Gary Player (born November 1, 1935) is a South
African professional golfer generally regarded as
one of the greatest players in the game's history.
He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has
logged more than 14 million miles in travel, more
than any other athlete. Dubbed the Black Knight, Mr.
Fitness and the International Ambassador of Golf,
Player is a renowned golf course architect with over
250 design projects throughout the world. He
operates Black Knight International, which includes
Gary Player Design, Gary Player Real Estate, and
Gary Player Enterprises, and aspects of which
include licensing, publishing, videos, apparel and
memorabilia. The Gary Player Stud Farm has received
worldwide acclaim for breeding top thoroughbred race
horses including 1994 English Derby entry Broadway
Flyer. He operates The Player Foundation with its
primary objective to promote education around the
world. In 1983, The Player Foundation built the
Blair Atholl Schools in Johannesburg, South Africa,
which has educational facilities for over 500
students from kindergarten through grade eight. In
July 2007 a media controversy emerged over his
statements at the British Open golf tournament about
the use of performance enhancing drugs in golf.
Subsequently, the PGA Tour introduced a formal
policy. In October 2007 further media controversy
arose about his involvement in the 2002 design of a
golf course in Burma.
Gary Player was born in Johannesburg, South Africa,
the youngest of Harry and Muriel Player's three
children. When he was eight years old his mother
died from cancer. Although his father was often away
from home working in the gold mines, he did manage
to take a loan in order to buy a set of clubs for
his son Gary to begin playing golf. The Virginia
Park golf course in Johannesburg is where Player
first began his love affair with golf. At the age of
14 Player played his first round of golf and parred
the first three holes. At age 16 he announced that
he would become number one in the world. At age 17
he became a professional golfer.
Player married wife Vivienne on January 19, 1957,
four years after turning professional. Together they
have six children: Jennifer, Marc, Wayne, Michele,
Theresa and Amanda. He is also a grandfather to 20
grandchildren. During the early days of his career
Player would travel from tournament to tournament
with wife and children in tow.
He is also the brother of world renowned wildlife
conservationist Dr. Ian Player who saved the white
rhino from extinction.
