Beijing, PRC – Gary Player Design and Beijing based leisure and hospitality specialists Axis Leisure Management have announced a strategic alliance aimed at expanding Gary Player Design’s presence in the rapidly expanding Chinese market.
“We are delighted to add to our current representation in China a resource of Axis’ caliber to help us expand the Gary Player family of brands. Axis’ expertise in developing exceptional leisure and hospitality brands and Justin Downes’ extensive knowledge of the Chinese market will greatly enhance our ability to pursue new golf course design and real estate projects throughout China and the entire Asian region,” said Scott Ferrell, President of Gary Player Design.
“Axis Leisure Management is proud to be aligned with such an iconic individual, brand, and organization. Our objective is to develop new opportunities for Gary Player Design and Player Real Estate and to offer our expertise in building luxury leisure and hospitality brands to the valued past, present and future clients of The Player Group,” said Axis President Justin Downes.
In addition to Design Services, Axis Leisure Management will support the development and service of the Group’s brand portfolio including Gary Player Apparel, Gary Player Wine, Black Knight Enterprises and The Player Foundation.
In China since 2006, Beijing based Axis Leisure Management is owned and operated by Justin Downes and specializes in offering support and solutions in the development and operations of the golf, ski, hotel, resort, hospitality, leisure and entertainment sectors in Asia.
About Gary Player Design
Widely recognized as the world’s most successful golf course architectural firm, Gary Player Design established by Marc Player in 1983 today boasts over 325 championship courses spanning the globe. With an ever-increasing number of courses stretching across five continents and encompassing more than 35 countries, the firm is renowned for its select and ecological approach to design.
Magazines such as Golf Asia, Travel & Leisure, Golf Digest, Golf Week, Golf World Worldwide Golf, and The Complete Golfer have consistently listed Gary Player courses among the top places to play. Travel & Leisure Golf named Leopard Creek in South Africa one of the top ten Best International Courses; Geneva National was referred to by Golf Week as the best course you can play in America; and Golf, Inc. named BlackSeaRama in Bulgaria the 2010 International Development of the Year. Awards and accolades such as these are numerous, and for good reason. Gary Player Design doesn’t simply design the course and walk away; they also provide the consulting services that will guide a newly established project through the implementation steps necessary to ensure success. The results are premier golf courses & resorts that provide golfers with a unique style of luxury, the challenge of risk versus reward, and a truly memorable experience.
Although Gary Player’s golfing expertise influences every project, Gary Player Design offers three tiers of golf course design service; Black Knight Design™, Player Design™, and Gary Player Signature Design™. On Signature Design projects, Mr. Player is involved in every phase of design and development. With over 50 years of professional golf experience, Player, The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™ has visited and studied most of the great golf courses of the world so he understands that the design of a course takes both vision and respect for existing conditions. His design philosophy, and also that of The Player Group, is to create challenging yet playable courses that enhance the existing resources and retain the natural beauty of the land. Environmental sensitivity is a cornerstone of Gary Player’s passion for golf course design.
Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, is one of the century’s greatest golfers and one of the original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He is one of only five golfers to ever win the Grand Slam on the PGA Tour and the only golfer to win the Grand Slam on both the regular and Champions Tour. Over the course of his career, Player participated in 438 Tour events, placed in the top 25 in 281 of them, and won 165 worldwide tournaments. Player, whose career earnings exceed $15 million, is a legend in his own time. Currently serving as The Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame, he has been a three-time President’s Cup Captain and is ranked by Golf digest as one of the top ten all-time golf greats. Player’s iconic status in sport adds immeasurable marketing value to all golf course design assignments he accepts. His legacy will most certainly ensure Gary Player’s Design success for many years to come.
For further information on Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate or Black Knight International, visit www.garyplayerdesign.com or contact Scott Ferrell at + 1-864-477-2720.
About Axis
Axis Leisure Management is a company owned and operated by Justin Downes specializing in offering support and solutions in the development and operations of the golf, ski, hotel, resort, hospitality, leisure and entertainment sectors in Asia. Axis assists in the development and execution of business expansion of leisure development businesses throughout China and the Asia Pacific and assists in initiatives that contribute to the growth and success of brands worldwide. Axis offers representation services to leading brands, enabling professional and timely service to the client and assists in the growth of business potential in the region.
With over 20 years in executive management positions in all facets of the leisure industry, and on 3 continents, Axis has a solid understanding of the needs of developers, the market and the supply chain – all needing to come to together to create a viable and successful project that measures up with the very best in the world. The Axis team comprises likeminded and hardworking talent, able to tackle any development and operational solutions. Axis has worked for and along side global leading developers, operators, designers and planners – and can count some of the world’s leading golf, ski, resort, leisure and hospitality developments in its portfolio.
Axis prides itself on providing affordable, reliable, efficient and professional services – purely targeted at creating truly world class developments and a sustainable and enviable industry for the rapidly growing and discerning Chinese market.
For more information on Axis Leisure Management, visit www.axisleisure.com or contact Justin Downes at +86 138 1108 7025 (EN), or Olivia Wang at +86 134 0102 7529 (CN), or email at info@axisleisure.com
Contact:
Gary Player Design
Scott Ferrell, President
Email: scott@garyplayer.com
Phone: +1 864 477 2720.
www.garyplayer.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Player/144156675604094
www.twitter.com/#!/garyplayer
Axis Leisure Management
Justin Downes, President
Email: Justin@garyplayer.com / Justin@axisleisure.com
Ph: EN – +86 138 1108 7025
CN – +86 134 0102 7529 (Olivia Wang)
