Player’s Purpose

An Interview with , Black Knight International

Jones, , and , and those who came before our time and helped build a tour for when Arnold, Jack, me, and a host mowers to cut the fairway short so we had a lot of others came along as television came to the of flyers off the fairway. We couldn’t spin the fore, which gave it a big boost. ball like they can now. The game is extremely healthy for profes- Another big change is the travel. It used to sional golfers and unhealthy at the moment for take my wife and I 40 hours to get from South amateur golfers – the rounds are down, the Africa to a tournament in a propeller plane with courses are being made too difficult, the greens no reclining seats, no beds, and no television. Gary Player winning the 1965 U.S. Open golf tournament (above); are too undulating, they have bunkers in front Have some of those advances taken traveling with his wife and children in the 1960s (below); of the greens, so members are resigning more, away some of the skill players used to need? and recently working out (right) and the game is taking too long. It’s time con- When we played, there is no question. suming, which is bad because everyone’s time Ben Hogan was the best player I ever saw from EDITORS’ NOTE Gary Player has won 167 pro- is so valuable. tee to green. Nicklaus has the most majors and fessional golf tournaments worldwide and is one We just designed a 13-hole I have the most world titles. and of only five men to capture golf’s coveted career in Branson, Missouri. People can play while Ben Hogan were the best shot makers. They . He won nine Major championships their families eat breakfast and be finished had such an advantage over a lot of players. on the PGA Tour and nine Major champion- quickly. They can play 6, 7, 13, or 20 holes Today, if one hits the ball on the toe or heel, ships on the Senior Tour and is the only player depending on what they want to do. We’ve or high on the club, it still goes straight. When in history to complete the career Grand Slam tried to make it quicker, less expensive, and we had those old wooden clubs with the heavy on both Tours. Off the course, Player has raised more enjoyable. shaft and a shanky grip and the thing was glued more than $62 million for underprivileged chil- The game has evolved most via the golf together and heavy, if we hit a ball slightly drens’ education globally through the efforts of equipment. I was playing recently and, at the offline, it was exaggerated. The Player Foundation and the Gary Player age of 81, I was hitting the ball 250 yards, which The other thing is, we have a 64-degree Invitational series in , China, U.S.A., is what I hit when I was 25 years old. club now and the most we had was 56, so when U.K., U.A.E., and Japan with a goal to raise $100 There are grooves on the clubs and bun- we hit the ball, we had to flip our wrists to add million by 2025; he has designed nearly 400 golf kers being raked with a machine – we used to lift to try to get it to 60. courses worldwide; he has bred more than 2,000 rake them with our feet. The whole game is The people who had the most skill in those winning racehorses on the Gary Player Stud different. The greens are slick now, and they days came to the fore. We have so many guys Farm in the Great Karoo of South Africa; and were slow when we played. They didn’t have who stand there today and wallop the ball, but in recognition of his achievements in golf as well there isn’t a separation of truly high technical as his dedication to charity, Player has received feel, imagination, or shot making. It’s very struc- numerous awards including the Laureus Lifetime tured today. Those who make comparisons to Achievement Award and the PGA Tour’s Lifetime the way people played in the past don’t know Achievement Award. He currently serves as the anything about golf. Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of There has never been another athlete like Fame and has been dubbed the Black Knight, Mr. Sam Snead. In 1927, at Saint Andrews Golf Fitness, and The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™ Club, the home of golf, he won The Open having travelled more than 26 million kilometers. Championship with a score of 285. He had a In 2016, he captained the South African Olympic broomstick as a shaft, and he had no grooves Golf Team in , Brazil. on his club, and he had a ball that went 100 yards less than it would now. That’s as good a COMPANY BRIEF Black Knight International score as I’ve ever heard of in my career, but (garyplayer.com) is a global holding company young guys today don’t know that exists. They for The Player Group and the constantly expand- play for so much money and get paid by spon- ing family of Gary Player® brands. This rap- sors, so it’s a different world. When we played, idly growing firm is diverse and infused with we were more interested in the history of the the same tenaciousness and drive as world- game – how people played with that kind of renowned golfer Gary Player. equipment and what the courses were like. I’ve seen it all so I can speak with authority. Do you see the sport of golf being well posi- Many players today have partner- tioned for the future? ships, but those tend to change, while you The professional game of golf is healthier still have relationships with many brands. than it’s ever been, thanks to people like Bobby What has made those partnerships work so 20 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2017 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 40, NUMBER 2 well, and how important was it for you to I also use that time to preach, because I preach be associated with brands of a certain stat- about fitness and eating properly. ure and class? I still do 300 sit ups, I push 300 pounds It was very important, because I love people, with my legs, run the treadmill at max, and do and I love working with the amateur golfers. Most all my other exercises. This is what I’m trying golfers today are working during a time when they to get through to people, because the youth of can make a lot of money and don’t have to do this our nation are the trustees of its posterity. When sort of thing. My first job was for 30 British Pounds President Obama came into office, the first thing a month for three years. My father was very poor, he did was take the bust of Winston Churchill so when I was able to play with a member, it was out of the Oval Office. The first thing Donald ingrained in me to enjoy it. I’m not critical that the Trump did was put that bust back, because if it players today don’t do this, because it was a different wasn’t for Winston Churchill, we would not be time. However, for me to be associated with a good here today. In spite of his faults, all politicians company that is game to adhere to what I want to must remember they too have faults. do, which is to promote the game of golf and to be I bring up Winston Churchill because he able to travel around the world and meet different is a hero that young people of the world can people, is a thrill for me. aspire to. He inspired a nation. He had a great Through SAP, for example, I’ve just been command of the English language, and he was to , Dubai, and Nice. Also, I work for a courageous man and education was of prime Gary Player surveying the Blaire Atholl landscape where he Berenberg Bank and they help sponsor our importance to him, a trait that America is lack- designed a golf course on property he and his wife had raised their Gary Player Invitational series, as do Coca-Cola ing at the moment. Better education is so criti- children for 25 years. and Rolex. These are classy companies that con- cal because having a well-educated country is tribute to society. They do so much for people. terribly important. It’s a reminder how blessed we are, and It’s hard to imagine all that is put into char- If we took our 20 best schools in South if we can change the lives of people living in ity events and the good that is done. It’s such an Africa, I don’t think the U.S. has one school that misery, without hope and in despair, that is honor to be with these companies. To work with can compare to those 20. Kids speak five lan- something special. these companies, one has to study and be intel- guages, there are great sporting facilities, they Are you able to take a moment to cel- ligent, well spoken, and well dressed. My advice know about the world, and they have a dress ebrate these special wins? to these young pros is that they learn how to code. They say a prayer before school – it’s not I don’t linger on my achievements because speak well and familiarize themselves with the religious, it’s about kids being grateful. I have more to achieve in the future. history of the game because they won’t always Your foundation has done a great deal I believe a legacy is to achieve things be able to play. It’s not just about hitting a golf to help underprivileged children around now and contribute to society now and not to ball. That, for the average person, goes by very the world. As much as you get excitement worry about a gravestone with one’s name on a quickly. With golf, there is longevity if you can through your career, it seems you almost rock – it’s about carving one’s name in the hearts make it work. I won a tournament at 63. get that same excitement from the founda- of people and making change while it’s possible. Did you always know you had an tion. What does that mean to you? In 1969, I went to our Prime Minister Vorster, interest in business and the acumen to be I’m the only man on the planet who has who was a staunch believer in , and good at it? won the Grand Slam on both regular turf I played golf with him much to the disgust of I don’t profess to have good business and senior turf. It’s a divine gift that has been our public, but I don’t play with a man for his acumen because that’s something you have to bestowed upon me, and I never forget to say political views as much as for his respect. devote time to. I bring common sense to the “thank you.” But that is a different thrill – the I see athletes turning down invitations table, as well as my experience having traveled thrill of the happiness of achievement, and I’ve from the White House. I don’t understand more miles than any human being that has ever worked hard to get those results. When I see that. They don’t have to endorse him. It’s lived. I’ve had 64 years of constant travel. a kid who can’t walk and I can put him on an an honor to be invited by the President and One of my great dreams to fulfill is to con- airplane and fly him to a hospital where they every person, whoever they are, should tinuously travel and raise money for people can operate on him so he can walk again, that respect that while the President or Prime who are suffering, because I suffered greatly. brings tears of joy to my heart. That is a differ- Minister is in office. He was duly elected and we ent feeling and some- should do everything to show respect. That’s thing that far surpasses how I have been brought up. any athletic endeavor. I played with our Prime Minister and I’m We went to China anti-Communist. I asked him to invite and built accommoda- from America to play in our PGA. He pondered tions for school-aged for a while, but then said he would do it. If I children, and we went to had not played with him, that would not have Abu Dhabi and are doing occurred. Everyone loved it, and that was a work with the sheikhs stepping stone to crushing apartheid. there in building a Gary At 81, there is no slowing down, but will Player gymnasium for that time come? special needs children. I’m a farmer and I run a big farming opera- When I see how my six tion. I have to study genetics and work on children and 32 grand- the farm when I’m there. I get up in the morn- children are so healthy ing, and I shovel cement or manure and ride a and then I see other chil- tractor. Our farmers look at me as part of their dren who are unhealthy, team, so I don’t want to relax and do nothing. I it makes me realize how don’t want to die early. One has to keep mov- fortunate I am and not to ing and keep interested in something to keep Gary Player (center) taking a selfie at the Gary Player Invitational take things for granted. themselves occupied.• VOLUME 40, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2017 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 21