PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA, USA (March 30, 2016) World Golf Hall of Fame member Gary Player, dubbed “Mr. Fitness” for his lifelong dedication to a healthy lifestyle, will be the keynote speaker this summer at the Club Summit for Golf, Sports and Spa/Fitness Management. The event, organized by the Club Spa and Fitness Association, the Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America and the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, is scheduled for July 31-August 3 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida.
Player, a native of South Africa, is the most successful global golfer of all time, with more than 165 professional victories worldwide. He is one of only five men to capture golf’s coveted Career Grand Slam, winning all four of golf’s majors by age 29. He also is the only professional golfer in history to win the Grand Slam on the Senior Tour. In 2015, he celebrated his 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his career Grand Slam achievement.
Player’s noted physical fitness regimen began as a youngster when older brother Ian encouraged him to stay fit as Ian went to serve in World War II. When the 5-foot-7, 150-pound Player first traveled around the world to the United States and faced the more powerful Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, he realized that physical fitness was the only way to contend with his long-time friends even though few golfers in the 1950s to 1970s exercised and almost none used weight training. As a result, he earned the “Mr. Fitness” nickname and he appeared naked on the cover of ESPN: The Magazine’s “Body Issue” in 2013. To this day, Player’s legendary workouts, which often include sets of 1,000 sit-ups, normally last 90 minutes and occur the first thing in the morning, unless he is traveling and has to condition in the evening after numerous appearances. He also speaks regularly on the importance of good diet, and health and fitness for children and adults around the world.
“Eating properly and staying in top physical shape have been the keys to my success both on and off the golf course,” Player said. “At age 80, I am still as energetic as I was in my 40’s. Having access to gyms during my worldwide travel remains an essential part of my lifestyle. I am happy to see that private clubs and the CSFA are focusing on the importance of fitness facilities and that more club members require these features, which are now just as important to private club life as golf, tennis and dining.”
Player currently serves as the global ambassador for the World Golf Hall of Fame, having been inducted in the inaugural class in 1974. He has also been dubbed “The Black Knight” and “The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™,” having traveled more than 16 million miles, another reason for his focus on staying physically fit.
In addition, the CSFA and FLCMAA proudly support The Player Foundation, which has raised more than $62 million for underprivileged children around the world, and has set a goal to donate $100 million by 2025.
“We are ecstatic to welcome Mr. Player, one of the world’s great athletes, as he inspires the CSFA to continue the mission of engaging with the members of the fitness community to become more physically fit,” said Kevin Caldabaugh, the President of the CSFA and the Fitness Director at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, FL. “Mr. Player has proven for more than six decades, through his unending attention to fitness, that being healthy leads to great things in the boardroom, classroom and on the golf course.”
“FLCMAA is very pleased to have Mr. Player joining us for this conference of club industry professionals. The addition of his expertise on the area of fitness and the increasing importance this area plays in the operation of club facilities and membership is key to our future success,” said Jeff Hartigan, CCM, the President of FLCMAA and General Manager/COO of The Oaks Club in Sarasota, FL.
Picture Caption:
1-Club Spa and Fitness Association Logo
2-FLCMAA Logo
3-Gary Player head shot
4-Gary Player exercising
Press Release issued on behalf of the Club Spa and Fitness Association and the Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America by Signature Group. To learn more about Signature Group, go to thesignature-group.com.
Contacts:
Ward Clayton (904) 910-7728
ward@landmark-media.com;
ward@thesignature-group.com
Notes for Editors:
About Gary Player
Gary Player is the most successful global golfer of all time. He has won more than 165 professional golf tournaments worldwide, and is one of only five men to capture golf’s coveted career Grand Slam, winning all four of golf’s majors by age 29. He also is the only professional golfer in history to win the Grand Slam on the Senior Tour. The Player Foundation has raised more than $60 million for underprivileged children around the world, and has set a goal to donate $100 million by 2025. Player currently serves as the global ambassador for the World Golf Hall of Fame, and he has been dubbed “The Black Knight,” “Mr. Fitness,” and “The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™” – having traveled more than 16 million miles. In 2005, he celebrated his 80th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his career Grand Slam achievement.
About the Club, Spa and Fitness Association (CSFA)
Club Spa and Fitness Association, Inc. (CSFA), a not-for-profit organization based in Jupiter, Fla., was founded in January 2007 and represents approximately 300 private clubs and Fitness, Spa and Wellness Professionals in 22 states. CSFA’s mission is to set best practices and maintain superior business and ethical standards for those in the profession and includes an annual national conference, regional education events, an annual trend report, a “Future of Fitness” scholarship with California University of Pennsylvania, an online job bank and affiliation with the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA). Please see www.csfassociation.com for more information.
About the Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (FLCMAA)
The Florida Chapter of the Club Managers Association of America (FLCMAA) is the professional Association for managers of membership clubs in the state of Florida. With close to 650 members across all classifications, FLCMAA managers run more than 300 country, golf, city and yacht clubs. The objectives of the Association are to promote and advance friendly relations among persons connected with the management of clubs and other associations of similar character; to encourage the education and advancement of its members; and to assist club officers and members, through their managers, to secure the utmost in efficient and successful operations. The Florida Chapter is a subsidiary of the Club Manager’s Association of America (CMAA) and is recognized as the organization’s largest chapter with approximately 10 percent of all CMAA members worldwide. Please see www.flcmaa.org for more information.
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