LONDON, 10 Dec 2015, (HK Golfer News Wire) - Named "The Portrait of Henry Callender", the painting is regarded as one of the game's oldest depictions and was created by Lemuel Francis Abbott in 1790. It has been hanging in Royal Blackheath Golf Club for over two centuries.
The club decided to sell the painting to raise money to buy the freehold of its course and clubhouse from The Crown Estate.
Bidding started at GBP450,000 (approximately US$682,800) and a Bonham's spokesman said the painting was sold to a British buyer for US$722,500. The putter that Callender is seen holding the painting was also sold at auction. The iron-headed club fetched close to US$100,000.
Henry Baggott, a specialist for Bonhams, said: "It's an enormous painting, it's life-size, and it's very imposing to look at.
"It's a very well-known golfing image and it grew to fame as it has been hanging in the golf club since 1812.
"It's significance is that Blackheath is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world and it is one of the first documented paintings of a club member.
"There are replicas of it in clubs and collections all around the world, and a sale of this sort of fame in the world of golf is relatively unheard of."
Both items formed part of Bonhams Old Master Paintings sale.