Author: randa360

Ricoh Women’s British Open Trophy

Challenge Belt

 

The irascible looking Andrew Kirkaldy (1860-1934) was Professional to the R&A from 1910-1934. He was paid £1 a week and received 2/6d a round when playing with members. He had to present himself daily at the Clubhouse at 9am. On 17 February 1928, the Committee of Management “decided that the payment to Andrew Kirkcaldy of £1 per week be regarded as a pension”, thus he effectively became the Honorary Professional. He died whilst ‘in office’.

According to the minutes of 11 October 1928, “one or two Club members wished to give a portrait of Andrew Kirkaldy and the offer was accepted”. By July of the following year the painting had arrived at the Clubhouse.

The portrait featured in the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow, which was held at Bellahouston Park. Despite that summer being one of the wettest on record, the exhibition attracted twelve million visitors.

Ladies Amateur Championship Trophy

Birthplace of The Open, Prestwick is second only to St Andrews in terms of the number of times it has played host – 24 in total – and this despite the fact it was last played there in 1925. Prestwick has also staged the Amateur Championship on  11 occasions, first in 1888 and more recently in 2001.

The painting shows ‘The Alps’ which was at the 2nd, but later became the 17th; the image therefore provides an important visual historical record of the changes on the course. It is also the earliest known painting of the links at Prestwick.

 

The scene is probably the 13th hole at St Andrews, the last hole in the final of the Amateur Championship of 1913, played between Harold Hilton and Robert Harris. Harold Hilton won 6 and 5. The report in Golf Illustrated (6 June 1913) records the match: “The rain came down in thick, merciless torrents. Those fortunate enough to be near the tee for the 12th ran hurriedly to shelters where players and officials sought refuge. The officials had to suspend play till the storm had spent itself. The end however was not further delayed for Mr Harris was never in sight of a half at the 13th. After good tee shots Mr Harris missed his second shot, while Mr Hilton pulled his to the left of the green. Mr Harris reached the hollow short of the green in his third. The new hole had been cut close to this end and Mr Hilton had to pitch over a gully”.

J. Michael Brown is known for the paintings he executed for the Life Association of Scotland Insurance Company calendars. The series began in 1892 and the earliest was painted by John Blair. Brown produced his first painting for the calendar in 1893 and continued to produce one every year until 1916. Prints were created from the original painting and made into a cardboard calendar for each year.

A Golf Match at St Andrews in 1868 by Sam Bough

The golf is almost secondary to what is otherwise a landscape with sheep. The gulls hint at the proximity of the sea. The artist added an inscription on the reverse of the painting, which reads: “A Golf-Match at St Andrews. Painted on the spot. Sam Bough 1868.”

Bough was from Carlisle, in Cumbria, and was a well-known 19th century landscape and seascape artist.