Memories stirred of big celebrity moment
Memories of one of Crieff Golf Club’s most famous visitors were stirred during the 20th anniversary staging of the £ 4.7m Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Javier Ballesteros, son of legendary Spanish golf maestro Seve, was among the field during the week’s annual Fife proam, which takes place over Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course in St Andrews.
The 31 year- old was accompanied by sister and caddie Carmen, as well as playing partner Martin Slumbers – CEO of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
During his time at Carnoustie, Javier was presented with a book commemorating the centenary of Crieff Golf Club by former captain David Philips, who is also a long-time veteran of the broadcasting industry.
Mr Philips, a former proprietor and editor of the Herald, explained the meeting took place almost exactly 30 years on from when the late Seve – a multiple Major winner and former world number one – visited Crieff in the summer of 1991.
He said: “The Bells Open Championship at Gleneagles was to take place during what was Crieff Golf Club’s centenary year.
“I was club captain at the time and thought it would be nice if perhaps one of the celebrated competitors might be encouraged to come across to instruct some of the club’s junior members at Ferntower in Crieff.
“Ken Schofield, who was then a director with the European Tour, was an honorary member at Crieff so I posed the question to him.
“After the first round of the tournament Ken phoned and said: ‘Hi David – how would Seve do?’ Seve was leading at the time having shot an eight-birdie 63!”
Shortly afterwards, a still-stunned Mr
Philips welcomed Seve, Ken and caddy Billy Foster carrying the iconic player’s bag of clubs.
A fondly-remembered hour or so of light-hearted instruction followed before Seve left having been presented with two of the club’s specially-inscribed centenary crystal goblets.
Mr Philips said he met Seve’s wife, also called Carmen – who accompanied Javier and caddie Carmen during their recent time in Scotland – while working for television at the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, during which Seve captained Europe to victory over the USA in his homeland.
He continued: “I asked about Seve’s recollections of visiting Crieff a few years back and she said he loved being at a smaller club which reminded him of times at Padrena in Spain when he was younger – and she said each of the goblets Seve was given were on either end of their mantelpiece.”
Mr Philips said Javier, whom he described as a “chip off the old block”, told him he was enjoying his time in Scotland when they met at Carnoustie and was pleased to have been presented with both the centenery book and newspaper cuttings of his father’s time in the Strath.
Javier shot rounds of 74 at both St Andrews and Carnoustie, and a 76 at Kingsbarns during the tournament.