Linda Hartough to Offer Prints of Merion Golf Club at 2013 U.S. Open

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Linda Hartough, world-renowned golf-landscape artist (www.hartough.com), will be present at the U.S. Open Championship, to be played June 13-16 at the historic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. Hartough, who recently introduced her new painting, 16th Hole, East Course, Merion Golf Club, in commemoration of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, will be in attendance all week, Monday through Sunday, in the merchandise tent near the clubhouse, to display, sell and personalize prints of her new painting.

“It will be a pleasure to be at this year’s U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, a truly beautiful course that I enjoyed painting,” Hartough said.

This is Hartough’s 24th painting in her U.S. Open series, commissioned by the United States Golf Association. Offered in a limited edition of 850 prints and an additional 85 artist proofs, each is signed and numbered by the artist.

On choosing to paint the 16th Hole at Merion Golf Club, Hartough said, “The rest of the course looked wonderful in the spring air, and it was really hard to limit the choice to one hole. But the sight of the Quarry Hole ablaze with yellow-flowered scotch broom did it for me.”

The Quarry Hole is one of the most demanding holes in golf at one of the most historic courses in America. Designed by Hugh Wilson, the East Course opened in 1912. It perhaps is best known as the place where Bob Jones won the 1930 U.S. Amateur to complete the Grand Slam.

In this rendering, Hartough brilliantly captures Merion on a beautiful spring day, with details of scotch broom covering the treacherous terrain of the old limestone quarry. The panorama invites inspection of the dramatic undulations, stone ledges and elevations marking the difficult approach shot to the iconic two-tiered green.

“Linda has done a wonderful job capturing the drama of Merion’s famous ‘Quarry Hole’ – the 16th,” said Scott R. Nye, PGA Head Professional at Merion Golf Club. “The vibrant yellow scotch broom in the quarry and the famous orange wickers provide eye-catching pop that brings out the scenic beauty of the hole.

“The long afternoon shadows across the fairway coupled with the clubhouse in the lower left remind golfers that they are truly fortunate to walk where the legends of the game have played over 100 years of championship golf at Merion. The pencil sketch depicts the original farmhouse and barn, reminding players that the land was a farm long before Hugh Wilson’s gem was created.”

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