Jeff Kelly, who has died, aged 58, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, was, with Antonio Sanchez, the Publisher of Andalucia Golf.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “Jeff Kelly was an outstanding pioneer in golf writing in Spain, and a wonderful supporter of The European Tour. He was much respected by all involved in the game, and recognised by our Membership as an authoritative and honest writer and a great champion of our sport.
"As a member of the Association of Golf Writers and publisher of Andalucia Golf he attended many of our events each year, but I think one of his proudest moments was when The Ryder Cup was played at Valderrama in Spain where he had lived for 35 years. He was a very good friend to Jaime Ortiz Patiño, the President of Valderrama, and I know how highly Jimmy valued Jeff’s input when it came to Valderrama winning the bid to stage The Ryder Cup when, for the first time, the match was played in continental Europe.
"Now we mourn the passing of a very good friend and enthusiast and The European Tour sends its sincere condolences to his wife Anita and son, Christopher.
“On my way back from the Masters Tournament this year I spoke with Jeff about his very latest project which with David Steele, a former European Tour Member, was to organise a 24 hour “Marathon Golf Day” next month with the many beneficiaries being the Cancer Research Department at Malaga University, the Cudeca Hospice and the Spanish Cancer Association. As with everything that Jeff took on he was totally committed and The European Tour will add further support to his efforts by providing a donation in his memory.”
Jeff died in Parque San Antonio, Malaga, Spain, on Thursday 15th May, and he is survived by his wife Anita and son Christopher. His funeral took place on Friday 16th May at the cemetery in San Pedro. Eamonn Power, a regular correspondent with Andalucia Golf and good friend of Jeff, writes:
FAREWELL, MY FRIEND
Very few, if any, knew more about golf on the Costa del Sol than Jeff Kelly. Very few, if any, worked harder in promoting the area and his work, or maybe it was a labour of love, had Jeff travelling to all corners of the globe in his unceasing efforts to make golfers more aware of the coast and its’ golfing attractions.
His forte, on a local level, was in keeping pressure on the golf course directors to ensure that when visitors arrived they found golf courses in apple pie order. All this Jeff managed to achieve whilst remaining on good terms with people he occasionally found it necessary to criticise, sometimes, in quite harsh terms.
Only a top class product was good enough for Jeff and evidence of this could readily be found just by turning the pages of his beloved magazine, Andalucia Golf. From very humble beginnings, Jeff’s drive and energy fashioned a magazine which has become a very respected publication in a world where golf magazines are “two a penny”.
Not only was Jeff a member of the prestigious Association of Golf Writers, he was also a top class photographer with an eye for the unusual and, over the years, readers of Andalucia Golf were treated to a succession of quite brilliant photographs from all continents.
I knew Jeff for a number of years before I started writing for him and, as we travelled together covering golf events around the globe, I found his enthusiasm contagious and our friendship blossomed. There is a saying “birds of a feather flock together” and this was certainly true about Jeff and me. Both of us needed coffee in the mornings before we could utter a civil word and many a breakfast table was shared in a deafening silence until copious cups of caffeine had been downed. Both of us delighted in an argument while both of us sought the holy grail of perfection. Naturally the latter was not an achievable aim but Jeff spent many hours honing his work (and, indeed, mine) until it met with his approval. A word here, a comma there, all made a difference to this wordsmith who never failed to be excited when seeing the finished product in print.
His greatest success, however, was the announcement that the The Ryder Cup would be played at Valderrama in 1997. Jeff’s input to this was immense and he never, for a moment, doubted that the bid, spearheaded by Jaime Ortiz Patiño, would be the winner.
Ryder Cup history was indeed made when Valderrama became the first home venue outside the U.K. to host this prestigious event and Jeff played no small part in that history making.
A short couple of years ago I received a phone call from Jeff asking me to meet him and was greeted with the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer. “I won’t lie down and let this bastard take over my life” was his response and how true that turned out to be. The travelling continued, the search for perfection continued and, above all, the enthusiasm continued.
Indeed just 48 hours before he died Jeff was talking about arranging a party to be held at his home when he got out of the hospital. It was not to be, for in those few hours the strength drained from his body and his life ebbed away.
Jeff Kelly had died in only his 59th year. Farewell Jeff, golf events will not be the same without your presence. I shall miss your criticism, I shall miss the arguments and, most of all, I shall miss your friendship. My heart goes out to Jeff’s wife Anita and his son Christopher whose loss will be infinitely greater than mine. Indeed it is fair to say that everybody involved in golf in Andalucia has suffered a tragic loss in Jeff’s passing.
Eamonn Power
