The Golfers by Charles Lees is on display at The British Golf Museum for the months of July and August 2003. The oil painting was purchased by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 2002 and is now touring Scotland. This is a wonderful opportunity for it to be seen in its home setting, St. Andrews.

The Golfers: A Grand Match played over the Links of St. Andrews on the day of the Annual Meeting of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, to give it its full-title, was completed in 1847. The painting features an array of colourful characters including most of the leading amateur players of the era as well as the great early professionals, Allan Robertson and Willie Dunn. It shows a two ball foursome match watched by a large crowd, whereby the artist has skilfully left the audience wondering if the ball will go in the hole.

Charles Lees was born in Cupar in 1800 and then moved to Edinburgh, where he became a well established and successful artist. In the 1840s, he began to work on sporting subjects and his first major sporting piece was The Golfers. Also on display are two of his sketches which he used to complete his masterpiece.

Sam Groves, Curator, commented, “As far was we know, The Golfers has never been on public display in St. Andrews, so we are delighted to be able to display it in the Museum. It is a wonderful painting and I highly recommend viewing!”