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Hua Hin Today
Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012
Volume 9 Issue 3 January 2012
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Mixed outlook
for office markets in Asia Pacific
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reliminary data from Jones Lang LaSalle shows that grade A office rents will fall in Hong Kong and Singapore in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2011 and will grow more slowly elsewhere in Asia Pacific. Jones Lang LaSalle’s market leasing experts predict that Hong Kong and Singapore are entering a rental level correction phase, with anticipated percentage falls in average grade A rents in the final quarter of the year of five to six percent in Hong Kong and around four percent in Singapore (to US$1,643 per sqm and US$786 per sqm per annum respectively). Some office markets are expected to experience continued rental increases in Q4, albeit at a slower rate than previously, including Beijing (circa five per cent to US$814 per sqm per annum) and Sydney (four to five per cent to US$470 per sqm per annum). In the middle ground Jones Lang LaSalle expects to see a number of markets where rents will remain largely static quarter on quarter, including Melbourne, Mumbai, Delhi, Seoul and Tokyo. Jeremy Sheldon, managing director, Markets Asia Pacific at Jones Lang LaSalle said: “Overall rental growth is expected to soften this quarter. The stand out trend across many key markets is a softening of demand from occupiers, as firms are applying caution in light of economic difficulties in the United States and the Euro-zone. We expect corporates in Asia Pacific to remain cautious for the remainder of this year and into next as they wait to see how the region will be impacted by what is happening elsewhere. We do expect to see continuing demand in certain markets where there is a strong domestic focus – China, Japan and India and emerging markets in South East Asia – however the more transparent markets are where occupiers are far more cautious.” Hong Kong There is clear delineation between Central and other sub markets. Leasing activity in the banking and finance sector has slowed considerably and Jones Lang LaSalle expects to see some firms in this sector looking to downsize in 2012, though not to the same degree as in 2008 and 2009. The firm is seeing some very moderate expansion amongst law firms and
some other businesses that are choosing to relocate to lower cost buildings. Rental growth is not expected in Q4 2011 as a result of low vacancy rates and the decentralisation trend. Singapore Jones Lang LaSalle is witnessing a weakening in net new demand, and secondary supply that is being returned to the market is being absorbed quite slowly. Although some surplus space has become available from major financial institutions, there have been no major headcount reductions in any of the key business sectors. China In Shanghai landlords continue to have higher rental expectations in light of the low vacancy rate and limited new supply. Tenants, particularly multi-national corporations, have recently been more cost conscious due to growing concerns about a slowdown in China’s economy. In Beijing rents have continued to rise at a slower pace than their rapid increase over the past 12 plus months. Leasing demand remains strong on the back of expanding space requirements from existing tenants and more new setups, though some landlords are being more flexible with leasing terms in specific cases. Bangkok The recovery process in the Bangkok office market was interrupted by the recent flooding, As companies were focusing primarily on business continuity plans in order to deal with possible impacts of the flooding, the market saw a marked slowdown in leasing activity between October and mid-November. However, as central Bangkok where most of the office buildings are located has been safe from the
disaster, leasing activity has resumed as the flood has receded. Australia In Sydney there is continued rental growth driven by tightening premium supply coupled with activity by larger users upgrading and/or relocating to the CBD. Decision making is becoming more protracted but relocation decisions are still being made by tenants with definitive needs. There is sustained demand in the 4,000 to 10,000 sq. m and sub 500 sq. m range, but we are also seeing a slight increase in sub-lease space. In Melbourne there is cautious demand and tenants are exploring the suitability of using alternative workplace strategies to reduce their occupied footprint. Development activity is continuing, but there is very limited speculative supply. Japan Landlords in central Tokyo have seen good demand for new developments in the aftermath of the earthquake and given low vacancy rates, rents are unlikely to fall further. However, the market is not expected to support any rental increases over the next one to two quarters given the impact on demand of the strong yen, uncertainty in the Euro-zone economies and a possible global economic slowdown. Korea There is healthy demand from domestic firms but multi-national corporations are becoming noticeably more cautious. Many recently completed buildings in Seoul have high vacancy rates, which is putting pressure on rents in the Central Business District. Any economic downturn is likely to exacerbate the current over-supply situation and delay rental recovery (especially in the CBD where most foreign financial institutions are located). India In both Mumbai and Delhi there is sluggish new demand, and rents are not likely to increase over the quarter due to ample supply. In Mumbai some tenants are deferring decisions regarding relocation to the Secondary Business District as a result of perceived uncertain economic conditions.
Winners of South East Asia
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Property Awards announced
inner s of the inaugural South East Asia Property Awards 2011 were announced at a glittering Gala Dinner and presentation ceremony attended by over 300 industry leaders and guests at Singapore’s Hotel Fort Canning.
Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media. “Amazingly, we received over 1,500 nominations and from those over 300 entries. These figures are a testament to breadth and variety of quality developments in the region and the enthusiasm to recognize the companies behind “The South East Asia region has some of the worlds’ most innovative them. They are also a reflection of the growing strength of the and interesting property developments, designed by architects and industry in South East Asia.” Ensign Media, publisher of Property built by developers whose reputations are known globally”, said Report South East Asia Magazine, launched the first ever South East Asia Property Awards to recognise the crème de la crème of the region’s residential real estate industry. The panel of judges headed up by Leong Chi Meng, Managing Director (SEA), CBRE Global Investors spent several weeks scrutinizing all entries and engaged in hours of discussion to decide on the winning properties in order to ensure that they were all deserving of their status. BDO Advisory supervised the entire judging procedure in order to guarantee the fairness, transparency and credibility of the South East Asia Property Awards. For more details about the awards visit www. southeastasiapropertyawards.com
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Hua Hin Today Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012
Hua Hin Today
Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012
Property News & Golf
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Winners of Thanachart Bank Property and construction firms in Bangkok learn a valuable lesson Thailand Property Awards T 2011 Announced Courtesy of Property Report T
he 2011 Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards were held on December 6th at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok. A highly anticipated event in the country’s business and social calendar, the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony was attended by more than 600 CEOs, managing directors, developers and other senior management figures from the national and regional property sector.
With 31 dedicated categories, the awards have become a benchmark for quality in the property industry and the evening’s winners included Thailand’s best condominiums, villas, commercial and housing developments, as well as awards for best architecture and interior design in the Kingdom’s residential, hotel and commercial sectors. “Over 1,300 nominations were received this year, and from those over 250 entries” said Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media, the organisers of the event. “This is a clear reflection of both the success of the awards and the strength of the Kingdom’s real estate industry. An important new element this year is welcoming Thanachart Bank as title sponsor of the awards. We are confident that working together with one of Thailand’s leading and most dynamic banks now and in the months ahead, will have a very positive effect both on the awards and on the real estate industry as a whole. The Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards will become the gold standard of quality for the industry.”
he Bangkok floods have caused developers and property firms to re-evaluate their strategies for next year. The floods affected 300,000 homes in Bangkok and the surrounding areas. Many developers believe the City Planning Department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) must include proper floodways in residential areas in the new plans. Property firms have learnt from the floods and they are revising their construction processes, designing homes which can withstand floods and spending more on landfill to raise houses above flood level. The increased use of landfill in flood hit areas will raise construction costs by 1.5 per cent for detached houses and 3 per cent for townhouses. Pruksa Real Estate have lowered their projected revenue target for this year from THB30 billion (US$960 million) to between THB22 billion (US$704 million) and THB24 billion (US$768 million) according to The Nation. Business Housing Association president IssaraBoonyoung, who owns Kanda Group, agreed that the BMA had to take flood prevention into account before releasing the new plans.
Partnering with the Thailand Property Awards is part of a strategy that will see Thanachart Bank offer its customers quality banking support in association with the kingdom’s best, upscale developers and real estate companies. Khun NathapolLuepromchai, Senior Vice President, Housing and Secured Personal Loan, Thanachart Bank Plc said: “We’d like to congratulate all of the winners tonight. These awards not only guarantee the quality of projects that bring great pride to the developers, but from the client’s perspective, recognising award-winning projects will help investors and buyers make an easier purchase decision as all the winners have been through a tough selection process by the judges. Moreover, we will follow up on the event by offering special interest rates and conditions to the developments voted the industry’s best.” As a special contribution to the flood recovery effort taking place in and around Bangkok, the Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, also conducted a fundraiser in order to raise THB400,000 for the construction of two new houses for flood victims in Lopburi. ” We greatly appreciate everyones’ generosity enabling Habitat for Humanity Thailand to assist those affected by flooding,” said ChamnarnWangtal, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Thailand. “There are so many needs to be met and tonight’s fundraising contribution will help families whose lives were washed away to have a decent place to call Best Residential Architectural Design - The Residences at The St. Regis Bangkok Best Condo Development Thailand - Habita Architects for SonevaKiri by Six Senses Resorts and Spas Best Residential Development (Hua Hin) -CB Richard Ellis (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Best Property Consultancy -Baan IngPhu – Hua Hin Best Property Website -Minor International PLC Best Developer www.cbre.co.th The Executive Board of Banyan Village, Resort & Golf invited all private Villa owners at the Banyan to a special golf tournament and cocktail reception held at Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin. The event allowed homeowners to enjoy each Courtesy of SofieLisby other’s company in the good spirit of the Festive Season and to hear the management’s plans for the future. Opened by Alex Binnekamp, Chairman of the Executive Board was joined by his fellow board members Stacey Walton and Albert Bos. Alex commented that the main objectives for the Executive Board is to direct and control the business disciplines required for Banyan to be more successful in the future from legal, finance, construction, golf & resort operations to sales and marketing. even then people will evaluate which areas are Albert Bos gave homeowners an update less prone to floods.” The sentiment is shared by on the infrastructure and the defect villa work Knight Frank who sent out a report saying they and villas that have recently been completed believe developers will select locations in inner and handed over. Stacey Walton presented Bangkok, such as Lumpini, where there are no Banyan’s plans for marketing and the benefits of nearby canals. increasing membership at the golf club. Richard
Private Villa Owners at Banyan Village, Resort & Golf gather after a Texas Scramble Golf competition at Mulligan’s Pub to hear about the future of Banyan’s development.
A Plan is needed
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plan is needed. Millions of Thai homes have been affected by the high waters and developers are recording slump sales as buyers adopt a wait-and-see approach. When the floods eventually recede, what will emerge is the need for better city planning regulations – the latest set of regulations expired in May this year and has been extended for an additional year while regulators struggle to develop a replacement – and a re-evaluation of the location, design and management of residential real estate. “The decision as whether to purchase landed property versus a high-rise condominium will likely be in favour of the latter due to the floods,” claims a report on the effects on the real estate market in Bangkok from Colliers International, “ but
“This is not only for property firms to manage their residential projects. This is necessary for home-buyers to know which locations are safe from floods,” he said. According to REIC figures, the Greater Bangkok property market will drop by 10 to 20 per cent this year because of the floods. The number of new condominiums in Greater Bangkok will be 24 to 31 per cent lower this year compared to last year, from 66,000 units in 2010 to 45,000-50,000 units in 2011. The number of new low-rise detached houses, duplexes and townhouse will drop by 7 to 16 per cent from 54,000 units last year to 45,000 to 50,000 this year.
Mehr launched his villa concierge services for homeowners to enjoy Resort standards in property maintenance and housekeeping. Gea Everards, Communication and Sales Manager and her team are working hard on new sales strategies and she requested that current homeowners can be great ambassadors for Banyan to develop. There was a very pleasant atmosphere at the event and the evening continued with cocktails and canapés as well as the prize giving of the golf tournament announcing the following results; 2nd Runners Up: Ampika Hiegel, Peter Zaugg & Albert Bos. Net 61,1st Runner Up: Thea Hendrickx, Steve Brighton & Stacey Walton. Net 61,Winners: Beatrice Wallace, Jan Karsson and Joe Morrissey. Net 59 .Banyan looks forward to a very positive and successful year ahead and is well supported by current villa homeowners and the project developments shareholders. Banyan’s management and team wishes everyone a Happy New Year.
“The Royal & Ancient come to Banyan Golf Club” E
very golfer has heard of The Royal & Ancient (The R&A) as some stage of their golfing careers. These are the guys who administer the game of golf all over the world (with the exception of the US & Mexico). They set the Rules of Golf & are the organizers of The Open Championship each year. Over the past couple of years, The R&A have begun an international educational program for golfers & golf industry professionals in the importance of sustainable management of golf facilities. They are focusing on the major subjects such as Playing Performance, Economic Performance, Environmental Stewardship & Social Responsibility. Many case studies on golf courses with best practices have been conducted & published on The R&A’s website www.randa.org as a benchmark of how best to achieve the goal of
sustainable management for the industry. One such case study fro Banyan Golf Club Hua Hin was published in June 2011 on the turf managements programs conducted there. Michael Coffey, committee member of The R&A recently paid a visit to Banyan Golf Club to see firsthand the playing conditions & to find out more about the design features and maintenance practices used to achieve this. “I am completely impressed with this wonderful golf course. I enjoyed playing the course with the designer & some of the management which gave me a fuller understanding of how it has developed. The layout & set up is first class, and the choice of native grasses for the majority of the course is exactly what we are trying to teach other courses around the world. Water resources are
becoming more difficult to secure. I just love the natural landscaped areas surrounding the course & around the clubhouse.Very clever indeed. Even my caddy spoke to me about recycling my drinks can during the round.”Mr. Coffey was also invited
to explain his role with The R&A to the dinner guests at the monthly Golf & Wine Dinner held at the golf club. “It is always great to get to try to explain to golfers that course do not need to be emerald green in order to be good courses”.Banyan Golf Club’s General Manager, Stacey Walton, commented, “It is always nice to be visited by the industries ruling body. These gentlemen spend a great deal of time at the home of golf, St. Andrews, and to impress him with our course, its design, playing surfaces and facilities is very satisfying. It is even better when they are here to commend you on being one of our industries best practices”Pictures: Michael Coffey seen speaking to dinner guests at the Golf & Wine Dinner at Banyan Golf Club in recent week, and on the 1st tee box with course designer, Pirapon Namatra and Director of Operations Stuart Daly.
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Hua Hin Today Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012
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GOLF & SPORTS
Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012
Remembering - Seve Ballesteros One of The Best Golfers
eve Ballesteros, a five-time major champion whose passion and gift for imaginative shotmaking invigorated European golf and the Ryder Cup, has died from complications of a cancerous brain tumor. He was 54. A statement on Ballesteros’ website early Saturday said the golf great died peacefully at 2:10 a.m. local time, surrounded by his family at his home in Pedrena, in northern Spain.Seve Ballesteros, a five-time major champion whose passion and gift for imaginative shot-making invigorated European golf and the Ryder Cup, has died from complications of a cancerous brain tumor. He was 54. Ballesteros, a two-time Masters champion and three-time winner of the British Open, was as inspirational in Europe as Arnold Palmer was in America, a handsome figure who feared no shot and often played from where no golfer had ever been. Headlines such as ‘’The Inventor of Spanish golf’’ and ‘’Life of a Legend’’ were splashed across Spanish media websites as fellow golfers, athletes and figures from around the world paid tribute. George O’Grady, the chief executive of the European Tour, said Ballesteros was the inspiration behind the tour. ‘’This is such a very sad day for all who love golf,’’ O’Grady said on the tour website.
Seve, there was no such thing as trouble,’’ Gary Player once said. ‘’He could manufacture shots like a genius.’’ His last challenge came from an unbeatable foe — cancer. Ballesteros fainted in a Madrid airport while waiting to board a flight to Germany on Oct. 6, 2008, and was subsequently diagnosed with the brain tumor. He underwent four separate operations, including a 6 1/2-hour procedure to remove the tumor and reduce swelling around the brain. After leaving the hospital, his treatment continued with chemotherapy. Ballesteros looked thin and pale while making several public appearances in 2009 after being given what he referred to as the ‘’mulligan of my life.’’ He rarely was seen in public since March 2010, when he fell off a golf cart and hit his head on the ground. His few appearances or public statements were usually in connection with his Seve Ballesteros Foundation to fight cancer. He wanted but was unable to take part in a champion’s exhibition at St. Andrews in the British Open. Such was his stature, even out of the public eye, that European players celebrated his most recent birthday — the Saturday of the Masters — as if it were a national holiday. SEVE’S LEGACY For such greatness, his career was relatively short Seve Ballesteros won 5 majors and was a Ryder because of back injuries. Cup mainstay. View his career highlights here. Ballesteros won a record 50 times on the European ‘’He was a man who got into trouble. Only for tour, his first as a 19-year-old in the Dutch Open, his last when he was 38 at the 1995 Peugeot Open in his native Spain. That also was his last year playing in the Ryder Cup, where he had a 20-125 record in eight appearances. He was captain in 1997 when Europe won at Valderrama. ‘’He did for European golf what Tiger Woods did for worldwide golf. The European Tour would not ocated adjacent to each other on the aid and life-support training at Bangkok be where it is today if not for Seve Ballesteros,’’ property 9 kilometres from Hua Hin, the Hospital and they all speak good English,” Nick Price, whose brother died from the same twin facilities add a new dimension to Black Johan said after the training program had problem last year, said from a Champions Mountain’s already-enviable status after been completed. Tour event in Alabama. ‘’His allegiance to the being named in November by Asian Golf For more information about the Black European Tour was admirable. The guy, he was Monthly magazine as Thailand’s best golf Mountain Wakeboard Park and Water Park, an icon, just an incredible golfer.’’ course and the top championship course in visit www.blackmountainwaterpark.com Ballesteros was the reason the Ryder Cup was Asia/Pacific. expanded in 1979 to include continental Europe, Wake Board and it finally beat the United States in 1985 to It’s big in Europe and some other parts of begin more than two decades of dominance. the world and is rapidly making a mark in While others have played in more matches and Thailand. It’s wakeboarding, a cross between won more points, no player better represents the snowboarding, skateboarding and water spirit and desire of Europe than Ballesteros. skiing. While others have played in more matches and won more points, no player better represents the The wakeboard park is one of only six in spirit and desire of Europe than Ballesteros. Thailand. Mark Calcavecchia, winner of the British Open in A cable system pulls riders around the park at 1989, was awed by some of the shots Ballesteros 30 kilometres an hour and can accommodate produced. up to eight wakeboarders at one time. The ‘’The best imagination.The best short game. You 880-metre-long area features several jumps never really knew where he was going to hit it,’’ and two sliders that give participants full he said. Water Park opportunity to practice and show off their ‘’I think I played him twice in the Ryder Cup. I’m With capacity for up to 1000 people, the skills. pretty sure I never beat him in a match. He was certainly awesome, and really very charismatic.’’ Black Mountain water park is one of the Wakeboarding is especially popular in Ballesteros announced his retirement in a tearful biggest and most up-to-date in Asia. The focal Europe. Germany alone has 85 wakeboard press conference at Carnoustie before the 2007 point of the 55,000 square-metre facility is a parks and the sport is developing rapidly in British Open. Ballesteros had returned to Augusta 17-metre tower from which nine water slides Asia. Participants can use Black Mountain’s National that year to play the Masters one last “empty” their riders into a series of pools. wakeboard park’s facilities for as little as 400 time, but shot 86-80 to finish last. After turning A gently flowing “lazy river” winds its way baht for two hours, 750 baht for four hours or 50, he tried one Champions Tour event, but again around the park with numerous places for 1000 baht for a full day. came in last. people to stop and sit on submerged benches. “Now, as well as offering championshipHis back was ailing, his eyes were no longer as There is also a giant wave pool, a 60-metre- standard golf, water activities and lots of lively, and his best game had left him years earlier. long beach pool with infiniti edge other facilities, Black Mountain is a complete ‘’I don’t have the desire,’’ said Ballesteros, who overlooking the adjacent wakeboard park, destination for families, couples, groups and remained active in golf after he stopped playing a shallow pool for young children, a huge individuals – whether they live on site at regularly, mainly through golf course design. food court, large shade areas, four kiosks and Black Mountain, in Hua Hin or Bangkok or His desire was as big a part of his game as any shot he manufactured from the trees, the sand — locker rooms. are visiting Thailand on holiday.” just about anywhere. The opening price for all-day entry into the Born April 9, 1957 in the tiny town of Pedrena, park is 750 baht for adults and 375 baht for Spain, he learned golf with only one club — a children aged five to 12. 3-iron — that forced him to create shots most “There isn’t a lot of choices in Hua Hin players could never imagine. for families with young children,” Harald Ballesteros first gained major notoriety at 19 in the final round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale, Elisson says. “The water park gives them a where he threaded a shot through the bunkers and great option for an enjoyable day’s outing in onto the green at the 18th hole, finishing second a safe and pleasant environment.” to Johnny Miller and in a tie with Jack Nicklaus. He emphasises that safety is the resort’s ‘’He invented shots around the green,’’ Nicklaus major consideration. A Swedish lifeguard said in the weeks before Ballesteros was inducted instructor, Johan Roth, spent two weeks at into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999. ‘’You the complex training 24 lifeguards, 20 of don’t find many big hitters like him with that whom will be on duty at all times during kind of imagination and touch around the green. opening hours. He’s been a big inspiration to golf in continental Europe, more than anyone has.’’ “We were really impressed with the quality Ballesteros went on to win the Order of Merit on of the people we trained. They have been the European tour that year, the first of six such through a rigorous process, including first titles. Two years later, he won the first time he ‘’Seve’s unique legacy must be the inspiration he has given to so many to watch, support, and play golf, and finally to fight a cruel illness with equal flair, passion, and fierce determination. We have all been so blessed to live in his era. He was the inspiration behind the European Tour.’’ Spanish golf federation president Gonzaga Escauriaza said Ballesteros, an ‘’icon’’ of Spanish golf, transformed the sport. ‘’Severiano Ballesteros was a unique, unrepeatable person,’’ Escauriaza said. ‘’We have to recognize we are where we are now, that golf is a popular sport ... in large part to Severiano Ballesteros. We all owe him a lot.’’ No. 1-ranked Lee Westwood wrote on Twitter: ‘’It’s a sad day. Lost an inspiration, genius, roll model, hero and friend.Seve made European golf what it is today. RIP Seve.’’ In a long list of spectacular shots, perhaps the most memorable came from a parking lot next to the 16th fairway at Royal Lytham& St. Annes in the 1979 British Open. Leading by two shots in the final round, he drove his ball into the lot, had a car removed to get his free drop, then fired his second shot to 15 feet and made birdie on his way to his first major.
Black Mountain Opens Water Park and Wake Board
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Hua Hin Today by GMoss
teed it up in America, a one-shot victory at the Greater Greensboro Open. Partly because of his humble roots, partly because of his Spanish blood, Ballesteros always played as though he had something to prove. Even after some called him ‘’Car Park Champion’’ for his shot at Lytham when he won the 1979 British Open, the Spaniard showed that was no fluke when he arrived at Augusta National the next year.
TRAGIC SPORTS DEATHS
Sports has lost many athletes way too soon. We list a few. He obliterated the field in the 1980 Masters, much like Tiger Woods did in 1997. Applying his genius to a course built for imagination, Ballesteros took a seven-shot lead into the final round and led by 10 at one point until he started spraying tee shots and won by four. Even so, at 23 he was the youngest Masters champion until Woods won at age 21. Ballesteros won the Masters again in 1983, and he was equally dominant in golf’s oldest championship. He won the British Open in 1984 at St. Andrews over Tom Watson, then won again at Lytham in 1988 by closing with a 65 — the best score of the tournament — to beat Price and Nick Faldo. His career was marked by nasty disputes with European tour officials and PGA Tour officials. He quit the European tour in 1981 in a disagreement over appearance money, the only year he missed the Ryder Cup. He became angry with PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman in 1985 for not playing the required 15 events for membership. Despite his five majors and 87 titles around the world, Ballesteros forever will be linked to the Ryder Cup. He developed an ‘’us against them’’ attitude that became infectious with what had been an inferior European team. He made his teammates believe. Ballesteros was headed for defeat in 1983 at PGA National, his ball beneath the lip of a bunker, some 245 yards from the green, when he lashed a 3-wood to the fringe and escaped with a halve against Fuzzy Zoeller. The Americans narrowly won, but the Ryder Cup was never the same after that year — and perhaps after that shot.
ALWAYS A FIGHTER
In golf and in life, Seve Ballesteros never gave up, Robert Lusetich says. ‘’His desire to beat the Americans was paramount, and probably the reason they beat us,’’ Watson said. ‘’The Ryder Cup became the focus of world golf, and Seve was right there as the leader.’’ He teamed with Jose Maria Olazabal to become the most formidable partnership in Ryder Cup history, producing an 11-2-2 record. In his final Ryder Cup, at Oak Hill in 1995, he was playing a singles match against Tom Lehman when Ballesteros drove wildly to the right. A TV commentator said his only two choices were to pitch back to the fairway or play a big hook around a massive tree. Ballesteros studied his options, then hit over the tree to the front of the green. Such was the unpredictable nature of Ballesteros. There have not been many like him, if any at all. ‘’Seve is a genius, one of the few geniuses in the game,’’ Ben Crenshaw once said. ‘’The thing is, Seve is never in trouble. He’s in the trees quite a lot, but that’s not trouble for him. That’s normal.’’ On Friday at the Spanish Open, Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez — good friends of Ballesteros’ — were in tears as they came off the El Prat golf course upon learning of Ballesteros’ deteriorating state. Olazabal and Ballesteros combined to form one of the greatest Ryder Cup pairs in history. ‘’What he did in sport is unbelievable,’’ topranked tennis player Rafael Nadal said on Friday. ‘’These are tough moments.’’ Ballesteros and his wife Carmen divorced in 2004. They had three children together.
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Hua Hin Today Volume 9 issue 3 January 2012