While I continue to pursue golf as art, the true artful golfer paints a masterpiece.



The Artful Tiger paints a masterpiece with golf balls.

Labels: Art, Tiger Woods

Since picking up the game of golf just over 2 years ago, I've been most influenced by Fred Shoemaker's approach to the game, playing Golf as Art. If you do an internet search for "golf as art", there is little information to be found pertaining to playing the game. However, you'll discover some very inspiring websites displaying golf course paintings, photography, and video. I've gradually been adding some of my favorites to the Artful Links section of this website. I'll introduce you to some of them below.


Approach to the 6th at Cypress Point by Michael Miller

The painting above is by Michael Miller. Miller was the head professional at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles from 1993-1998, even while he was honing his craft as a painter. You can find his work at GolfClubAtlas.com, in the Art and Architecture section. This website hosts one of my favorite discussion boards as well, frequented by several well known golf course architects.

Another artist I've discovered is Joshua CF Smith. Josh has always been in and around golf. From leading the way on his high school and college golf teams, to building courses along the west coast as a superintendent for over 6 years after graduating from college. Josh has learned to further appreciate the beauty of golf landscapes through capturing their very essence on canvas. You can find Josh's work at JoshuaCFSmith.com.

I was introduced to the golf course photography of Aidan Bradley last year when Monarch Dunes Golf Club opened on the California Central Coast. He was hired to photograph the new course and his work is prominently displayed in the clubhouse as well as their website. Bradley's portfolio, which includes top golf courses around the globe, can be found at GolfCoursePhotography.com.

Other favorite golf course photographers I've found include Kevin Murry and Evan Schiller.

Just yesterday, after making a post about The Wandering Golfer, I found the website of the show's cinematographer, Scott Wilson. Scott is now traveling the globe for show's 3rd season. Through this experience, he has developed a passion for filming captivating Hi Def images of golf courses and resorts. His work can be enjoyed at FlagstickFilms.com.

Lastly, a soon to be released golf art film promises to show the true nature of the game. "The Nature of the Game, A Visionary Tribute to Golf" will highlight stunning images of famous and diverse golf courses, and hopes to explain the inexplicable of why we love this game. You can view a trailer for the film at TheNatureOfTheGame.com and read more about the film in an article at WorldGolf.com.

Feel free to comment to share the links of your favorite golf artists!

Labels: Art, Links

A golfer who found his way to my website recently directed me towards an inspiring golf story, Golf's Sacred Journey by Dr. David L. Cook, about a rancher with extraordinary insights and a struggling young golf professional. Dr. David L. Cook is an author, peak performance coach and speaker in both the sport and business arenas. Golf Digest recently named him one of the "Top 10 Mental Game Consultants" in the world of golf. The story, available as a free download, shares wisdom that can transform your game, and life.


Bandon Dunes by hole-in-one at flickr.com

In addition to insights about the importance of rhythm, balance, and patience, I was particularly drawn to a chapter describing golf as art, an approach to the game I try to realize. Below, I've included some of my favorite excerpts from the story about golf as art.

"Golf is to art like dance is to music. Dance is a physical expression of the music; a golf shot is a physical expression of art."

"To be a great player, you must be a great shot-maker. To be a great shot-maker, you must become an artist."

"All shots start with a blank canvas. We must paint the shot with our eyes first, before our body can produce it accurately. In essence, the quality of our shot mimics the quality of our painting."

"Your muscles work off of images sent from the eyes. Your muscles will hit the shot, but like a pilot in the fog, they can only respond to the information you send to them. The most powerful information is an image, a picture. A good picture produces feel and feel produces trust."

"First, you must see; second, you feel; third, you trust. Trust is the epitome of golf. It is the freedom to swing and let go. Great athletes compete best when they are free. Trust, you see, is earned. It is earned by feel, and feel is earned by seeing. Therefore, art is the catalyst to a great shot."

"Every time you hit a shot, you are signing a painting. When we fail to engage art, we sign our name to a stick figure outcome. When you engage art, you sign your name to a masterpiece."

At one point during the story, the rancher tells the struggling pro to "be expectant". Although this advice was easy to miss in the story, it really struck me since I've focused so much on not having expectations. But then I realized that "being expectant" isn't about expectations about the outcome, it's about what Fred Shoemaker describes as being open to the art of the possible, being open to and even expectant of extraordinary golf.

Play golf with artful expectancy!

Last week, I had the opportunity to play a competitive round with this newfound attitude of artful expectancy. Our Men's Club Match Play tournament just began and my first match was against a very competitve golfer that I had to give 9 strokes to. Thanks to those strokes, I was quickly behind by 2 holes after 3. Although my opponent's handicap was quite a bit higher than mine, he was striking the ball and putting like a single handicapper. It was looking like I'd have to birdie every hole to stay even.

I decided to be expectant, yet patient. By the end of the front 9, I was up 3! Although I bogied the 1st hole, I shot 6 pars and 2 birdies to finish the front 1-under. My opponent kept it closer on the back, but I closed him out on 15 (4&3). With net pars on the last 3 holes, I recorded my best-ever competitive round with a 1-over 73 (71.2/129).

Labels: Art, Books, David Cook, Expectations, Golf's Sacred Journey, Rounds