To date few Americans know of my Samuel Ryder biography. Accordingly I am getting the message across by advertising in the specialist magazine entitled The Bulletin which is delivered to 1200 of the most enthusiastic golf historians in America.
Ben Crenshaw with the Samuel Ryder Biography
Golfers recognise Ben Crenshaw as the champion golfer who won the US Masters in 1984 and 1995 and was the successful American Ryder Cup Captain in 1999. Less well known is his great enthusiasm for the history of golf. Consequently he was delighted to receive a copy of Peter Fry’s biography of Samuel Ryder which is acknowledged in the accompanying photograph.
Mary Moore - The Samuel Ryder Foundation
The photograph shows Samuel Ryder’s grand-daughter, Mary Moore, alongside the fireplace in Samuel Ryder’s former office in St Albans. the occasion was the launch of a new charity called the Samuel Ryder Foundation set up to provide worthwhile legacies in Samuel Ryder’s name. The aims of the charity can be accessed at www.sryder.com
Peter Fry Meets Bernard Gallacher
The photograph features Peter Fry and Bernard Gallacher at Wentworth Golf Club with a copy of the Samuel Ryder biography. Former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher generously agreed to write the foreword to the book.
Samuel Ryder in Mayoral Robes
Peter Fry originally became interested in Ryder Cup history when he met Samuel Ryder’s eldest daughter Marjorie some years ago whilst researching the history of his home golf club at Came Down in Dorset. She gave Peter this picture of her father in mayoral robes in happy memory of the family’s close links with Came Down Golf Club. The picture now hangs in the club lounge.
Celtic Manor - 2010 Ryder Cup Venue
I am pleased to report that copies of my Samuel Ryder biography are now available at the Celtic Manor Hotel – venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup matches taking place in the autumn of 2010.
The Author With Peter Alliss
Peter Alliss wrote an excellent article in the May/April 2009 edition of Golf International magazine supporting the author’s evidence of how the idea for the Ryder Cup matches was conceived. Publications from both the Ryder family and newspapers of the 1920s clearly show that Ryder got his idea for starting the Ryder Cup matches when he played his golf with the Whitcombe brothers whilst on holiday at Came Down Golf Club in Dorset. The photograph shows the author with Peter Alliss during the Alliss/Merlo charity tournament staged at Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset.
Corey Pavin & the Ryder Cup
At the 2009 PGA Annual Lunch at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London I had the honour of presenting my Samuel Ryder biography to the American Ryder Cup Captain for 2010 – one Corey Pavin. It was a pleasure to meet him and his wife Lisa and they were very gracious in accepting the book. 850 guests listened to a question and answer session hosted by the former BBC golf correspondent Tony Adamson.
