Gary Player services golf course design clients in Cyprus, Abu Dhabi, Dubai & Oman…
December 9, 2008 – In recent years, Gary Player Design’s global portfolio has seen a tremendous expansion into emerging golf markets around the world. With that, golf’s Global Ambassador, Gary Player, has found himself traveling the globe more now than ever – particularly to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, North & South Africa, Asia and Central America.
In the month of November, between playing golf, servicing corporate clients and hosting two Gary Player Invitational charity events in China & South Africa, Gary Player made stops in Cyprus, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman where he is currently designing golf courses.
On November 17th, the Shakolas Group gave the Black Knight his first tour of the raw site near Polis, Cyprus where a 36-hole golf course is planned – 18 holes by Player and 18 by Nicklaus. The site, formerly a quarry, is characterized by an enormous crater which was being filled with earth during Player’s visit. Due to these sensitive conditions, Gary Player Design was a natural choice for the developer largely because of Player’s interest in improving and restoring each designated golf course site.
Said Gary Player during his visit, “The introduction of a golf course to this particular site really enables us to ‘mend a scar’ and give back to Mother Nature. By the time we’ve finished here, Limni will undoubtedly be a showcase for golf’s green movement. ”
Gary Player also expressed excitement about working with a piece of land that offers such dramatic elevations. The topography will lend itself to a golf course with a lot of character, with some holes offering long distance views and others playing along the quarry wall.
Form Cyprus, Gary Player flew to Abu Dhabi in the UAE where he visited to the site of his new signature course on Saadiyat Island – the first ocean course to be built on the Arabian Gulf. There, Player gave his go-ahead signal for the grassing of the final eight holes and spoke of how the island’s natural environment is being leveraged to deliver a course “at one with nature.” Now in its final stages, the Saadiyat Island Ocean Course is on track to open in September of 2009 and serve as the host venue for the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2010.
“We have designed over 300 courses but there’s something unique about this one which excites me. Set alongside the world’s largest cluster of renowned cultural institutions, such as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum and the Louvre museum, this course will raise the bar and set a new standard for golf courses across the Middle East region – if not the world,” Player told the media.
According to recent research, the golf market in the UAE represents the most sophisticated in the region, which is based on the UAE’s appetite to be seen as a major venue for sports events and a desirable golfing destination. With Dubai (where Player attended the grand opening of Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah) and Abu Dhabi leading the charge, the growth of golf in the UAE continues set new international standards with tournaments such as the Dubai World Championship and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
To the east of the UAE lies the country of Oman, another emerging market where Gary Player Design is making its mark. Before heading back to South Africa to host the Gary Player Invitational, Player made a final stop in Oman where he is designing two golf courses near Muscat. With beautiful beaches and year-round sun, the country has seen a boost in tourism over the last two years which is attributed largely to the development of new golf courses of international standards.
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Contact:
Gida Aden, Media Director
Black Knight International
+1 561 624 0300
gida@garyplayer.com