Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am Trophy

Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am Trophy (2021)

This sculpture was produced for the re-dedication of the Pro-Am tournament that occurs the same week as the Dominion Energy Charity Classic PGA Champions Tour tournament played at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, VA. I want to thank Dominion Energy and Stefanie Fedor of The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for the opportunity to design and build this piece.

Dimensions: 10.5″ x 10.5″ x 4″ (base depth)

Materials:  Maple (golf ball), Weeping Cherry (the circular form), Walnut (base with text)

Design notes:  This sculpture is based on having imagined the swing plane of the club head – an arc formed around the body. The quality of a golf shot is directly related to the quality of a player’s swing plane. The swing plane isn’t the only factor, but a well aligned swing shapes the shot and affords a greater degree of ball control. This abstraction has an implied beginning and ending, a golf ball. It grows in mass (and hence power) from one end of the circle to the other. This piece communicates in static form the speed and power brought to bear in a tee shot.

There is only one true circle in this piece, the line created on the face where the exterior contour begins to curve around to the back and the front face bevels towards the center.

The profile of the form not directly attached to the golf ball is patterned after a long iron. In considering the face of this end of the swing plane, and the actual shape that would follow the plane around to the golf ball itself, I wanted to indicate the general shape of the club head without duplicating it precisely. The decision was made to not cut grooves in what would be the “clubface” for that reason as well. This “clubface” also lacks the angle that is required to get the ball off the ground. 14 degrees, the loft on a 1 iron was considered but not chosen in the end; maybe we call it a zero iron. Ultimately the pattern in the wood grain is enough to provide textural and dimensional interest so no further shaping, grooving, or pattern cutting was necessary…the clean smooth surface is all good by itself.

Photography credit: Taylor Dabney