Driving range murals scoring aces with patrons in Concord

CONCORD, CA (July 24, 2024) — If Sydney Bader’s interpretation of the nearby East Bay hills and a heron adds a few additional yards for golfers whacking golf balls at the Skylinks at Buchanan Fields Golf Course, all the better.

More than anything else, Bader, 25, of Concord, hopes the mural – one of more than two dozen that thus far have replaced the gray walls dividing the bays at the driving range – simply brings patrons some happiness.

“As adults, we rarely stop and look around,” said Bader. “It’s the children that see those little things and they fill themselves with joy.

“You don’t know how it is going to affect someone,” she continued. “If it just makes them smile and reminds them of something good, then that’s what I hope it brings.”

‘Where art and sport intersect’

For Kiwi Hollis, who took over ownership of Buchanan Fields last October, the murals have added a vibrant and artistic touch to the driving range, making it a unique and engaging environment for everyone who visits.

“The involvement of local artists, players and the wider community has been particularly rewarding, as it has further highlighted the awesome sense of community and creativity that we’re trying to integrate back,” he said.

The idea of dressing up the bays came from a conversation Hollis had with one of the local diehards. What emerged was a shared desire to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the driving range and create a more inviting atmosphere.

“We wanted to transform our 50 bays into something more than just a place to practice golf, and the idea of simply painting it one monotone and bland color really didn’t align with what we thought we could do with the space. We envisioned it as a community hub where art and sport intersect,” Hollis said.

Looking beyond the landscape

Completion of her mural fulfills an artistic passion for Bader that often plays second fiddle to teaching her third graders at Stoneman Elementary School in Pittsburg. She was turned on to the chance to let her artistic juices flow by her fiancé, who works for TaylorMade and had business at Skylinks and also played the course.

“(Hollis) is looking to make the place more lively and have a warmer feel to it,” she said. “I got drawing and was able to reserve a spot to paint.”

Bader is channeling the street art of Oakland in her work at the golf course.

“I wanted to make it my own and respect the culture and appreciate the culture while incorporating my own artistic abilities,” she said. “I personally enjoy animals and landscapes.”

For inspiration, she imagined what the space would look like if there weren’t a golf course or city.

“It’s all from my mind,” she said of capturing the landscapes common throughout Contra Costa County.

“And, I wanted to add the heron because we are lucky to see them,” Bader noted, citing the presence of two that occasionally hang out on the grounds.

For Bader, the experience expanded the audience from the friends who have seen her work in acrylic and watercolor.

“It’s a cool opportunity to have my art in a permanent place,” Bader said.

From ‘bland’ to ‘cool’

The reception to the artistic contributions has been overwhelmingly positive, like that voiced by Pittsburg resident Lee Sulen who recently came out to hit a bucket.

“I think they are cool,” he said, noting it was an improvement from previous visits to the driving range when “it was bland.”

Sulen’s thoughts echoed other responses from patrons who lauded the beauty of the diverse array of subjects and images that artists have volunteered to design and paint on the gray bays.

Susan Noack, out to hit balls with her son Will, who was home from college, praised the efforts of those who contributed their time and talents to enrich the grounds.

“They are not a distraction,” she said.

Hollis sees the murals as a platform for artists to showcase their work and for the community to enjoy a diverse range of artistic expressions.

“By featuring artwork from all these amazing Bay Area artists, we aim to highlight more of the rich cultural tapestry of our community,” he said. “We want our community to feel a sense of pride and belonging when they see the murals, knowing that they are part of a community that values and supports the arts while enjoying a fun driving range for them, their friends and families.”