Jeff Kelly, who was a member of the Association since 1994, has died following a brave and dignified battle with cancer. He was 58 and is survived by his wife, Anita, and son, Christopher, to whom we have sent condolences. The funeral took place on Friday 16 May, 2003 and Mike Britten attended on our behalf and provided a wreath.

Jeff had lived in Spain for 35 years and, as publisher of Andalucia Golf, became a friend to all golf writers who attended events in the area, not least at Valderrama. Just before his death, a letter arrived reporting his latest project, a 24-hour golf marathon being undertaken by former European Tour player David Steele, who will attempt to play over 700 holes on June 4-5 at La Dama de Noche. All the proceeds from the marathon and an Am-Am tournament at Mijas with 500 participants will go to the Spanish Cancer Research Institutes. We shall be making a donation to the fund but if there is anyone who wishes to find out more about the events, offer sponsorship or make a donation please e-mail email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Eamonn Power, who worked with Jeff on Andalucia Golf, wrote this tribute for europeantour.com:

“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 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 UK 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.”

SEE ALSO

Andalucia Golf – https://andaluciagolf.com/en/latest-news/4081-three-decades-of-golfing-history