March 14, 2006 — Black Knight International (BKI), the global umbrella company that owns and operates the Gary Player Group, today announced the expansion of their worldwide real estate interests through a new Gary Player Real Estate division.
The primary purpose will be to participate in residential real estate, golf resort, equestrian and other high-quality communities around the world – many that would feature Gary Player-designed courses as the centerpiece of each development. Under the leadership of newly-appointed President, Ken Costanzo, the Gary Player Real Estate sector is committed to creating superior residential experiences that integrate the surrounding environment with superior land-planning and amenities. Mr. Costanzo, who most recently served as COO of The Cliffs Communities in the Carolinas (USA), brings 30 years of executive, real estate and global business experience to the Gary Player Group. Prior to The Cliffs, Costanzo managed various global businesses and held key executive positions over a 20-year career with W.R. Grace & Co., and also served as President of Executive Solutions, Inc. – a worldwide marketing and consulting firm.
Gary Player, who next month continues his record-setting major championship career with his 49th appearance in the Masters, said, "As I have designed over 200 golf courses around the world during much of my 50 plus years of playing professional golf, we are proud to continue to expand our brand and our impact on the business of golf through the growth of our real estate arm. I have gotten to know Ken Costanzo well over the last several years and we are very fortunate to have a professional of his caliber take the helm of this enterprise."
Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International, said, "For decades we have created some of the finest golf courses around the world and worked with some of the very best real estate developers. With the new expansion of the company, we will continue to expand our services beyond design as a means of enhancing a developer’s finished product."
"There are significant synergies that exist with Gary Player Design and the goals and objectives of the best global real estate developers," said Ken Costanzo. "The Gary Player Real Estate division will be involved from the initial planning stages with these developers and therefore are positioned uniquely to understand and evaluate the overall real estate program, along with the financial needs to create the best product offering. We are certain that we will be able to expand our ability to provide valuable developer services that will significantly extend their success in the marketplace."
About the Gary Player Group:
Black Knight International, the global entity for all Gary Player related business endeavors, maintains an especially strong presence in the United States, Europe, the Middle and Far East, as well as South Africa. Gary Player’s penchant for wearing black attire on the golf course, and his courageous and competitive style of play coupled with a courteous demeanor, gave rise to his being dubbed "The Black Knight." The recognizable Black Knight logo identifies all the companies of the Gary Player Group and symbolizes the strength of character and fighting spirit of both the man and the group.
The Gary Player Group provides a range of services and products that reflect a superior quality and commitment to excellence. The various companies encompassed under the group umbrella include an active golf course design firm, Gary Player Design, which has more than 200 championship courses worldwide to its credit; an enterprise business that selectively markets the name and likeness of Gary Player; Gary Player Golf Academies that offer exceptional instruction; and The Player Foundation, which executes global charitable efforts for the support of underprivileged children. www.garyplayer.com.
Contact:
Gida Campbell
Black Knight International
+1 561 624 0300
gida@garyplayer.com
