For many years we have enjoyed the friendship of Australian golf author Paul Daley and we have admired his several golf publications, each important in the Library of Golf: Links Golf: The Inside Story (2000), The Sandbelt: Melbourne’s Golfing Heaven (2001), the multi-volume Golf Architecture: A Worldwide Perspective (2002-), Favorite Holes by Design: The Architect’s Choice (2004) and Ben Hogan: The Yardstick of Golfing Greatness (2017).
Recently Mr Daley has published a comprehensive and excellent volume about Seve Ballesteros. Here is Paul’s description of his newest effort:
Seve: The People’s Champion celebrates the life of Severiano Ballesteros Sota, a leading candidate for one of the most popular and charismatic golfers ever to play at the highest level. Seve was also among the game’s most-skilled.
The book covers Seve’s key life developments, both in written and pictorial form. He had an unquenchable love of sports, yet it was caddying that dominated his formative years—all the while honing his playing skills and dreaming of becoming a world champion golfer.
Seve turned professional at age sixteen, bereft of an amateur pedigree, joining the pay-for-play ranks with a burning desire to win. His colossal impact on the European Tour is explored, as is the obsessional path Seve adopted in becoming the world’s top-ranked golfer.
Learn how Seve coped with compulsory Spanish military training, a chronic back condition and travelling to continents on a mission of collecting golf titles. Like many famous sportspeople, Seve’s trajectory to the top was not plain sailing. Tales of Seve’s audacious shotmaking, trick-shot artistry and legendary powers of recovery from any part of the golf course, only enhance fond memories of his uncommon genius.
Seve’s play in the major championships receives broad coverage, as does his inspirational play in the Ryder Cup competition between the USA and Europe. Seve’s level of pride in the fiery biennial environment set a new benchmark, while the partnership with José María Olazábal in fourball and foursomes matches produced a win/loss ratio that has never been approached. To some, Seve was the Ryder Cup!
Seve lived an action-packed life, reflected by the book’s coverage of his tournaments, golf exhibitions, golf course design work, relationship with fellow players, the Seve Trophy, the Royal Trophy and much more.
Seve: The People’s Champion also references Seve’s life in retirement after 2007 that cruelly wasn’t long enough to fulfill various aspirations. As Billy Foster, one of Seve’s favourite caddies, declares: ‘There will never be another Seve!’
Book and ordering details
Extent: 320 pages, approximately 100,000 words and 280 photographs
Format: Leatherbound (A4) limited edition of 1000 copies with numbered certificates
Price (within Australia): $240, postage inclusive
Price (outside Australia): $290, postage inclusive
Grant Books Ltd is delighted to bring Paul Daley’s exciting new publication to your attention. Orders can easily be made by contacting fswing@bigpond.net.au.
D M Wilson, III
Publisher
Grant Books Ltd
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