Antique Golf Print, Prestwick, Life Association Of Scotland, Michael Brown

Sold

Category

Artwork, Paintings and Prints

Golf Artwork, Paintings & Prints

Artist

Michael Brown

Reference

28598

Antique Golf Print, First International Professional Golf Match, Prestwick.
An original Life Association of Scotland 1904 calendar. The calendar has been framed in a gilt frame with glass and is with a wonderful central golfing picture of the First International Professional golf match. The picture is taken from the painting by Michael Brown and is titled 'First International Professional Golf Match - England v Scotland - Prestwick, 1903'. Scotland won 9 matches to 8. The England side comprised of H. Vardon, J.H. Taylor, E. Ray, Tom Vardon, R. Jones, P. Rainford, J. Sherlock, F. Collins, T.G. Renouf, W. Toogood, J. Rowe & A. Tingey. For Scotland J. Braid, A. Herd, J. Kinnell, J. White, W. Park, W. fernie, B. Sayers, C.R. Smith, R. Thomson, G. Coburn, J. Kay & J. Hepburn.

The Life Association of Scotland was established in 1838 in Edinburgh. In the late 1800's golf courses were being established all over Scotland and the financial community set up the Insurance & Banking Golf Club on the Duddingston estate in 1895, beneath the spectacular backdrop of the extinct volcano, Arthur's Seat. To mark the opening of the extended Club House, Michael Brown was commissioned to paint a scene from an exhibition golf match at the Club. The 1899 Life Association of Scotland calendar used this image as its center piece. It was such a marketing success Brown was then commissioned to annually paint a golfing picture until 1916, prints were made of these originals and glued to the cardboard calendar that the Life Association of Scotland produced. Brown's original paintings adorned the walls of the Edinburgh head office for many years.

Taken from Prestwick Golf Club website:-

The history of Prestwick Golf Club stretches back over 160 years to a time when golf was in its infancy. In 1851, a group of 57 enthusiastic members, who met regularly at the Red Lion Inn, made the momentous decision to form a golf club purchasing two cottages opposite the tavern.
The first cottage would become the members' clubhouse whilst the other was gifted to the club's Keeper of the Green, ball and clubmaker - Old Tom Morris. Together with a gold medal presented by the club's first captain (the Earl of Eglinton) for an annual competition still played for today, the legend of Prestwick was born.

Old Tom had uprooted his wife Agnes and young son Tommy from St Andrews to layout the 12-hole course over the links. His unique design proved popular, and the club enjoyed a meteoric rise hosting the first Open Championship within 10 years of its formation. The last and 24th Open Championship at Prestwick was held 65 years later in 1925.

In 1864, Old Tom returned to St Andrews. His house was auctioned with the proceeds used to part-fund the construction of a new clubhouse on the present site in 1868. It cost £758.

The clubhouse was extended in 1877 and 90 lockers, which are still in use today, were added in 1882. A major re-development was completed in 1999 consolidating the clubhouse's prominent position overlooking the first tee and 18th green.

Dimensions:

Height 25.5 cm / 10 "

Width 40.5 cm / 16"

Framed height 47 cm / 18 "

Framed width 58.5 cm / 23 "

Framed depth 2 cm / 1"

Period

1900-1949

Year

1904

Medium

Photogravure