Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Five Things to Consider When Buying Golf Pictures

Golf pictures make great holiday gifts for collectors and golf enthusiasts. A lovely piece of golf course art can be the perfect finishing touch for a professional office, private dining room in a golf club or your game room. From home décor to investment potential, there are many reasons that people buy golf pictures. If you’re shopping around for golf art, either for yourself or as a gift, keep these five things in mind before you make your purchase.
Is It the Real Deal?
Golf autographs can be valuable, which brings a lot of scammers out of the woodwork. Whether you’re planning to buy Robert “Bobby” Jones golf course autographs, Linda Hartough golf course art or autographed golfer photos, always do business with reputable dealers who can provide authentication for your purchase.
Does It Fit the Décor in the Room?
Unless you’re specifically shopping for golf room décor, you may have some concerns about how well a particular piece of golf memorabilia or golf art fits into your home décor. The best golf art dealers provide golf pictures, golf photos and other types of golf memorabilia in a variety of frames, cases and settings that accent a wide range of styles. Shop around for pieces that suit your style, and if you don’t see a framing style you like, reach out to the dealer and ask. Often, a really good dealer will custom frame your choices, especially if you’re buying an unframed piece.
Speaking of Frames…
The frame, case or other setting for your golf pictures is more than just a pretty addition to your purchase. The right mat and frames are essential to providing protection for your precious golf photos and golf pictures. Always check to see if the dealer uses museum quality mats and other high-quality framing materials.
Is the Price Reasonable?
Prices for golf pictures, golf art and golf autographs are subjective, but that doesn’t mean that you should pay more than you have to. Some golf pictures are absolutely one-of-a-kind and you won’t find them anywhere but at one particular dealer. In that case, expect that you’ll pay a hefty price for the rarity. Most other golf art and golf autographs have a limited availability – they may be limited edition prints or be part of a signed series. You’ll often find similar or identical pieces at a number of different golf memorabilia dealers. When that happens, you may find a variety of prices.
Reputation Is Everything
When you’re shopping around, keep a few things in mind. An unusually low price for golf pictures is a warning signal. If someone is selling a picture of a golf course by Marci Rule for half the price you’ve seen it elsewhere, there’s something fishy. Buying from random strangers on eBay and other auction sites is asking for trouble. Reputable golf art dealers – guys that have been around for years and built a reputation for honesty and fair dealing – won’t risk their business selling you counterfeit golf art. Your best choice is always to buy golf art and collectibles from a well-known, reputable dealer.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Choosing Golf Pictures to Accent Your Game Room

What golf fan would love to be surrounded by golf memorabilia and golf pictures in a favorite room of the house? If you’re choosing game room décor, there are many different types of golf pictures that you can bring into the mix. Whether your tastes run to a lovely picture of a golf course or you prefer photos of historic moments in the lives of the legends of golf, you’re bound to find the perfect centerpiece when you choose golf room décor that includes golf cartoons, golfer photos or golf course art. Here’s a quick look at some of the best examples of golf pictures available through reputable dealers of golf memorabilia.
Golfer Photos
From vintage photos to contemporary golf news, there’s no lack of photos of the legends of golf with which to decorate your den or golf room. If you’re a fan of the classics, look for Ben Hogan golf swing series of photographs. Used as the basis for the sketches in Hogan’s own book, the series of photographs documents Hogan’s famous form from address to follow-through. Whether you choose one of the series or find a framed collection that includes three or more positions, the Ben Hogan golf swing photos are classic pieces of golf memorabilia.
Of course, Hogan isn’t the only one of the well-known legends of golf to be immortalized in famous golf pics. You’re bound to find unsigned and autographed photos of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Robert “Bobby”Jones, Babe Didrikson and so many more when you start poking around on sites that sell golf photos and golf memorabilia.
Golf Course Art
While many golfers are larger-than-life personalities, the true legends of golf are often the courses on which they play. Golf course autographs are very popular atmospheric photos in offices, boardrooms and private homes. The best golf course art manages to capture both the beauty of the landscape and the intricacies of the individual holes they portray. Among  the most popular golf course paintings are those of Augusta, the home of the Masters Tournament. Famed golf artists Linda Hartough and Marci Rule have each produced paintings of Augusta #12, for example, that show the lay and the pitch from different angles and at different times of day. Both are beautiful paintings that portray the famed golf hole in very different styles and conditions.
If you prefer a lighter mood for your game room décor, consider golf pictures from earlier times, particularly golf cartoons and golf pictures used for advertising in the early part of the last century. Whatever your preference, you’re sure to find the perfect piece of golf art to finish off your game room in style.