U.S. Open Art Is Different, Too

Many things are different about this year's U.S. Open Championship(s). Pinehurst No. 2 has been altered so completely it might as well be a new golf course.  The USGA has scheduled the Women's Open for the week immediately following the Men's--on the same course. And, while this year marks the seventh consecutive time that artist Lee Wybranski has painted the official commemorative poster for the U.S. Open Championship, but it’s different from any other he has produced.

Wybranski had to create a poster that honors the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open, since the USGA is staging both national championships over consecutive weeks on the same golf course—Pinehurst’s famed Course No. 2, which was designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and has hosted numerous important events since opening in 1907.

“This one was a little bit different, that’s for sure,” says Wybranski, who has painted the official poster for the U.S. Open since 2008 and is also working on posters for this year’s British Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and PGA Championship at Valhalla.

“I had to approach it differently. The idea was to focus on the historic nature of holding the two championships back to back. The USGA has never done that before, and whether or not they ever do it again, this will have been the first. I’m excited to be involved.”

There’s something else very different about this poster from the others Wybranski has created for the USGA: The golf course is not featured. “There’s been a lot of interest in the restoration of the golf course, but to appeal to the largest number of fans, we went with other elements that speak more to the iconic nature of Pinehurst,” says Wybranski. “Those would be the famous ‘Putter Boy’ sundial and the clubhouse. They set the scene for where we are, placed behind those two magnificent championship trophies. Tying it all together is the American flag, which frames the scene perfectly.

“I’m very pleased with how this poster turned out,” says Wybranski.

Wybranski will be in Pinehurst for nearly three weeks, starting the week before the U.S. Open and through both championships, signing copies of the poster for sale in the USGA’s merchandise pavilion. The poster is also for sale on USGAshop.com.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Artist Pays Tribute to Jack Nicklaus' 18 Major Wins

1972 US Open

Golf and sporting artist Walt Spitzmiller spent eight years painting what he believes is golf’s greatest achievement of the modern era:  Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championship titles.  In a collection of 18 paintings simply entitled Jack’s Majors, Spitzmiller brilliantly captures a moment from each of Nicklaus’ record-setting major victories in an artistic tribute to the legendary champion who competed over six decades and registered 120 professional tournament wins plus the lifetime Grand Slam.

1986 Masters

One third of Nicklaus’ major championship titles came at the Masters and with this year being the 50th anniversary of the “Golden Bear’s” first win of his unmatched run at Augusta National, Spitzmiller has published Jack’s Majors in a commemorative fine art portfolio book.  The hand-bound and luxuriously crafted collector’s volume, which is limited to 100 editions, is numbered and signed by Jack Nicklaus and the artist and includes 18 giclee art prints (18” x 24”) of the collection, along with accompanying text that recounts highlights of each tournament by award-winning golf author and journalist, Don Wade.

1978 British Open

“I’ve been a great admirer of Jack Nicklaus and it has been a labor of love to paint each of his landmark major championship victories,” said Spitzmiller.  “I am delighted to offer the 18 paintings as a tribute to the world’s greatest golfer and his unique and enduring achievements.  I am especially grateful that Jack is so pleased with the art and that he agreed to sign each of the 100 limited edition Portfolios.”

Walt Spitzmiller is one of the world’s foremost sporting artists who specializes in golf. For many years, Walt’s art regularly illustrated stories in Sports Illustrated and GOLF Magazine, and he was the chief contributing artist to Senior Golfer Magazine, as well as a special contributor to Outdoor Life magazine.  Additionally, Walt’s art may be found in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Baseball Hall of Fame, The Smithsonian Institute, The American Museum of Illustration and the Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf