Royal Blackheath Golf Club to sell prize portrait at auction

The Royal Blackheath Golf Club, with a history spanning over 400 years, is set to sell off its famous portrait of Henry Callender in a bid to raise the money needed to buy the freehold of the course and the 17th century clubhouse.

A historic feature

The portrait has hung above the main staircase at this renowned private golf club for more than 150 years, with it being recorded in club minutes as being in the club’s possession since at least the 1870s. It shows Henry Callender dressed in his regal captain’s uniform, alongside a 1870s putter. Peter Alliss, former pro golfer and commentator, called the painting a “world-famous piece of golfing memorabilia”, with auctioneers confirming that it is both a rare and extraordinary sale.

Nowadays the picture has been replicated as a print many times over, and is known to hang in golf clubs throughout the world. However, only Royal Blackheath Golf Club possesses the original. It is now going to leave the premises of the club for the first time since the 1800s, as it is estimated to sell for up to £800,000 at Bonhams in London.

A tough decision

The tough decision to sell the portrait and the putter depicted within it comes after Royal Blackheath Golf Club was offered the chance to buy the land on which the club and course sits from The Crown Estate. The sale of the painting, along with other fundraising, is hoped to raise enough money to secure the purchase of the estate and prevent it from being sold elsewhere. The club’s members want to secure Royal Blackheath Golf Club’s future for many generations to come.

Rod Baker, a past captain of Royal Berkshire Golf Club who is involved in the sale of the painting, told The Telegraph: “It’s an iconic golfing picture. We’re terribly disappointed that we feel we need to sell this, and the only reason we would do so is that we’ve got a unique opportunity to buy the freehold of the golf club.

“It would be very nice if it was bought by somebody where it could be on display, and looked after, and for the benefit of golfers and people who are interested in seeing it.”