Kevin Murray’s Golf Course Photography

By Tim Cotroneo

While working as Creative Director for Callaway Golf, Kevin Murray had the good fortune to work on a dream project with St. Andrews Trust. Murray felt one of the photographs capturing the world’s oldest golf courses lacked imagination and spark. What Murray said and did next would be lifechanging.

Murray showed the St. Andrews team a photographic image he personally shot of a local golf course. His photo was rich in visual drama. Murray encouraged the people representing St. Andrews Trust that all their photographs should reveal their courses powerful imagery and history.

The members of St. Andrews Trust not only agreed with Murray, they asked him to shoot photographs for all seven of their courses. This initial project showcasing Murray’s signature sense of color, lighting, and environment would serve as a springboard to the images he would ultimately shoot featuring the most epic golf courses around the world. On the heels of returning home from a recent assignment at Pinehurst, Travel Dreams asked Murray to share a handful of his favorite photos and reflect on how his photography career has evolved.

Questions and Answers with Kevin Murray
Q: Where are you based?
A: I’m based in Sussex UK, 20 minutes from Gatwick and an hour to Heathrow so easy for flights when working.

Q: How did you get started in photography?
A: I studied photography as part of my foundation course at Art College. For most of my career I worked as an art director and creative director in advertising. This experience working with the top photographers became a useful tool to have. I was Creative director on the Callaway Golf account for six years. My last project for them was producing some packaging for St Andrews Links Trust. They supplied a shot which I didn’t like. I took a pic of a local course which was very dramatic and said that this is the style of imagery they should be using. It was different from all the other shots available. The next thing I know is that the Links Trust asked me if I could shoot all seven of their courses in this style. That was nearly 20 years ago!!

What is your most vivid memory of this Prestige Golfshire Bangalore India photoshoot?
A: This shot of the 16th on the Prestige Golfshire in Bangalore India is from my second visit, I patiently waited hovering in a bucket of a JCB to get the elevation of the scene and the setting sun.

Q: What is your favorite camera or “go to” camera?
A: I’ve always used Canon cameras, I like the clarity from their lenses and also their Colour management, I’m using R5’s at the moment. When I need elevation for a shoot, I’m using the DJI Mavic 3 pro, it’s much easier than using a stepladder or a cherry picker.

Q: How do you educate yourself to take better photos?
A: Understanding how to work in different light conditions is the most important factor when producing outstanding images. Knowing when to use artificial light and controlling that aspect will make life much easier when you take them to the next level in post. Composition is also very important when structuring an image, getting the right balance in the framing will enhance the viewer’s engagement, this applies to all aspects of creativity.

What is your most vivid memory of this Mauna Lani photoshoot:
When I visited Mauna Lani Hawai it was pre drone technology so to get elevation I spent the week nestled in a 60ft Cherry Picker. The15th is supposedly the most photographed par 3 in the world. We set up the picker behind the 15th and as the sun was setting this was my view of the 13th hole. It’s one of my favourites from the trip.

Q: What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
A: I had to dig deep into my memory banks as a student to refresh my technical knowledge of taking pictures. Moving into the world of taking digital images made life a lot easier. I was also
still working with top photographers so with that experience the transition of becoming a full-time snapper was relatively easy. That said, the biggest challenge when working with Golf Monthly on the front cover player shots, understanding how to use flash effectively was a struggle to start with, but I had a great mentor in my co staff photographer Tom Miles, he was a great help with the technical side of setting up front cover portrait light conditions.

What is your most vivid memory of this Taba Heights photoshoot:
I visited Taba Heights back in 2012, the journey from Sharm El Sheikh through the Sinai Mountains was spectacular. Sadly, a flash flood a few years back devastated the Golf Course, and it has yet to be restored.

Q: What is your photographic niche and what is it about this niche that appeals, inspires, or satisfies you?
A: When I first started there wasn’t any European photographers purely working on golf course imagery. I wanted to create a style that was different to anything else out there, drama was a key factor, I would shoot in all conditions, looking back there’s been a few mistakes with the quality of post work and that has been a learning curve. I see so many new photographers coming into the business that make many basic mistakes with their shots. Keeping it real and not over cooking the post work will make for a better image.

Q: Talk about the preparation that goes into your photography?
A: When I get a commission the first part of the process is to agree a fee with the client and also let them know exactly what they are going to get as part of the package. I’ll then look at
available dates and if I need to organize flights I’ll build some flexibility into the dates based on weather conditions. Mostly I’ll book flights and hotels when we are sure the weather is going to behave. The day before I’m traveling I’ll check through all of my equipment to make sure it’s all working Ok. I’ll take my laptop with me and also a portable hard drive so that I can back up all of my images both stills and video content. I’ll also research the area with Google Maps to get an idea of the course layout and what will work better as morning or evening shots.

Q: What is special or unique about shooting golf photography?
A: To take great golf images you have to have an understanding of the game, there’s been many occasions where a client has employed a local photographer who doesn’t understand the game, I’ve then been called in by the marketing company to reshoot the project. When shooting players knowing the dynamics of the golf swing is also an asset, it will help in technically getting the right images.

What is your most vivid memory of this Barbados/Green Monkey photoshoot?
I visited Bardados in 2009 with the famous groundbreaking publication GolfPunk magazine. At first, we weren’t given permission to film at the Green Monkey, however after some sweet talking from the editor Tim Southwell we did manage to both play and shoot the course. The famous monkey sand trap makes a great visual statement on the signature 16th hole.

Q: What do you try to say in your photographs?
Murray: Wow!! I want to play that course!

Q: Is there an under the radar course that really speaks to you as a photographer?
A: In 2012 I was the first snapper to visit Lofoten Links in Norway, it was still under construction, but even then I saw the incredible potential of this amazing venue especially their signature hole the par 3 2nd. Since then I’ve visited many times to shoot the course, and it’s now considered to be one of the best courses on the planet. I’m extremely proud to say that through my images over the years I’ve played my part in helping Lofoten Links achieve that accolade.

What is your most vivid Lofoten photoshoot memory?
The most Northernly Links course on the planet, Lofoten Links is by far my favourite destination to visit. I’ve shot there several times and the 24 hour daylight in the Summer offers spectacular opportunities to produce stunning content. That said this shot of the 17th was taken in late October just as the snow was starting to dust the mountains.

Q: What stands out about your experience with Callaway and connecting with some of the top players in the world?
A: As Creative Director on the Callaway Golf account I’ve had the opportunity to work with the best players in the world, including the legend Seve Ballesteros. Callaway has been instrumental in my career for the last 30 years and has given me opportunities to work with the best people in the industry, moments that most golfers would love to experience. Without that relationship I wouldn’t be where I am now!

Q: What is the story behind you becoming the official photographer St. Andrews?
A: After my first contract with the Links trust back in 2005, I regularly visited St Andrews working on various projects for them. In 2014 they asked me if I would like to be their first ever official Photographer, it was a project that would be based on me providing archive material for a four-year period. All pre drone work, I look back fondly at the creative content that I produced, being their first Official snapper is a badge that I wear proudly.

Q: Anything I haven’t asked that you’d like readers to know about you or your photography?
Murray: Over the years I’ve shot more than 500 golf courses worldwide, I’ve now included video content as part of my repertoire which can be viewed on YouTube www.banditgolfproductions.com I also have a page on my website where limited editions prints can be purchased. www.kevinmurraygolfphotography.com