Golf Course Panoramas Help Frame the Sport

by: Michael O'Brien

One of the more popular genres of framed panoramas depict famous golf courses. Views of championship golf courses from around the world can be adorn your home or office. Framed golf course panoramas can make the perfect gift for the golfer or collector in your life.

One of the most recognizable golf courses in the world are is at Pebble Beach. Located on the scenic Monterey Peninsula on the central coast of California, Pebble Beach is comprised of four different courses, Spy Glass Hill, Spanish Bay, Pebble and Del Monte. Pebble is by far the most popular of the four courses, and is consistently rated as the number one golf course in America. The famous links style course has played host to numerous championship tournaments and great moments in golf history.

The incredible beauty of the California Coast is the backdrop for several famous golf holes, most notably the ninth hole which runs parallel to the coastline. The approach to the storied seventh green provides a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most recognizable greens in golf. A shot from the fairway to the green may mean hitting a sand wedge one day and an six iron the next. The wind off the ocean is constantly changing, making the seventh hole every bit as challenging as it is beautiful.

The other courses at Pebble are all stunning in their own right, but nothing compares to the Pebble Golf links.

Scotland is home to the oldest and most venerable golf course in the world. The Old Course at Saint Andrews is considered the indisputable home of golf, founded by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. The Old Course often plays host to the British Open tournament. The landmark clubhouse is a favorite of photographers and is often featured in panoramic images of the course. From the greenside pot bunkers to the rocky coastline, the Old Course offers views found nowhere else in the world.

The Western United States is home to many unsual golf course designs. The popularity of desert courses is based in part on the unique landscape of otherwise arid land. Many desert courses have retained much of the natural topography and plant features. Very often, the player must traverse a wide expanse of desert before reaching a landing zone in the fairway. The view from tee may be somewhat daunting and is a favorite of panoramic photographers. Cacti, scrub oak and outcroppings of rock combined with the beauty of well-groomed fairways provides a stark but striking view that can only be found in the desert.

I have played virtually every golf course in the Black Hills of South Dakota. These courses are carved into the hillsides with outcroppings of ancient rock that presented some very challenging moments. Everywhere you turn and on almost every hole, there are scenic views that are simply breathtaking. As with many western courses, the fairways are wide and the greens tough. Not all of the shots I took on the golf course were with a golf club. There was hardly a round played when I did not have my camera in the bag.

Golf fans and collectors can find panoramic images that are very well photographed. Thanks to online shopping, fans of golf course panoramas can find images of their favorite golf courses from all over the world. Some golf course panoramas have become quite collectable especially those taken during unusual weather conditions and during tournament play. Whether for yourself or as a gift, golf course panoramas can bring the beauty of the worlds great courses into your living space.

About the Author

Michael O'Brien is a writer for many popular websites.