David Joy, Golf Historian, writer, illustrator, painter and speaker on the history of The Open Championship, Tom Morris Senior, Tom Morris Junior and the history of golf at the Home of Golf, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

david@joy.abel.co.uk

01334 475133

01334 472072


The Performer David Joy is a fourth generation born and bred St Andrean. He is probably best known as "The man who plays Tom Morris "- a one-man show premiered during the 1990 Open, which has since been televised and adapted as a commercial video and distributed world-wide under the name of Keeper of the Greens. "You've done a fine job in bringing to life an important figure and era in the game's history - I hope it does well for you." - Jack Nicklaus "I have just seen your video, "Keeper of the Greens". I did so enjoy it - well done!" - Peter Alliss "I enjoyed it immensely and certainly understand how important it is to constantly remind people of the wonderful traditions of the game. If people cannot travel to St Andrews, your video provides a wonderful insight into this romantic town". - Ben Crenshaw	David Joy
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David Joy as Tom Morris and as himself at work In this TV documentary we hear from David Joy what goes into making the character as well as the legend of Old Tom Morris.	David Joy as Tom Morris, Golf Links Magazine

The Guest Speaker David is now much in demand as an after-dinner speaker, both as himself and for his portrayal of Tom Morris. Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin "Thanks so much for a wonderful performance and a special evening at the Shelbourne Hotel." Wellington Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine USA. "Our Society was mesmerised by your recounting of Scottish golf history." New Jersey Turf Expo "Old Tom Morris: best session I've seen since coming to Expo." Bunkered Magazine "David Joy offers a remarkable after dinner presentation of the life and times of the 'Grand Old Man'" Sun Spirit Golf Tours USA. "Thank you for making our final night in St Andrews so memorable. Your love and passion for this grand old game is infectious, and we thank you for sharing that with our group." Tantallon Golf Club North Berwick - (150 years celebration dinner): "What a star you are and what a central and wonderful and appropriate contribution you made to our sesquicentennial dinner, and indeed to our entire celebratory programme." The New Golf Club, St Andrews - November 2007 "Thank you very much for your marvellous performance at our annual dinner. It was a resounding success and the highlight of the evening for all of us."	Presentation dinner of The World Father and Sons Tournament 2007 'Old Tom' speaking at Glamis Castle

The Golf Historian As a golf historian, his credits in televised golf-related documentary work include; Four NXT golf ball commercials as Tom Morris, with John Cleese - Titleist, USA & Europe - Click here to watch videos The Spirit of Golf - TWI/Rolex 2007 The Old Course - TV Japan 2007 St. Andrews with Peter Alliss and Tom Morris Golf - A Cruel Game - TWI The Scottish Golf Show Open Preview 2005 - ABC Sports Preview Open 2005, Host - TV Asahi, Japan The Life and Times of Bobby Jones - CBS, The Roots of Golf - Fuji TV (Japan), Golf 100 Years BC - CBC (Canada), The St Andrews Legacy - Quantum TV (USA), The Old Course - STV (Scotland), Tom Morris Keeper of the Greens - STV and Grampian TV (Scotland) The Game of Golf - The Educational Channel (USA) Golf Chat Live interviewed by Peter Kessler on the Golf Channel (USA) The Magnificent Eight - St. Andrews - I.M.G. TV and video.	David reading in the studio A slide from the Titleist NXT commercial

Member of the Community He is committed to the preservation of St Andrews and its traditions and is involved in most of the town's activities, be it through golf, theatre, the University, or the safeguarding of the Royal and Ancient City of St Andrews. Honorary Life Member of the Kate Kennedy Club, University of St Andrews Honorary Member of the St Andrews Kilrymont Rotary Club Chairman of The Byre Theatre Trust - was a board member for 34 years Former Trustee of the St Andrews Preservation Trust Past President of The St Andrews Burns Club Prominent member of three of the St Andrews Golf Clubs Honorary Life Member of the St Andrews Golf Club David Joy is patron of the charity Keepers of the Green which was set up: " to promote the traditions of the game of golf and provide powered mobility for the needy" www.keepersofthegreen.org	The Keepers of the Green charity

The Playwright As a playwright, he has written and performed in many Scots comedies with his own part-time professional company based in St Andrews, which performs at the Byre Theatre. Click here for more info

The Author He is the author of St Andrews and the Open Championship - The Official History, launched in America in early November 1999 and followed up by an extensive promotional tour of the States. Golf Digest wrote of the book, "It is the next best thing to being there - Joy writes with authority." (Hardback full colour, 224 pages). "Could not be more authentic. It breathes the spirit of St. Andrews." - Sunday Times. Many of the photographs featured in this book were from Joy's own private collection of over 2000 prints and photos from 1847 to the turn of the century. Out of the twenty-six Opens played on the Old Course, The Millennium Open at St Andrews was the tenth championship he has witnessed since he was a wee boy in 1955. His next book, The Scrapbook of Old Tom Morris, illustrates the major transitional periods of golf from 1842 to 1908. It is already on its second print run. (Hardback full colour, 234 pages) Publishers Weekly, USA commented: "One of the most beautiful books for the holiday season". David has also published Golf Links of Scotland and St Andrews, The Old course and its Champions and is presently working on two new books: All The Open Champions - featuring his illustrations and Tip - a nostalgic look at the 1960's with Arnold Palmer and the late Tip Anderson. You can see the last photograph of Tip here.

The Illustrator As an illustrator, David Joy has completed over 700 detailed drawings of all the Open Champions and their swings from 1860 up to the present day. These will all be reproduced in his latest book. Click here to see a selection of illustrations This series of drawings of each individual winner has been exhibited in The British Golf Museum and features in The St Andrews Old Course Hotel and The Dunvegan. All his illustrations and his collection of memorabilia are available for viewing in his studio, perched one mile out of town at The Grange, with a view looking down on St Andrews bay and the linksland beyond.

The Artist As an artist, from his location at The Grange, he has also painted over 700 seascapes, with work exhibited and housed in private collections throughout the world. In the garden by the entrance to his studio stands a reproduction of the original 'Starter's Box' (a converted Victorian bathing hut, circa 1890) and a reproduction of the 'Ginger Beer Stand' which used to be wheeled out to the fourth hole on the Old Course.	Painting in the studio
Interior Art Work - Examples David Joy was commissioned to supply The Links Hotel with a series of golf paintings, sketches and illustrations depicting the history of golf in St Andrews. He also added relevant décor to the Whey Pat and the Criterion Bars in the city. He themed Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the first and last holes of The Old Course, by naming all 64 rooms after past Open Champions and prominent St Andreans and providing appropriate photographs and illustrations for each room. His art work has also been utilised to good effect to enhance the interior themes of the Pilmour Hotel and the Dunvegan Hotel in St Andrews.	A golf lesson with Old Tom's clubs at home in the garden of The Grange, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LJ

St Andrews Caddies 1892 - illustrated by David Joy Willie Joy, the tall caddie in the centre, was David Joy's great grandfather Back to Top