THIS year is a very significant milestone in the history of Liphook Golf Club as they celebrate their centenary.

And they have taken delivery of a very special memento of the year – a wonderful commemorative centenary painting by one of the world’s foremost golf course artists, Graeme Baxter.

Nick Lees, Liphook’s centenary year club captain, said: “About two years ago, the planning for Liphook centenary year was well under way.

“Prompted by an article I read about Graeme Baxter in one of the golf magazines, I made contact with him to enquire as to whether he would be interested in accepting a commission to do a painting of Liphook.

“I had known about his work for nearly 30 years having first seen one of his pieces in St Andrews on one of our many family holidays there – and I thought surely, we can persuade this Scottish artist to come south of the border to paint Liphook.

“Little did I realise he now lives in Texas!

“Of course, I am delighted Graeme accepted the commission and despite living thousands of miles away, the whole process of working with him has been very easy and a huge amount of fun!”

Graeme is widely considered to be the foremost golf course artist in the world.

He has been the official artist to some of the world’s most important tournaments such as the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship, as well as artist to the PGA Tour and The European Tour.

His work is displayed in some of the clubhouses of the most prestigious clubs in the world, including St Andrews and Augusta.

He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list for his services to golf and tourism in Scotland.

The finished work was officially unveiled by Nick and ladies’ captain Sally Hardie at the club’s Founders’ Lunch.

The lunch on February 17 was the first of a number of special events planned through the year which will celebrate 100 years of the club.

Attendees at the lunch included many of those who have served the club in recent years – president, centenary club captain, ladies’ captain, chairman of trustees, past presidents, past captains, past ladies’ captains, trustees, life members (50-plus years), current general committee members and some current staff.

Liphook also welcomed a number of other guests:

Tom McKenzie, the course architect responsible for remodelling the course two years ago;

Graeme Baxter; and

Anne-Francois Ropert, Graeme’s assistant.

Sadly, Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A who was due to attend, had to cancel a couple of days before the event because of a delayed return from the US, having tested positive for Covid.

The club were especially pleased to have been able to track down six grandchildren or great-grandchildren of two of the Liphook club founders, Lt Col Oliver Hawkshaw and Edward Lee.

For further information about the club contact captain Nick Lees or the club secretary on 01428 723271.