The Shire Series - Tribute To Seve

UK golfers paid their own tribute to Seve Ballesteros, and raised money for his Foundation, in a new year-long series of amateur golf events hosted at his only UK designed golf course.

It took place at The Shire, the Shire Series in June 2012 and featured six qualifying tournaments with the Final, featured winners and runners-up, on National Spain Day, October 12th 2012.

The venue donated at least £20 from all entry fees plus proceeds from all other fundraising activity to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, which works in partnership with Cancer Research UK to raise money for vital brain cancer research.

Seve Ballesteros passed away on May 7th 2011, and The Shire Series started just over a year later, in June 2012.

The full schedule was:

• Monday 11th June 2012 – The Shire Series Men's Scratch Open
• Monday 11th June 2012 - The Shire Series Women's Scratch Open
• Tuesday 19th June 2012 - The Shire Series Classic (Men & Women's handicap)
• Friday 31st August 2012 - The Shire Series Family Open
• Wednesday 26th September 2012 - The Shire Series Corporate Cup
• Friday 12th October 2012 - The Shire Series Final (National Spain Day)
• Tuesday 30th October 2012 - The Shire Series Junior Open

Seve’s nephew and manager Ivan Ballesteros says: “Seve was determined for his Foundation to raise money to help others in his position. I am very happy the Seve Ballesteros Foundation is benefitting from The Shire Series as it will help us to achieve this, and I’d like to thank them for their support. Good luck and play well!'

The Shire London's Ceri Menai Davis explains the thinking behind the event: "Almost everyone is affected by cancer in some way, and we were all deeply touched here by what Seve went through, as many of us were lucky enough to meet the great man during his visits here.

“Seve was a superlative, Major-winning superstar and secured his place in the history of the sport many times over, but he was also charismatic like no other golfer before or since, and had a natural, everyman type appeal. The Shire Series has been created in that spirit, and enables any golfer - no matter what his or her experience or age - to compete on equal terms on his spectacular Masters Course here at The Shire London."

The Shire London celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2012, and donations from The Shire Series will be boosted by other events at the club in 2012, including Members' events, as the club seeks to raise the maximum amount of money for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, its official charity.

Sophie Cannon, Foundations Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Seve inspired everyone in the golfing world, and The Shire Series is a fitting tribute to him, as it is hosted at the course he designed. Donations to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation enable us to continue our vital research into brain cancer, so we hope many golfers will enter the tournaments - and enjoy Seve's golf course."

Full entry and donation details can be found on the web at www.theshireseries.com, or call The Shire London on +44 (0)20 8441 7649