Tips for Collecting Golf Art

Golf art is rapidly becoming one of the most popular collectibles. Golf course autographs, vintage golf photos and signed photos of famous golfers are just a few of the many different types of golf art and golf memorabilia you might choose to collect. If you’re considering starting a collection of golf memorabilia or art, consider these tips to help you build a satisfying and attractive collection.
Theme Your Collection
Collections that revolve around a theme are often more valuable than eclectic collections. There are so many different ways that you could theme your golf art collection that it would be impossible to name them all. You can choose to collect Masters Tournament golf memorabilia, for example, or confine your collection to paintings by a famous golf artist like Linda Hartough or Marci Rule. You might decide to collect paintings of each of the holes at Augusta, or choose different interpretations of the same hole by different artists. Rule and Hartough have both painted Augusta #12 and many other holes at famous gold courses, for example.
Appearance Matters
When you look for golf collectibles, remember that appearance and quality are important. Don’t settle for unframed golf pics, or worse, golf photos in cheap plastic frames. There are well-known, respected dealers who create beautiful collections of golf art and one-of-a-kind framed pieces of memorabilia using museum quality wood and materials. It’s about more than just good looks, though. High-quality framing and archival mats help preserve and protect your acquisitions.
Signatures Add Value
Photos of famous golfers are a great choice for game room décor. Golf autographs and signed golf photos are even more valuable. An authentic signature can greatly increase the value of the golf memorabilia you purchase and collect.
Authentication Is Vital
No matter how cool something seems to be, without authentication, it’s pretty much worthless. Your best option for ensuring that you’re buying genuine golf memorabilia and golf autographs is to always purchase your items from a reputable dealer. When a well-known and respected dealer authenticates a pin flag from the Masters Tournament or an autograph of one of the legends of golf, you can be certain that it is authentic.
Buy What You Like
No matter what experts recommend, you’re the one who has to live with your purchases. Choose artwork that you like or golf photos that speak to you. Golf art encompasses everything from vintage advertisements to golf cartoons and pictures of a golf course, so you’re sure to find something that you’ll want on your wall.

Know Your Golf Art

Whether you’re decorating a boardroom or your den, golf art is an excellent choice. Golf pictures are accessible to both golfers and non-golfers. A picture of a golf course on the wall of an office waiting room is an attractive landscape painting even to those who don’t know that it’s a Linda Hartough painting of Augusta #12. For golf enthusiasts, recognizing some of the most famous golf courses in the world is an added pleasure to your golf room décor. There are a number of excellent artists and photographers who paint, print and photograph golf scenes, from golf course pictures to golfer photos. But should you choose an original golf painting, a golf course photo or a golf print? Understanding the difference can help you choose the golf collectibles and golf art that suits you, your tastes and your budget the best.
Golf Course Art
There are many different ways to put a picture of a golf course on your walls: paintings, prints, photographs and reproductions are the most common. Original artwork is generally the most expensive because an original painting is one of a kind. Most golf artists, however, release their golf course art as prints in limited, signed print editions. Prints may be made via various types of plates or through digital printing. In either case, signed edition prints of golf course paintings by such artists as Linda Hartough and Marci Rule are considered “originals,” because, unlike copies or reproductions, there are slight variations that make each numbered print slightly different from all the other prints in the series.
Golf Autographs
Autographs are among the most popular type of memorabilia in any sport, and golf is no exception. Autographed golfer photos are extremely popular as bar décor,  golf room décor or décor for a golf club dining room or boardroom. The available autographs range from legends of golf like Jack Nicklaus and Robert “Bobby” Jones to celebrity golfers, like Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason, who were more famous for their other roles. Golf autographs are highly sought by collectors, especially if the autographs are on fairly rare photos. Some of the most popular golfer photos are those of well-known golfers at pivotal moments in their careers, or celebrating their wins at the Masters, or the U.S. or British Open tournaments.
Golf Memorabilia
Classic golfer photos and golf course photos can be turned into works of art suitable for the executive boardroom by combining them into display pieces. There are dealers who specialize in creating specialty golf art that incorporates famous golf pics with golf course pictures and memorabilia pieces, such as pin flags and badges. Each of these is a unique creation that will grace the walls of your meeting room, den or club with the beauty, grace and competitive spirit that is the game of golf.