(George, South Africa) – He is one of only five men to win the career Grand Slam, he’s won nine Major championships, nine Champions Tour Majors, more than 160 tournaments worldwide; he has been a professional golfer for more than 50 years, designed more than 300 golf courses worldwide, travelled more than any other athlete, and is renowned for his legendary health-conscious lifestyle and passion for fitness.
And now, on the eve of his 74th birthday and just weeks before he hosts the 10th anniversary of the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola at Fancourt, Player declares: “I still have so much to do.”
A milestone age for any person, Player is a shining example of how to treat age simply as a number. He packs more into a day than men half his age – and he loves every minute of it.
Still an active member of the Champions Tour, Player’s life of globe-trotting has been about spreading the goodwill of golf and earned him the title of Golf’s International Ambassador.
When Arnold Palmer was making the game popular in the United States, it was Player, one of the legendary Big Three with Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, who was popularising the game in far-flung places around the world.
He has an infectious enthusiasm and zest for life and golf that never waivers and it is his determination to perform to the best of his abilities that has always made him such a tough competitor.
It has been this never-say-die attitude to life and golf that has made him so popular with fans around the world.
Much has been made of his golf career, but Player’s other notable achievements include an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of St. Andrews (1995), the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for dedication to charity (2003) and the Payne Stewart Award from the PGA Tour in recognition of philanthropic achievements and the exemplary manner in which he has conducted himself on and off the golf course, which he received in 2006.
In December 2003 Player was also awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold) by President Mbeki of South Africa for excellence in golf and his contribution to non-racial sport in South Africa.
Don’t imagine that these awards signal the end of an era for Player. Speak to the Black Knight about retirement and he will insist that there is just no time.
As he will tell you, idle hands are the devil’s workshop.
When the clock strikes midnight to signal his 74th birthday, Mr Player will be in China hosting the second leg of the Gary Player Invitational series in partnership with Coca-Cola to raise money for the Yunnan AIDS Orphans whose lives have been hit hardest by HIV.
“Last year we raised more than RMB 4.5-million for the children in China and over R3-million at the Gary Player Invitational in South Africa,” said Player, “That took us past the R250-million mark in 25 years; now our goal is to reach the R300-million mark.”
Player is still committed to tournament play, his design company, his sponsors’ corporate outings and his charitable work, which does substantial good for needy children around the world, but he does admit that he cherishes the time spent with his family, his wife of nearly 60 years, Vivienne, his six children and his 21 grandchildren.
And then there is his beloved farm in the desert area of the Karoo in central South Africa, where he breeds thoroughbred racehorses.
But for the moment, there is no chance of this particular man’s hands ever becoming idle. There just isn’t enough time.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!
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Tickets are available from Computicket at a cost of R75 each.
Contact:
Marc Tudhope, Managing Director, Black Knight International
E: marc@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Jo Hone, GPI Event Director, Black Knight International
E: jo@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Jen Fonseca, Program Director for The Player Foundation
E: jen@garyplayer.com or T: +1 561 624 0300
