Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
PROFESSIONAL golfer Juan Manuel Fuentes, who received coaching from the late great Severiano Ballesteros, aims to pass on his knowledge to golfers in the kingdom.
Fuentes, now 29, started playing the game at nine and went on to become a four-time winner of the Andalusian Professional Golf Tour, the Spanish region of his birth.
He has just been signed up as a teaching professional at the Royal Golf Club after a successful spell in Spain and helping the game develop in Poland and still assists several players in Europe via Skype who are keen on him helping them continue to improve their shots.
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes permanent. Perfect practice is what makes perfect,” he said. “The way to improve is to be highly motivated and to work properly and constantly. No matter what your goal in golf, you will need a structured process and professional advice.”
Fuentes was inspired and strongly influenced by the legendary Ballesteros – who tragically died following brain cancer aged 54 in May 2011 – having learned golf as a youngster at the San Roque Golf Club Academy belonging to the famous golfing family.
“Yes, I met him when I was young,” he explained. “I had a handicap of 10 at the time and I even received a few lessons from him. I could see how hard he practiced, spending the whole day at the golf course, so I understood early on that it was not only talent that made him such a great winner, it was also his immeasurable dedication and passion for the game.”
At his best Ballesteros was gifted with a soaring drive, and his short game was among the best ever seen on a golf course – on countless occasions he was able to make a birdie or par where neither had seemed possible. He once observed: “It doesn’t matter where you hit the drive if you make the putt.”
He was a superb chipper of the ball and a master of the bunker shot; and he seemed to know instinctively how best to redeem a difficult situation, although he himself put it more prosaically: “The more you go into trees, the more you have practice.”
He won The Open three times, in 1979, 1984 and 1988, claimed the US Masters title twice and captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory at Valderrama in 1997.
Incidentally, the name Ballesteros is once more back in the world of sport. Javier, his eldest son, recently decided to turn professional. The 25-year-old Spaniard accepted he would face a challenge to emulate the achievements of his father, and said in a statement: “This is something I have always wanted. Whether I will succeed or not, time will tell. However, I do not want to regret not having tried my best, and must give it a go.
“I know it will not be easy and I am aware of the hard work required, but I must try. My father had a long and difficult start in golf. Mine is a bit easier, although I have a disadvantage in that sense – everyone will always compare us and will expect from me, not what my dad achieved, but half of it, which is already a lot.
“I have set myself no goals. I will go step-by-step. As we say in golf: one shot at a time and living the present.
“I am very motivated and convinced that I have taken the right decision. I have a lot of self-confidence. My dad comes especially to my mind at this time. He taught me everything or almost everything I know about golf and I would have loved him see me turning pro. I am sure he would be very proud and happy.”
Young Ballesteros has recently played in Dubai and Fuentes hopes to catch up with him on his next trip to the region. “I know him and have seen him playing,” said Fuentes. “You can identify at once that he is Seve’s son – they look the same and his swing is very similar.
“Javier has an incredible touch for the short game but he has been dedicated to his studies so didn’t have much time for golf so far. Now he has said he is going to do everything to get on tour, so I am sure he will succeed.”
Fuentes is also passionate about the short game. He turned professional at the age of 20 and competed in several tours including the Spanish Tour and Alps Tour. In 2011 he moved to Poland to work at Sobienie Krolewskie Golf Club in Warsaw where he was responsible for coaching beginners, national junior champions and national professionals.
Recently he has been focused on golf fitness and took part in the Spanish PGA coaching programme last year which gave him a deeper knowledge of methods, techniques and junior training. His last port of call was as a coach at Marbella International Golf Academy.
“Golf is not just a sport, it’s a way of life and my message to newcomers is to get ready to experience a range of incredible emotions! I want to introduce the game of golf to as many people as possible. Also, I would like to create a great Junior Golf School to help kids enjoy themselves while learning this incredible game.
“I would like to say thank you so much to everyone who has made my first few days in Bahrain so easy and comfortable – incredibly welcoming people. I will do my best here.”
Fuentes is currently apartment-hunting and hopes his hometown sweetheart Teresa will eventually join him in Bahrain.
