Gary Player Design and DLF, India’s largest real estate developer will soon set a new standard for golf when the Gary Player Signature course opens in the Summer of 2013. Following another rousing success at the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in Shanghai, Gary Player flew to New Delhi to cap off his recent Asian tour with a site visit of the DLF Golf and Country Club in Gurgaon.
Player’s weekend visit to the scenic parkland style layout was to view the course’s progress, but the Black Knight also kept busy by hosting a DLF golf outing, evening functions, as well as a joint Callaway and DLF junior golf clinic.
Impressed with how the golf course is shaping up, Gary Player continues to express his appreciation of DLF’s meticulous commitment to quality.
“We were really able to polish this diamond during the visit,” said Player. “DLF has been an outstanding client to collaborate with. They have truly dedicated their passion and resources in raising the benchmark of golf course development in India.”
As grassing continues over the next couple months, the Gary Player-designed course is expected to be completed in late summer 2013. Following the opening of the initial 9-holes, Gary Player Design will then begin a redesign of the back nine of the existing DLF Golf and Country Club course. Together the 9-hole courses will compose India’s first 18-hole Gary Player Signature golf course that will be a new standard in India, as well as being poised to host a European Tour sanctioned event.
“It was exciting to review the course with Mr. Player,” said Senior Designer Jeff Lawrence. “He always provides wonderful design input and ideas, and this visit was no exception. DLF members and guests are in for a real treat next summer.”
Following the course walkthrough, Player hosted a golf outing and evening function for DLF residents and invited guests. The weekend visit also saw a DLF and Callaway co-sponsored junior golf clinic hosted by the Black Knight. During the clinic, the nine-time Major winner spoke to Gurgaon’s youth and offered game improvement tips, while also sharing what it takes to become a champion.
“The amount of promising young talent at the Callaway Golf clinic was astounding,” said Player. “It will only be a matter of time before we see more top professionals from India.”
Callaway was also promoting their new RAZR Fit Xtreme driver during the event. The new driver is set for a January release and is expecting rave reviews. The latest driver will combine key concepts and features from its most successful driver models to date. The Black Knight had a chance to test the new RAZR Fit Xtreme while at the Carlsbad Callaway headquarters in October.
“I do not think I have hit a ball that well since I was 25,” gushed Player at the Ely Callaway Performance Center.
Player’s visit to India will be just one of many as Gary Player Design continues to expand their presence in the Indian subcontinent and Asia. The design firm currently has 16 projects under construction or in the design phase across Asia.
“It has been an extraordinary weekend in India,” said Player. “A combination of wonderful clients, sponsors, friends, and up-and-coming young golfers is have made the visit to DLF Golf and Country Club an absolute pleasure.”
“We have created a world-class course here in India with DLF, and I am looking forward to the opening in Summer 2013.”
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 has completed 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 Golfweek 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.
Contact:
Grace Lipscomb
Archivist & Media Coordinator
Gary Player Group
+1 864-477-2720
grace@garyplayer.com
