There was no better voice in golf commentary than that of Peter Alliss.
Golf Digest once referred to him as: “The greatest golf commentator ever.”
Alliss’ magical voice has left us. The man who was a fine player, author and esteemed television analyst, died on Saturday at age 89.
”Peter’s death was unexpected but peaceful,” his family said in a statement to the BBC, where Alliss excelled in the television booth. There was no cause given.
Alliss was born in Germany where his father Percy was head professional at the Wannsee Golf Club outside Berlin. Alliss would go on to become one of Europe’s best players. He competed in eight Ryder Cups and was Europe’s Vardon Trophy winner in two seasons — 1964 and 1966. He won 23 tournament around the world.
He first appeared on the BBC in 1961 while he was still playing. He went full-time after he retired in 1974 and became the BBC lead golf announcer in 1978.
It was Alliss who gave several lessons to the late Sean Connery to prepare him for the golf scene in the 1964 Bond movie — Goldfinger.
Alliss had an outstanding Ryder Cup record.
“I have a very good Ryder Cup record, mostly because of my fear of losing,” Alliss once quipeed. He went 10-15-5 on teams that went just 1-6-1. “I always had the attitude that ‘you weren’t going to beat me.’ I believe you play the man, not the course. I played Arnold three times when he was at his peak and the only one I lost was a foursome. I beat him once and halved with him in singles. I also beat Billy Casper, Gay Brewer and Ken Venturi at various times, and halved with Tony Lema,” Alliss recounted several years ago.
Alliss went on to represent England in the World Cup 10 times.
He was inducted into the World Golf Hall Of Fame in 2012.
He authored 20 golf books and was a man for all seasons in the world of golf — player, author, commentator — he did it all and did it well.
