If it wasn’t already, the legend of Old Tom Morris has been rubberstamped on the grounds of the Old Course.
A statue of the Grand Old Man of Golf was unveiled on the eve of the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, played partly on the sport’s most famous course at St Andrews.
A four-time winner of The Open, Old Tom also created over 100 golf courses and has a lasting legacy in the game over 150 years since he won his first Claret Jug.
The project originated from R&A member Ronald Sandford’s love for the Old Tom statue at Rosapenna in Ireland. ‘Why not erect one in his hometown?’ He thought. Scottish sculptor David Annand was commissioned to create the statue which now overlooks the famous shop and the 18th green.
A welcome addition to St Andrews’ rich tapestry, and also a welcome new face in the healthy bank of statues that the sport holds. Golf takes pride in remembering its icons through the power of craft, so where does this new statue of Old Tom Morris rank among the best in the business?
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Below is a list of the best golf statues that come to mind. If you think of anything else, certainly let us know.
Payne Stewart and Donald Ross at Pinehurst
If you like golf statues, you can get your fill at Pinehurst, the host venue of the 2024 US Open, and also the 1999 US Open which brought inspiration to one monument in North Carolina.
Payne Stewart’s iconic celebration is depicted in a superb statue which was moved from the 18th green on the No.2 course to the fan entrance at this year’s US Open so fans could take pictures with it. Stewart beat Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in what is remembered as one of the best-ever finishes to a major.
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Donald Ross is also stood proud at Pinehurst. The legendary architect made the No.2 course which isn’t that long and doesn’t have any rough, but contains unique sandy waste areas and wiregrass that provide a stiff test.
The snake at the Copperhead Course
Innisbrook Resort in Florida hosts the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour, and it is also home to the snake statue that sits in the Snake Pit at the Copperhead Course.
The Snake Pit refers to the last three holes designed by Larry Packard which make up what is said to be one of the toughest finishes on the tour, featuring two par 4s and a 200-yard par 3.
Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill
There are several spots where you can find a statue of Arnold Palmer such as Tralee, but arguably the most poignant is the large monument at Bay Hill where he used to host the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
It was first unveiled at the Florida venue in 2017 and is a replica of the statue of the King that sits at Wake Forest, where he attended college on a golf scholarship.
The Rampant Goat at Lahinch
Goats are part of the experience when you play golf at Lahinch Golf Club in southwest Ireland. When the club was founded in 1892, people would allow donkeys, sheep and goats to graze on the golf course.
The bronze statue of the Rampant Goat was commissioned on the club’s 125th anniversary. It sits outside of the clubhouse and represents the venue’s embrace of the local wildlife.
The Bear at PGA National
Tom and George Fazio created PGA National in 1981, but it has been reworked by Jack Nicklaus on multiple occasions. It was the long-term home of the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour which no longer exists.
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Much like the Snake Pit at Innisbrook, there is the Bear Trap here which covers holes 15 to 17. There are two par 3s and one par 4 that heavily feature water and you are greeted by the bear statue upon arrival.
Bobby Jones at Augusta National
Bobby Jones and Alistair Mackenzie worked together to design Augusta National, one of golf’s most famous venues. Jones was a seven-time major champion and ingrained in the Georgia venue’s history.
An 18.5-inch statue is part of a working sundial outside of the member golf shop which features a brown patina and etched across the bottom are the words ‘Slow Back, Time Right’. It was presented to former Augusta chairman Clifford Roberts in 1972.
Seve Ballesteros in Pedrena
There are a couple of monuments dedicated to Seve Ballesteros around the world, but perhaps none more special than the one in Pedrena, Spain where the five-time major winning Spaniard is from.
If you can get by the idea that the statue doesn’t look that much like the European Ryder Cup icon, then you can appreicate how special it is for golf fans to visit the statue where he lived.
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