The Community of Madrid and the Encín Golf Hotel have paid tribute to Severiano Ballesteros, “one of the greats in the history of golf and sport” as highlighted by the president of the Community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre.
At the ceremony, which was attended by Seve’s brother and son, Manuel and Javier Ballesteros, a monolith was unveiled, which will be permanently installed at El Encín once the Bankia Madrid Masters is over. It reads, “The Community of Madrid, in recognition of Severiano Ballesteros, for his sporting career as the greatest Spanish golfer of all time”. In addition, distance markers will be installed on the 18th hole, showing the golfer’s main victories.
Esperanza Aguirre has highlighted the decisive contribution of Seve Ballesteros to make golf a popular sport. “What he was most proud of was the legacy he left to his children and to the young people he taught that you reach the top little by little, with effort,” she said. The president closed the ceremony with some beautiful words from Seve: “We are what we believe in. I believe I reached my goals because I did not wait for praise or let myself be crushed by criticism. I simply followed the inner voice of that child who wanted to be the best player in the world. I believed in myself.
The president of the Community of Madrid took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the Bankia Madrid Masters, whose new venue is a course “which is already one of the best in Spain”, and which has been built on Community land “without costing taxpayers a single euro thanks to the courage and determination of Joaquín Molpeceres”, whose company Desprosa won the public tender for its construction. She has also emphasized “the benefits of a sport like golf for the body and mind”, and has invited Javier Ballesteros to take part tomorrow in the Pro-Am, forming a team with her and Luke Donald.
The tribute to Severiano Ballesteros was attended by a wide institutional representation. The Minister of Culture and Sports, Ignacio González; the Minister of Environment and Territorial Planning, Ana Isabel Mariño; the General Director of Sports of the Community of Madrid, Carlota Castrejana, the Vice-Minister of Culture and Sports, Javier Hernández; the General Director of Sports of the Superior Sports Council, Matilde García, and the General Director of Sports of the Superior Sports Council, Matilde García, were present; the Vice Councilor of Culture and Sports, Javier Hernández; the General Director of Sports of the Superior Sports Council, Matilde García, as well as the mayors of Alcalá de Henares, Meco, Algete, Camarma, Alcobendas, Las Rozas, Aljavir, Valdeavero and Villanueva del Pardillo.
The president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Gonzaga Escauriaza, also wished to take part in the event, emphasizing that Seve was “the greatest and nothing we do will be enough to pay tribute to him”.
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