I see it all of the time. It is a consistent theme at the majority of the golf courses that I visit. Usually it catches my attention when I sit down in a golf cart and take a look at the scorecard. There it is… an oversaturated and/or overexposed grainy image of a fountain in the pond on the third hole. The image usually makes me wince but in addition to the appalling visual, I also see a ton of opportunity.
Outdated or poor quality imagery is doing 3 things to your business.
Changing the perception and reputation of your golf course.
Discouraging visitors from booking rounds of golf.
Watering down every marketing attempt that you make.
Top 3 excuses that golf courses give for not having high quality imagery.
We don’t have the budget.
Our golf course won’t photograph particularly well.
The owner has a son studying photography in college, he is going to take some photos.
Why hiring a professional golf course photographer makes a difference.
Every golf course has several aspects of undeniable beauty. A great photographer will find this and capture it.
Budget: Golf courses spend millions on their golf courses but often peanuts on photography. Courses should have a small budget set aside for photography. The best courses refresh their imagery at least once a year.
An experienced golf course photographer is much different than someone just learning the craft or even a professional photographer in a different field. While I love doing favors for friends and family, this area requires a professional focused specifically on golf.
To illustrate my point, I was recently hired to photograph 3 golf courses in Seattle. All 3 of these golf courses are generally regarded as lower cost options in the Seattle area. For years, they have used outdated and low quality imagery.
Below you will find the images that I found on the scorecards for Jackson Park and Bellevue Golf Course. I also included a banner image on the homepage of Bill Wright Golf Complex. These are great examples of images that need to be upgraded. Fortunately, I was on the job and it was time to make these Seattle gems shine.
Image on the homepage of Bill Wright Golf Complex
Jackson Park scorecard
Bellevue scorecard
With a large set of power lines running through the middle of the property, Jackson Park certainly has it’s visual challenges. But Jackson also has an overwhelming amount of golf heart and Seattle charm. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and I found the golf course to be plenty spectacular. There are some interesting holes and some pretty good elevation changes throughout the property. The existing image wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t do the golf course any favors.
The tall pines and the flowering cherry blossom trees make Jackson Park shine in the spring months. It was important that I captured this feeling with my photographs. A good photograph will capture the highlights of the golf course, while leaving it’s shortcomings on the cutting room floor. This task can be difficult, but it is a challenge that I love to embrace.
What was formerly known as Jefferson Park is now Bill Wright Golf Complex. The golf course is a beloved destination for many locals, beginners and avid public golfers. Before winning The Masters, Fred Couples also grew up playing golf on these fairways. Most importantly, it is the site of where my RGV Tour took off back in 2018. For many golfers, it is quintessential Seattle golf. So how do you capture all of that in one photograph? The short answer is that you hire Patrick Koenig to take photographs of your golf course.
Lengthy rows of majestic pines line the lush green fairways at Bellevue. But from the photo on the scorecard, you would think the golf course is filled with fake ponds and fountains. With just a little light, I was able to hone in on the real reason that hordes of golfers love to visit Bellevue Golf Course. A mixture of massive Western Red Cedars, Douglas Firs and Western Hemlocks line the fairways and shape the golf experience at Bellevue. The course is defined by their presence and their shadows.
My goal for this photoshoot, and every shoot, was to provide imagery that gives the viewer a sense of what the golf feels like at that particular destination. I want them to experience the sensation of walking down the 9th fairway and get so excited they immediately call the course and book a tee time. Yes, that is not an exaggeration. Good photography has the power to make you pick up the phone immediately and make a tee time. I have heard this compliment hundreds of times.
If you are a golf course owner or operator in a similar position, I strongly urge you to upgrade your collection of imagery. All of my photography shoots start with a conversation where we assess your specific needs and budget. Every project is custom tailored and priced to make sure that each client gets exactly what they are looking for.
It is time to do give your golf course the representation that it deserves.
Just send me a message to start the process.