The Belfry paid its own tribute to golfing legend Seve Ballesteros yesterday by lowering flags to half mast and holding a minute’s silence in his memory observed by hundreds of staff and golfers across all three of the resort’s golf courses.
As the funeral in Spain began, many of the resort’s staff gathered for the occasion at the plaque that marks the spot on The Brabazon’s 10th tee from where the swashbuckling Spaniard famously drove the green in a high profile match against Nick Faldo in 1978.
“It was a fitting tribute to the man who with one shot on the 10th hole made The Brabazon course at The Belfry world-famous within a year of it opening,” said Gary Silcock, director of golf at the Midlands resort. “The memorabilia on display in our ‘Sam’s Bar & Grill’ shows how central Seve was to The Belfry and its success, having also played in three of the four Ryder Cup matches staged here.
“It was very moving to see all the golfers paying their respect out there today, as well as everyone from golf professionals to caterers observing the silence on the hole where Seve first drove the green in 1978 and again in 1985 when he helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup here,” he added.
In the days following his tragic death on Saturday, the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup also welcomed visitors wishing to pay their respects to Seve by laying wreaths alongside his 10th hole plaque.