the assortment of golf pictures, golfer photos, golf course art and golf autographs available through golf memorabilia dealers.

Collecting Golf Pictures for Fun and Profit

Golf art is more collectible than most people realize. Unlike team sports, where superstar athletes regularly ink deals that include them signing memorabilia items, such as jerseys and game balls, golf art and golf pictures tend to be far less a big business and far more a matter of individual tastes. You won’t often see a green Master’s jacket go up for bid at a golf collectibles auction, for example, but it’s not unusual for Super Bowl championship rings to show up at pawn shops around the United States. For a lot of reasons – including the relative scarcity of golf autographs and golf collectibles, collecting golf pictures can be both more challenging and more profitable than collection other types of sports memorabilia.

Legends of Golf Collectibles

As with any other sport, the most collectible golf pictures are those that feature one or more of the many legends of golf. Autographed photos of Arnold Palmer, Robert “Bobby” Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are surefire collectible items, and many of them can be expected to increase in value. Every once in a while, previously unknown golf pictures crop up and make an unexpectedly big splash in the sports collectibles world. Not many years ago, for example, a sports photographer released a previously unpublished photograph of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer settling up after a bet on one of the holes they played. “The Lost Bet” has become one of the most popular golf pictures of all time, and hangs in some of the best known golf club dining rooms.

Golf Course Art

Of course, not all the legends of golf are human. Anyone who has ever faced Augusta #12, Golden Bell, on a windy day, can tell you in no uncertain detail exactly why that particular hole is one that golfers dread facing. Photographs of Augusta #12 don’t do it justice, but a few golf painters have managed to capture that hole in all its glory and treachery. It’s not the only hole to be captured by painters Linda Hartough and Marci Rule, who have painted some of the most beautiful golf course art available on the market. In most cases, Hartough’s and Rule’s pieces are available as prints in limited, signed editions. Some are numbered in a series, while others are more widely available to collectors of golf memorabilia.

Whether you’re drawn to a stunning golf landscape or prefer the focus and concentration on the face of one of golf’s greats, golf pictures are a great way to enhance your home décor while accumulating a golf arts collection that could become quite valuable in the future.

Five Reasons Golf Pictures Make Great Gifts

Why would you choose golf pictures as a gift for someone you love? Here are five great reasons to buy golf memorabilia, golfer autographs and golf pictures as holiday or birthday gifts for your favorite golf enthusiast.

No One Buys Them Golf-Related Gifts

Golf enthusiasts get short shrift on the gift market. Movie buffs get themed toys and posters. Fans of pro team sports have their pick of team posters, individual player posters and logo clothing to receive as gifts. You’ll be hard-pressed to find golf gifts for people who love following and playing golf, though. Oh, you can always find personalized golf tees and silly golf room décor, but if you want to give a golf-related gift that impresses, there’s just not that much available. There is one major exception to the dearth of golf memorabilia that’s easily available – golf pictures.

Golf Pictures Make Great Game Room Décor

A framed picture of a golf course or autographed golfer photos of one of the legends of golf are more than keepsakes. They make great home décor in the right setting. Beautifully framed and presented golf scenes fit into many different styles of décor, especially if you choose golf course art by such well-known names as Linda Hartough or Marci Rule. If landscapes aren’t your thing, you can choose from a wide variety of golfer photos, signed or unsigned, of a favorite golfer or tournament.

Golf Memorabilia Carries Bragging Rights

When you choose genuine golf memorabilia, you’re also giving the gift of bragging rights. These aren’t just any old golf pics – many of them are collectors’ items that have their own intrinsic value. Dealers who specialize in assembling golf displays may put together a framed Masters display, for example, that includes golf autographs, photos of one or more Masters Tournament winners and flag that served as a hole marker at one of the holes.

You Can Be Starting Them on a New Hobby

Collecting golf art can be a rewarding hobby. When you give a golf painting, such as a Marci Rule painting of Augusta #12, you could be sparking an interest that becomes a fun activity for the rest of your favorite golfer’s life.

Golf Pictures Can Increase in Value

Golf memorabilia can be an investment that gains value over the years. While there’s no guarantee that a particular golf photo or golf autograph will increase in value, the field of golf collectibles is a growing one and there’s a good chance that any golf pictures you buy today will be worth more in the future.

If you have a golf fan on your gift list, give a gift that stands out from the crowd and will be remembered for years. Pick out one of the many golf pictures available from a reputable collectibles dealer and wrap it up with pride.

Golf Pictures for Your Sports Bar

Choosing the décor for your sports bar can be an adventure. While many people think of the major league sports when they’re looking for game room décor in a sports bar, you can elevate the surroundings when you choose to decorate with golf pictures. You can pick from a wide variety of golf art to suit just about any mood you want to establish, from framed golf memorabilia to golfer autographs to golf course art. If you’re trying to decide what kinds of golf pictures to choose for your establishment, consider these ideas.

Golf Course Art

A picture of a golf course makes a nice centerpiece for a golf art display. Even in this little niche of the golf memorabilia category, you’ll find a wide variety of artwork. Some of the most popular golf pictures are paintings by two masters of golf course art, Marci Rule and Linda Hartough. Both women have impressive resumes in the world of golf art, and have often painted different views of the same golf scenes. A pair of paintings of Augusta #12, Golden Bell, would make a beautiful display in the right golf room.

Aside from paintings, there are also many golf course photographs available, including photos of some of the most famous greens and courses in the world. If you prefer photos that feature the legends of golf, you could easily put together a collection of some of the most famous golfers of all time standing on the bridge looking back at the Old Course at St. Andrews as they say their goodbyes to the course.

Golf Swing Photos

Feature some of the most famous golfers in golf history showing off their form for the sports photographers. While most golfers have heard of the Ben Hogan golf swing photos, Hogan isn’t the only golfer whose form has been immortalized on film. You’ll also find autographed photographs and unsigned golf pictures from the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Robert “Bobby” Jones, names familiar to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the world of golf.

Golf Cartoons

Add a note of levity to a game room with framed and matted golf cartoons depicting the hilarious misadventures of Ben Lightfoot’s fearsome foursomes. Lightfoot’s style combines stunning golf scenes at some of the world’s most famous golf holes and deftly drawn cartoons of his own can’t-shoot-straight gangs in situations that will be familiar to anyone who’s ever swung a golf club.

Golf pictures are a great accent in your sports bar. If you’re looking for a unique slant on the common sports bar, take a look at the many different types of golf art available.

Five Celebrity Golfers for Your Golf Pictures Collection

Are you looking for a collection of golf pictures to hang on the walls of your family room or sports bar? Golf autographs are hot collectibles, and they make great decorative accents for a man cave or golf room in your home. Choosing a selection of golf celebrities to hang on your walls can be fun – but choosing among the many legends of golf can be tough. Here are some suggestions to consider from some of the top golf celebrities of all time.

Arnold Palmer

What collection of golf pictures would be complete without an autographed photo of Arnold Palmer, generally considered to be among the greatest golfers of all time? Pictures of Palmer are pretty easy to come by, as are Arnold Palmer golf autographs, so it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to include a signed Arnold Palmer photo in your collection.

Robert “Bobby” Jones

Bobby Jones may be one of the winningest golfers of all time despite the fact that he never turned pro. In 7 short years, he brought home four U.S. Opens and three Open championships. He was a five-time U.S. Amateur champion and won the British Amateur championship once – all before he turned 30. His influence on golf goes far deeper, however. He co-designed the golf course at Augusta National and co-founded the Masters championship, leaving an enduring mark on golf history.

Ben Hogan

In 1953, Ben Hogan put together a string of wins that has yet to be topped by anyone, winning five of the six championships he entered that year. Hogan is also widely credited with having the perfect golf swing, which was memorialized in a series of photos for an instructional book. The Ben Hogan golf swing photos are among the most wanted in any collection of golf pictures.

Jack Nicklaus

With 73 career wins, including 18 major championships and six victories at the Masters, Jack Nicklaus is indisputably the greatest golfer of all time. Like Palmer, Nicklaus has had his photo taken thousands of times, so there are plenty of Jack Nicklaus golfer photos to choose from for your golf art collection.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is a once-in-a-generation golfing great and one of the best known celebrity golfers of all time. Until recently, Woods was on the fast track to top Nicklaus’ record – and he may do it yet. Despite the scandal that erupted around him, Woods is still one of the most sought-after golf autographs of all time.

In addition to these top golfers, you can also choose from many other types of golf art, including golf course art, golf scenes prints, golf cartoons and golf memorabilia. Take the time to consider exactly the kind of golf art and golf pictures you want on your walls when decorating your game room or golf room, and always buy from a dealer who can authenticate your purchases.

Golf Pictures Are More than Just a Picture of a Golf Course

Golf course art is rapidly assuming its own place among the ranks of golf collectibles. There have always been people who appreciate the beauty and complexity of a golf course layout, but it’s only recently that golf pictures by well-known photographers and golf artists can command top prices in the art world. Once, paintings of golf course holes were confined to gracing the walls of a golf club, or perhaps display in the home of a professional golfer who wanted to commemorate a particular win or pay homage to a devilishly difficult challenge on a golf course.

That’s true no more. For some years now, the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the annual Masters’ Tournament, has commissioned artists to paint each of the holes on the course. The original paintings hang in the club, and are sometimes lent out to museums, particularly during Masters Week. The artists frequently release limited series of prints to be sold on the auction and golf art collectibles market. There are a number of artists whose work routinely sells well, and a number of golf scenes that are guaranteed to attract buyers, even when painted or photographed by unfamiliar names.

Linda Hartough

In 1984, Linda Hartough was commissioned to produce a painting of Augusta #13, and then of Augusta #16 and #18. She has since gone on to paint other holes on the course, including Augusta #12, Golden Bell. Hartough is the only artist commissioned to produce paintings for both the U.S. Open and the British Open. The official U.S. Open series includes 20 paintings, and the British Open series includes all eight courses in the rotation. Nearly all of them are available to collectors as limited edition prints.

Marci Rule

Marci Rule is known for her sports art, but it is her golf landscapes that have brought her the most fame. Rule began her love affair with golf course art when she lived in Pinehurst, NC. In the 16 years since, she has painted the best-known golf holes throughout the country, including all three holes of the Amen Corner at Augusta National, including Augusta #12, which she has painted at least twice in different light and different times of year. Her new golf pictures are always eagerly awaited by fans of her work, who often place orders for prints before the actual release.

Golf course art graces the walls of many offices and public buildings, but more and more, these classic golf pictures are finding their way into private homes and private collections. If you’re a fan of golf pictures, this is the time to start or add to your collection of signed golf course paintings.