The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 61: Seve plays at St Clair (1977)
But few made such a positive impression as a friendly 19-year-old Spanish youth who set a four-round record at St Clair in 1977.
His name was Ballesteros, Severiano Ballesteros, later to win great acclaim as one of Europe's finest and most charismatic golfers.
St Clair was hosting the popular Otago Charity Classic, a major tournament that was well run and always attracted at least one major player.
Johnny Miller, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson all played in the tournament, and the year before Ballesteros won, the great Sam Snead was the invited guest.
The kid called Seve arrived in December 1977 and, forecasting the theme of his career, he sprayed the ball all over the St Clair course but used his superb short game to card a 69.
Rounds of 67, 68 and 67 followed, giving Ballesteros victory by three shots in front of large galleries.
Former New Zealand golfer Greg Turner was just a schoolboy when he watched Ballesteros win at St Clair.
Turner said he was inspired by Ballesteros then and later relished the opportunity to get to know the Spaniard.
"He was bloody kind with his time," Turner told NZPA earlier this year.
"Any time I saw him going to the practice green I'd head over there as well. He was very free with his advice and he'd spend a lot of time with you, talking you through stuff."
Ballesteros later won five majors and a record 50 European titles. He also played huge roles in making golf more popular and reviving the Ryder Cup.
"I doubt there's been a player anywhere in the world who has had more of an impact on golf than him," Turner said.
"He brought golf into the living rooms in countries around the world where it wasn't really a mainstream sport.
"He was the inspiration for what happened throughout Europe and South America. As a consequence he probably impacted on the game in real terms more than just about any other individual."
Ballesteros died of cancer in May, aged 54.
