There’s no doubt that Seve changed my life and, without dwelling on it too much, I was incredibly upset when I learnt of his death. It’s because of Seve that I started the challenge and he has shaped so many parts of my life in so many ways. Is that entirely healthy – I’m not sure – but I think it’s impossible not to be positively impacted by the Seve Ballesteros’ of this world.
We had, rather optimistically I suppose, even hoped he might recover enough to be able to make a cameo appearance at the end of the film of Dream On.
His was an incredibly full life though and rather than dwelling endlessly on how sad it is to lose him and how tragically young he was I want to focus on the top seven tips that I learnt from Seve.
Let me know your Seve stories and what your best memories were of him in the comments below.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Great video John. Seve once said that your friend should be able to pull the putter out of your hands as you grip it to make a putt. That’s how softly he held it. A great man and sadly missed. My favourite Seve moment has to be on the 17th at Wentworth when he stops addressing the ball and turns to a spectator who was shuffling his feet. Seve: “Please, I know you are nervous but I am nervous too.” Genius.
just watched the magic of Seve. Am totally inspired to go play now in a Ballesteros cancer charity game at Elmwood Golf course on Fiday which was arranged before his sad passing.
Particularly liked the soft hands tip, thanks.
Regards
Andy: You used all of the superlatives to describe Seve. He was exciting , and fun to watch. Of the many memories I have , one of my favorites was watching him play a marvelous shot at The Open , at St.. Andrews where he one out of the parking lot to the green. He would hit it from anywhere with remarkable success.He will be missed.Bob Crawford
Seve was one of the most fun guys to watch and marvel at., or wonder about his great imagination. One shot I remember well, was the one he hit out of the parking lot while playing in an OPEN at St. Andrews.. You were most fortunate, being there. Thanks for the memories, ala Bob Hope. Bob Crawford
Here I Go again . Tried to comment before and was rejected each time for some reason
Seve was one of the most fun guys to watch and marvel at., or wonder about his great imagination. One shot I remember well, was the one he hit out of the parking lot while playing in an OPEN at St. Andrews.. You were most fortunate, being there. Thanks for the memories, ala Bob Hope. Bob Crawford
Hi John,
I had the great honour of meeting the great man during the late 80′s early 90′s (I can’t remember for sure when). He was playing a four ball with Jack Nicklaus, Tony Jacklin and I can’t remember the third member. I was a marshall at the opening of the new London Golf Club at West Kingsdown, Kent. I spoke to Seve briefly about his game and at the end went to shake his hand, he offered his hand then pulled it away saying ” Non sqeezes, this is my living” I then gingerly shook his right hand. I wished I had never washed the hand again or at least some of his touch transmitted to my game. It was also clear the feeling Jack Nicklaus had for Seve, you could feel the respect both players had for eachother and both had respect for every fan that turned out to see the two best golfers I have ever seen. I will miss the the man.
GRREAT OBSERVATION..I HAVE AFRIEND WITH A GREAT SHORT GAME THOSE HANDSS LOOK LIKE HIS
I am half way through your book and couldn’t help but think of you as a result. A sad time indeed. Love the book, having read Hogan’s Fundamentals, Bob Rotello, Karl Morris tapes, Going low, Zen Golf, Harvey Penick, The Inner Game of Golf, Silent Mind Golf, The Golfing Mind, notwithstanding Dave Pelz short game Bible it is encouraging to feel that I am not alone!
Hi John, I’m very new to Golf and first learned of Seve through your book…I was struck by your honest and genuine appreciation Ballesteros. I was on the range yesterday taking a break when I met ‘Kevin’ – the excited and proud father of a young but soon-to-be ‘tour pro’ named Cameron. He welcomed my sharing bits I remembered from Dream On. In particular, Seve’s bunker ‘technique’ (hitting sand without a ball in sight). It was like a light went off for him. Anyway…in chatting feverishly about my new found love (golf), Kevin’s hopes for his son, and your book, Kevin mentioned the news about Seve.
I know you asked for best memories of Seve…mine are the images you helped create in Dream On as they soon lead me to youtube to catch everything I could about the man in action. I also wanted to tell you that my own dreams are being helped by your book. In particular, you unabashed anecdotes of personal ‘conversations’ and pep talks with Seve sitting there in the back of your car – and the clarity that brought. He is an inspiring golfer still and will continue with the Foundation in his name. Maybe for young kids like Cameron.
Respectfully,
Johann
I cannot describe the feeling of watching Seve play better than Dudley Doust’s account in the Sunday Times in 1977 of watching a 20 year old Seve practising on a beach in northern Spain:
“At last, yeilding to temptation, he squirms his feet into the sand and lashes the ball up over the water, over some distant fishing boats, over a quay, over two gaping brothers and into a far wooded hill. The soles of your feet tingle as you watch and when he grins you suddenly share in the feeling: the pure joy of hitting a ball.”
God bless, Seve. R.I.P.
My biggest regret is that I never saw Seve “in the flesh” which means that I will treasure my videos and memories of even more. His body may no longer with us but his spirit will live on over every scratch player to hacker the world over for as long as the game he graced is played. I bet there are angels in Heaven now with pretty good short games. Rest in Peace Seve and thank you.
Seve memory.
Irish Open in Mount Juliet 10 hole par 5.I have forgotten the year but it was the year that Sam Torrance won.
Seve had hit his drive out to the left landing in long reedy type grass about 2 to 3 foot high.
He arrived after his caddy saying something like ” ok where are we going? to which the caddy (bravely) said “Well the green is over there” – pointing to the green – “I’m not sure where you are going”. Need- less -to say we all laughed and Seve gave one of his famous grins.He continued by hitting what looked like a tree iron very well, cutting a swade of grass in the process.I thought he had left it too close to the tall trees which surround the green but he somehow conjured up a shot with his sand iron which cleared the tall trees and landed 2 feet from the hole for a tap in birdy. Classic Seve