Statues on golf courses - where are the good ones?

[David_Elvins]

Having grown up playing the more traditional courses of Australia, I must admit I have never seen a statue on a golf course, however I can remember seeing a few photos of the Bobby Jones sundial outside the pro-shop at Augusta which looks great to me.



Of course there also appears to be some pretty average ones too, modern courses that try and buy a bit of tradition by building a statue like this.


I was intereted to see this photo posted by Melvyn Hunter Morrow, of Rospena.  
 

I must admit I was disapointed to see such a piece of Americana dominating what appears to be a traditional Scottish (EDIT, Irish) Links course with a pedigree going back over 100 years.  Not only does it look American, it dominates and detracts from the landscape instead of fitting in with it.  To add further insult, the statue is situated on a big, ugly concrete block.

So, what are some of the better golf statues out there?  Where have clubs built statues that add to the club in good taste?  Conversely, where else have statues been built that are a blight on the golfing landscape?  

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

David,

There's also a statue of Payne Stewart at Waterville (Kerry, Ireland).

Regarding statues on golf courses, it never struck me as being and American phenomenon. I haven't seen the OTM statue at Rosapenna, so I can't comment on whether it fits in with the surroundings or not, but I agree that it does look like the concrete base is much too large in comparison to the statue.

BTW, Rosapenna is in Donegal (Ireland)

[David_Elvins]

BTW, Rosapenna is in Donegal (Ireland)

yes, thanks 

[Mike_Clayton]

David,

Obviously you have not been to Victoria lately and seen the brilliant statue of Peter Thomson - done by the guy who did them all at the MCG.

[James Boon]

Here is the Ben Hogan statue at Colonial,



I suppose most statues are fine as long as they are a reasonable likeness and the base on which they are set isn't to intrussive. The only thing is thats not the case with most statues I've seen, as the base on the Hogan statue above is a little too intrusive for me, and the Old Tom statue would probably be fine if it wasn't for its base.

Cheers,

James

[Eric Smith]

Varadero, Cuba

[Melvyn Morrow]

Is it Faldo or is it Old Tom??


Statue in Planning for the future when money allows, site already agreed on The Bruce Embankment overlooking TOC with full base plinth with List of all Open Champions



Melvyn


PS Eric  Is that a self-portrait of yourself

[Anthony Gray]

Varadero, Cuba

  Cuba?

[Bart Bradley]

Leopard Creek in S.A. has 18 lovely bronze "day in the life of a leopard" statues, one on each tee.  The funny part is that the 9th and 18th holes were swapped but, at least iwhen I was there, the statues hadn't been...so the story made by the sequence of the statues didn't quite add up.

Bart

[Keith OHalloran]

The best one that I have seen is at Old Memorial in Tampa Florida. They have a statue of members that were lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. The statue is placed on the highest elevation on the course. That spot happens to be between the 10th green and the 11th tee. The 10th hole is a diffcult par 4, and the tradition is that if you birdie 10, you get to leave your ball on the base of the statue. There are only about 60 golf balls on the statue. I thought it was a great tribute at a great course.

[John Shimp]

I like the one of John McConnell behind and to the right of the first green at Double Eagle.  Its a nice statue, out of the way, and he is holding a martini glass, which is nice.

[Wade Whitehead]

A local course here in Virginia has a number of statues that aren't even golf related.  Behind one green are three or four bronze children, running and playing; on a mound next to a fairway is a large deer (and beside another is a life-size bear).

There isn't history behind this, but there are one-course owners who wanted to do something different.

WW

[Tom ORourke]

I like the Payne Stewart statue at Pinehurst. It is close enough to the green to link it to the moment, but far enough back to be out of the way. It is not the only statue there but the pose is timeless.

[Sean Leary]

Are there any statues of Ran after any of his numerous victories over Patrick Mucci at various locales?

[Tim Bert]

I like the Payne Stewart statue at Pinehurst. It is close enough to the green to link it to the moment, but far enough back to be out of the way. It is not the only statue there but the pose is timeless.

[Tim Johnson]

I think Clinton has a statue at Ballybunion???

[PCCraig]

There is a nice bust of Raynor right by the 1st tee at Blue Mound CC in Milwaukee.

[David_Tepper]

There is a nice (and relatively small) statue of Byron Nelson at Riverhill CC, a course he co-designed with Joe Finger, in Kerrville, TX.

[Phil McDade]

There is a nice bust of Raynor right by the 1st tee at Blue Mound CC in Milwaukee.

Speaking of which (Pat, you beat me to the punch):



This one greets members and guests at the Langford-Moreau Ozaukee CC north of Milwaukee in the suburbs; the sculpture is also used on the club's ball markers, scorecards and various other club artifacts:


The logo of the Ozaukee Country Club, one of the most distinctive in Wisconsin, comes from this bronze sculpture near the front entrance of the clubhouse.

[Sev K-H Keil]

The most interesting statues / sculptures I have seen might at AIG's ultra-private Morefar Back O'Beyond near Brewster, NY. Every hole is lined with life-size statues of naked girls and boys --- some of them borderline x-rates.  The statues are probably the most memorable aspect of the course (apart from the 'front nine - martini lunch - back nine' format).

Some pictures are posted here: http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=36496.0

[Dave Falkner]

The best one in my book is at Yale

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41262673@N08/5269675363/

[Kevin Pallier]

David

Have you seen the one in the carpark at The Lakes ?

[Matthew Mollica]

There's a large statue / sculpture at Pebble Beach, which commemorates the 100th US Open in 2000.

The artist, Richard MacDonals, also sells smaller versions.

For a look click on this - http://www.collectionprivee.com/RichardMacDonald/Athletes/Site/pages/comm_bronze.htm

MM

[Tim Gavrich]

I've never played it, but I've heard from a few who have that there are quite a few statues at Morefar GC, which I believe is or was AIG's private course in Brewster, NY.

[Sam Morrow]

There is a nice (and relatively small) statue of Byron Nelson at Riverhill CC, a course he co-designed with Joe Finger, in Kerrville, TX.

Nelson also has a statue at TPC Four Seasons, is he the only player with multiple statues?