Open themed golf balls sculpture unveiled in Southport

Open themed golf balls sculpture unveiled in Southport

An amazing golf-themed art structure will dominate the Southport skyline ahead of the 146th Open Golf Championship.

With the Championship soon to tee off, Sefton Council has come up with a fitting way to engage with the local community and the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to the borough for the event.

The art structure, based at The Atkinson in Southport town centre, will stand over 10 metres tall and five metres wide – covering the entire height of the Atkinson façade – and is inspired by every golfer’s dream; a hole in one.

Four giant golf clubs replicating the motion of a swing are placed at the top of the building, with 20 golf balls depicting the trajectory of the ball into a hole at ground level.  It’s hoped the piece of art will be a talking point and will prove a popular spot for selfies and snapshots by visitors and local residents.

The artwork, commissioned by Wild Creations, is just one of many activities in Southport to herald the staging of The 146th Open on England’s Golf Coast having worked hand in hand with golf’s governing body, The R&A.

During the week of the Open Championship, Southport will be running the fantastic FREE ‘Summer of Golf’ event. With interactive golf activities, golf exhibitions and lots more it will be a great place to spend some time, whether you’re a seasoned golfer or new to the game. It will centre around the Town Hall Gardens and The Atkinson, right in the heart of the town. This runs from July 15-23.

From July 20-23, Rick Shiels and Peter Finch, golf bloggers and reviewers, will be there to give their thoughts on the day’s play. There is also a chance to win one of four lessons with them through visitsouthport social media.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s Labour Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Skills, said: “The hole in one artwork is a great spectacle and a great way to mark the onset of the prestigious Championship.

“We are expecting hundreds of thousands of visitors to Sefton along with millions watching on TV for the Championship and the hole in one artwork is one of many initiatives planned to ensure everyone leaves our amazing borough with a great memory of The 146th Open.

“Please get behind the Championship and really put Sefton in the global spotlight.”

Johnnie Cole Hamilton, Executive Director of Championships at The R&A, said: “We are delighted that Sefton Council have commemorated the return of The Open to Royal Birkdale with such an awe-inspiring mural in the iconic Town Hall Gardens. The Open is the one they all want to win and we are delighted that golf fans and local residents alike can celebrate the Championship coming back to Southport.

“We have no doubt it will prove a popular tourist attraction throughout The Open for people of all ages and with The R&A offering free tickets to Royal Birkdale for all children under-16, we are confident watching the world’s top golfers can leave a lasting legacy in the area.”

Matt Wild, Wild Creations Director, said: “It was an honour to be invited to work with Sefton Council to create a build for The Open.

“We knew that for such a prestigious event we would have to go big and so jointly we came up with the design of a supersize structure that couldn’t fail to catch the eye.

“Our main goal was to create a static structure that had a sense of movement and for us the key really was in the detail so over a period of weeks every dimple of every golf ball was hand crafted with the finishing touch of the Sefton Council logo really bringing the sculpture to life.”

Adult and Youth (16-24) season tickets are available to purchase for the 146th Open. Visit TheOpen.com/tickets for full details.

During the Championship please follow us on twitter @seftoncouncil @visitsouthport @TheOpen and follow #TheOpen, #OpenTravel #Southporttime for advice, information and travel tips.