Golf as art? That's crazy

8:40am Thursday 8th February 2007

Golf fans have the chance to improve their handicap - in an art gallery.

Art students at the University of Brighton have constructed a crazy golf course in their campus gallery for their annual show.

Visitors to the exhibition in Grand Parade are handed a golf ball and putter by three "golf professionals" and invited to make their way around the course.

The course is made using discarded objects found in attics and skips.

Players can aim for a birdie down the plughole of a dusty bathroom sink or try to sink a bogey with the help of an old record player turntable.

Tutor Mick Hartney said there had been an enthusiastic response to the artwork, which was a collaboration between second-year fine art practice students.

He said: "Some people treat it as a normal exhibition and just stand and look at it but we've also had lots of people getting involved.

"On the opening night there were balls flying everywhere. It was hilarious."

He said the piece had been compared to German artist Carsten Holler's exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, which also offers visitors the opportunity to play by sliding down five giant chutes installed in the turbine hall.

Mr Hartney said: "It was mentioned when we were discussing the project but it wasn't a direct inspiration.

"Participatory exhibitions are becoming more fashionable but I'd hate anyone to think we were just being fashionable.

"The students wanted to do a themed exhibition and someone suggested crazy golf so they decided to explore what that means.

"At first they were thinking about hiring a crazy golf course but that turned out to be too expensive."

The students were baulking at the amount of work involved in making their own course but they came across the work of Brighton University fellow Professor Tim Brady, whose specialist area is innovation management.

By chance, the professor had lectured on the use of crazy golf as a way of solving problems and he inspired the students to create their exhibition.

Mr Hartney said: "The idea is that each hole is a metaphor for a problem and by tackling the hole, the player is tackling the problem.

"It has been a very exciting project to work on."

The exhibition is open until 4pm today and is open to all.

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