Peter Howell with Gerald Palmer

The nine foot statue standing at the entrance of the Royal Jersey Golf Club, Grouville, Jersey, was unveiled by, British and US Open winner, Tony Jacklin on 30th July 2001.

Gerald Palmer is a Jerseyman, born in the capital of Jersey, St Helier. He studied under Edmund Blampied - arguably Jersey's most famous artist - before attending Portsmouth College of Art.

After gaining his National Diploma in Design in 1955 he began a career as an editorial art assistant with Hulton Press in Fleet Street, later going on to join a team illustrating Dan Dare in the Eagle. From there he went to freelancing, illustrating books and magazines in England and Europe.

Latterly Palmer has concentrated more on the fine art side of producing work in oils, watercolours, pastel, pen and wash and various other media, and has executed many commissions for portraits, landscapes, seascapes and still life.

He regularly exhibits work at the Guild of Aviation Artists and the Pastel Society exhibitions in London.

For the Harry Vardon sculpture he carried out extensive research of photographs and what film footage survives. He was also able to model some of the physical characteristics from Vardon's son Peter Howell, especially his hands.

Technical advice on the key elements such as the swing and Vardon Grip were given by Jersey resident Ian Woosnam, US Masters Champion and twice European Order of Merit winner and winning Ryder Cup Captain. Further advice was given by Tommy Horton.

The clay sculpture was completed in Jersey and cast in bronze in a foundry in northern France.