News Hound Unleashed

My father, who turns 80 this year, has enjoyed many satisfying days on the golf course, having taken up the sport as a young man. After playing these many years he shot his first hole in one in 2011 and spends two or three days a week on the links near his home in Florida. While not a golfer myself, I enjoyed immensely “The Art of Golf,” a new exhibit at The Philadelphia Museum of Art.
A bagpiper serenaded members of the press to herald the opening of show, which like golf, has roots in Scotland. The highlight of the exhibit is a large oil painting, the seven-foot wide “The Golfers” painted in 1847 by Scottish artist Charles Lees. The painting depicts a crowd of onlookers surrounding a hole during a tournament at the famous St. Andrews golf course. A quaint detail shows a young girl selling ginger beer, which was common at the fourth hole at the venerable St. Andrews.
The exhibit also features an early red coat worn by golf club members, examples of wooden golf clubs that players often made themselves and a feather ball. The feather-filled leather golf ball was also often made by golfers, said museum curator Jennifer Thompson.
Another interesting item displayed was an elaborate trophy made from a silver golf club adorned with silver balls hanging from its shank that was used at St. Andrews by the “Noblemen and Gentlemen of Fife” from 1754 to 1930.
“The Art of Golf” runs from March 16 to July 7. Giving the show more resonance with area golf aficionados, during its tenure the U.S. Open Championship centennial will be played at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. It’s likely that many avid golfers in town for the Open will trek to the museum as well to take in the lay of the land at “The Art of Golf.”
For more information: philadmuseum.org