Why We Love Golf: A Photo Essay

We asked readers for photos displaying their affection for golf. Here's how they answered

This photo was taken on a recent golf vacation to Scotland. I am just lining up my pitch onto the 18th green at Kingsbarns. Note the two rainbows in the background. The photo was taken by a friend, Cosmo Santullo.-- William D. Puso

My buddy will do anything to save a stroke. Here is a picture to prove it.-- Tom Loewenstine

My 6-year-old son, Charlie, experiences the joy of the one-putt.-- Sam Weinman

The theme of the 2011 women's member-guest at Longshore Golf Club in Westport, Conn., was "America the Beautiful."-- Stina Sternberg

A lone and wet fan at the 2011 British Open at Royal St. George's.-- Bill Fields

Paired up with a future "Fashionista" at Kingsbarns in Scotland.-- * Ken DeLago*

My daughter climbed Mt. Huron, 14,000 feet. I did not make it all the way. She took a dozen balls up and a 3-wood. Let's say it was a "hit".-- * Mike Cauzillo*

-- * Mike Cauzillo*

This was taken for my husband's first Father's Day. He loves golf and I thought it'd be cute to hang these in our golf-decorated bonus room. My daughter, Ansley, is the little girl. She was 10 months at the time.-- * Carin T. Daniels***

As you can see from behind the first green at Bayonne Golf Club, the main visual attractions tend to be the clubhouse and the sizable American flag.-- * Matt Ginella*

My dad gives my son Parker his first golf lesson in Montauk, N.Y.-- * Christian Iooss*

I took this picture from one of the greens at Glasgow Gailes in Scotland during a golf trip in August, 2007, which my son, Eddie, treated me to. The horse and rider were crossing the fairway a short distance from the green. That's Eddie in the foreground. As an 81-year-old father playing golf with his son in Scotland, that was a magical moment!-- Ed Downum, Sr.

1947 U.S. Amateur champion Robert Henry (Skee) Riegel, 1914-2009, with his dog, John Paul, photographed in Cape May, N.J.-- Bill Fields

We call this picture "Intensity": My 69-year-old mother at DeLaveaga In Santa Cruz, CA. She was on her way to Yemen to serve in the Peace Corp for 2 1/2 years. Taken in 1985. She passed of Alzheimer's at 83.-- Paul Oldham

A double hazard at Trump National Hudson Valley in Hopewell Junction, N.Y.-- * Stina Sternberg*

In the cup!-- * Gary Sinquefield*

The 6th hole at Grey Wolf: The Cliffhanger.-- * Chris Eden*

This is of my friend, Joem who was struggling with a wonky golf cart throughout the round when the wheel literally fell off. He attempted to repair it for the round, but finally had to give in after the 16th hole (when this shot was taken). But he didn't let that stop him from "keeping on" -- he dragged his way through the last two holes.-- * Blain Rempel*

Oakhurst Links, which opened in the 1880s in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., hosted the 2008 National Hickory Championship.-- * Bill Fields*

Lily getting ready for the micro-mite LPGA!-- * David D. Burrows*

I found a winner! Ha ha.-- Peter Gannon

The fifth hole at Stowe Mountain Golf Club in Stowe, Vt.-- * Alan Pittman*

My son Luke hitting balls at Sterling Farms driving range in Stamford, Conn.-- * Stina Sternberg*

I made double bogey here. I blame the gallery.-- * Sam Weinman*

This is from a recent buddy trip to Monterey and San Francisco: Teeing off on 16 at Cypress Point ... as "golf" as golf can get in America!-- * Geoff Haynes*

At St. Andrews Golf Club in West Chicago, they don't let a little mid-summer flooding get in the way of your round! (Two of us in the foursome were walking. We had to climb onto the cart to ford this mid-fairway "river.")-- * Peter Finch*

I love golf because it's an activity the entire family can enjoy! Pictured is Annie, ready to hit the links. (She is partial to Titleist.)-- * Kathy Toth*

My kids are a little older now, but when they play golf, they still dress like Dad.-- * Doug Barney*

I took this photo on No. 4 at Firestone South. Last Saturday one of the players in our foursome hit his drive in the left rough under the trees. When we got to the area where we thought the ball was, there was a hawk on the ground. We could not find the ball and when we got closer to the hawk, it flew up into a nearby tree and we could see it had a ball in its talon. The hawk was very photogenic and patiently let everyone take its picture. Finally it dropped the ball and we identified it as the ball in play.-- * Rich Intorcio*

Here is a photo of my 2-year-old son Eric, with his first set of clubs at Allentown Municipal Golf Course, Allentown, PA. While I was conducting league business, the pro shop staff loaned me a little putter to keep my young son occupied while we waited. Eric liked putting enough that I asked to buy the putter. The pro, who had been watching my son, offered me the whole used demo set for $35. Eric refused to let me carry the set to the car insisting "I carry!" He still does.-- * Steve Dee*

St. Andrews skies.-- Bill Fields

A statue outside the Schaumburg (Ill.) Golf Club struggles with an awkward swing ... and an awful lot of fescue.-- * Peter Finch*

A champion in his own mind.-- Stina Sternberg

In 2009, we landed in Scotland and this was the first course we played in Aberdeen, a local 18 called Balnagask. On the 18th fairway, we took this shot that captures the true struggle of golf; the player vs. the course.-- * Garret Krynski*

Grandpa and Jack.-- * Julie Sacriponte*

Walking up 18 at the Old Course.-- * Ken Delago*