IN TIME WITH BY GODFREY ROBERT PLAYER’S ADVICE TO SOCIAL GOLFERS: ROTATE YOUR BODY

SOUTH AFRICAN LEGEND SPREADS GOLF’S GOSPEL WORLDWIDE; WILL RECEIVE TOP AWARD FOR HIS PHILANTHROPY

THERE’S a video circulating in which golfing legend has the most basic advice for social golfers: Rotate your body when you swing. Before that, he mentions names such as Lee Trevino, . and Jim Furyk having odd swings, though they achieve the results they want. Reason: they move the body for- ward after executing the drive. So as the South African icon trav- els the world to promote junior golf, cut ribbons for grand events and plugs his The Player Foundation which helps poor children, his ser- mon is always also about keeping fit Gary Player doffs his cap to the cheering crowd at the British Open. and eating right. Now 84, Player does daily exer- cises, works out in the gym and the I also go to the gym to work out for I’m poor, I’m suffering, and one day til his death in 1908. vegetarian is very strict about his two hours and do 1,000 sit-ups with – not if I’m a world champion,I will The award will be presented to the daily intake of food, especially dur- a 100-pound weight here.” be a world champion in something – Johannesburg native on Jan 29 dur- ing his travels. He added: “One out of 1,000 peo- I’m going to help the poor people’.” ing the opening session of the Golf I have met the affable Player ple, and I’m being kind here, worry The Golf Course Superintendents Industry Show in Orlando, Florida. thrice, played with him a couple of about health. The biggest problem Association of America (GCSAA) GCSAA president Rafael Barajas holes twice, and one thing I cannot facing the world today is not econo- this month recognised Player for his said: “Gary Player’s legacy in golf fathom is how he keeps himself so my or wars, it’s obesity. More people yeoman service in this direction by is known worldwide, but he should fit, trim and agile at his age. die of obesity than of all the wars of selecting him for the 2020 Old Tom be equally recognised for his phil- At our last two meetings, at Lagu- the world put together.” Morris Award. anthropic endeavours through the na Golf and Country Club nine years “My father was a miner and very The award has been presented an- Player Foundation. ago and in Haikou, China, three poor, never made more than a £100 nually since 1983 to an individu- “We are truly honoured to bestow years ago, he was very specific about a month in his life. I come back from al who, through a lifetime commit- the Award upon a how he kept in shape. school, my mother’s dead, my fa- ment to the game of golf, has helped consummate gentleman who has Both times, he thumped his abs ther’s 12,000 feet underground, my to mould the welfare of the game in worked tirelessly for underprivi- (it has become a fashion statement brother’s in the World War at 17, and the manner and style exemplified by leged children and impoverished

lex now), and said: “Look at this.” my sister’s in boarding school. Old Tom Morris, a four-time Open communities around the globe.

Ro Then he invited me to punch his “I come back, there’s no one in the champion. Gary Player embodies not only the by stomach, saying: “This is not luck. house, it’s dark. “And I said: ‘I know He was the longtime superinten- best in golf, but also the best of hu- A lot of it is down to the way I eat. what it’s like to have that much food. dent at St Andrews in Scotland un- manity.” photo

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2 | SWING BY SPHGOLF | 30 NOVEMBER-1 DECEMBER 2019 | THE BUSINESS TIMES WEEKEND