You’ll often hear golf described as an art— the art of putting. The art of chipping. It’s the illusive quality of the game that can’t be measured by science.

Every aspect of golf, from course architecture and club design to apparel and technology, demands its own form of artistry.

The modern game, then, is a union of art, science, and innovation — a collaboration across disciplines that equips the player with decades of innovation to help them achieve their own expression of artistry on the course.

At The Golf Player, we explore this intersection. We celebrate the art in all facets of the game through thoughtful commentary, course and gear reviews, and stories that highlight the creativity behind golf’s enduring appeal.

About The Name

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The game of golf has long been documented through writing and art. Prior to photography, artists depicted the game through paintings, drawings and engravings.

A name not commonly associated with documenting the game of golf through art was the 17th-century Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, who was renowned for his portrayal of light not only in his color paintings but in his monochromatic sketches and etchings as well.

Of Rembrandt’s more than 300 etchings, one depicts the game of golf— or kolf, as it was known in Amsterdam at the time, a precursor to the modern game.

The etching, titled The Golf Player, was created in 1654 and portrays a figure with a club and large ball, typical of kolf in that era.

The Golf Player takes its name from Rembrandt’s etching— a nod to the history of art in golf.