St Andrew’s Home of Golf Poster – Reginald Edward Higgins – 1925

St Andrew’s Home of Golf Poster – Reginald Edward Higgins – 1925

This is a superb, high-quality reproduction of a vintage St Andrews Golfing poster. The poster was realizsed by the London-born portrait and poster artist Reginald Edward Higgins. It presents a view of St Andrews showing the Royal & Ancient clubhouse and the first tee of the Old Course, with the West Sands in the background.

Whilst there seems to be little evidence to prove the case, it is believed that in AD 345, St Rule (St Regulus), a bishop of the city of Patras in Greece, brought the relics of St Andrew to Kirrymont on the Fife coast.  The bishop is thought to have arrived by boat bearing a tooth, an arm bone, a kneecap, and some fingers of the Saint. A small chapel was then built in the area to house the relics. Kirrymont’s name was changed and the town of St Andrews was founded. 

Whilst the exact details have been lost to the Scottish mists of time, golf is believed to have originated on the east coast of Scotland. In its early form players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club. The ‘sport’ became popular with everyone from peasants to royalty. The growth of the game’s popularity had become so problematic for the authorities that it was banned.

With his concerns of an invasion by the English armies, military training was compulsory for all males aged over 12. However, the nation’s enthusiastic pursuit of golf and football, led many to neglect their military training. This resulted in James I in 1424, becoming the first King in Scotland to approve a ban on the sports. The punishment for those caught “playing the futball” punished by a fine of four pence.

At the time futball was considered to be any ball game not played on horseback. So, the ban included early forms of football such as ball play, playing at ball, Shrovetide football and mob football which were often unruly and violent. It also included golf.

Thirty-three years later James II introduced an Act of Parliament on 6 March 1457 banning golf and football. The Act is the earliest known written evidence for the game of golf in Scotland.

The St Andrews The Home of Royal and Ancient Golf poster was origianlly printed by The Dangerfield Printing Co., Ltd., London in 1925. Almost 100 years later, original copies of this poster sell for over £10,000.

By the way, the ban on football and golf technically remained on the statute books until 1906.

Our posters are carefully and professionally created from vintage originals. Whilst great care is taken in the production of these posters, we also try to maintain a vintage feel, so there may be small imperfections, fold marks, scuffs, tears or marks that were part of the original poster master. If these do appear they should be visible on the larger views of the item on this listing. The originals of many of the posters we offer can cost many thousands of pounds, so whilst these posters look great, especially framed and mounted on a wall, they are intended as fun, affordable reproductions and not intended fine art prints.

The 50x70cm version has been specially produced to be used in conjunction with Ikea’s 50x70cm Ribba picture frame which currently retails for around £12. So you can bag a bargain of print and poster for just £22.