NGCOA Honours Gary Player At Golf Business Conference

Known as the legendary Black Knight, Mr.Player was a keynote speaker at the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show and was honoured with the first Golf Business Canada Lifetime Achievement Award.

BC Golf News is pleased to present the following commentary by Philip Jonas who shares his memories of the influence Gary Player had on himself and other young golfers growing up in South Africa

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This week I had the opportunity to see, in my opinion, one of the top five golfers of all time, Gary Player.

He was speaking at the National Golf Course Owners show in Vancouver. For 74-years-old Mr Player looks fantastic and I wouldn't challenge him to a running race.

He is one of the most charismatic and enthusiastic people in the World. Naturally he was very passionate about fitness, diet and water conservation, but unfortunately, he didn't speak enough about his golf and the tournaments he has won.

I first met Gary Player when I was 6 in 1968 when he was playing a series of exhibition matches through South Africa against Billy Casper. One of the matches was played at the course my Father managed, Kyalami Country Club, and I was fortunate enough to be one of 10 people watching them play their practice rounds. Casper won the match, but the thing I remember most was Mr. Player spending about three hours on the practice tee after his loss. I think he won the rest of the matches against Casper.

Gary Player is one of just five golfers to win all four majors, an elite group that includes Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Mr. Player won three British Opens, three Masters, two PGA titles and one US Open championship . . . all this while making the trip from South Africa before the private jet era.

I always enjoyed watching Mr PLAYER play on the South African Tour. He always came and supported the Tour. It was amazing how many spectators there would be when he played and like Tiger these days he never disappointed.

I first had a chance to play with him when I was 12 and have probably played 20 rounds of golf with Gary Player. It is amazing what you can learn from someone as great as Gary and I always appreciated the opportunity.

The second time I played with Mr. Player was in an exhibition game with Nick Price, who had won the Junior World and David Abe, who had won The Orange Bowl. I had won the Junior World in my age group. At that time Gary Player was the reigning Masters and British Open Champion. This match benefited Junior Golf in South Africa.

Four years ago when I was in Nick Price's office he had a poster of that day hanging on a wall. I got a copy and I got it signed by Nick and David. When the Presidents Cup came to Canada and was played at Royal Montreal I managed to get it signed by Mr Player. We had a great chat as we hadn't seen each other for a long time.

I've been fortunate to have played quite a few exhibition games with Mr Player over the years and usually with his son, Wayne. However, I would say that the highlight was in the 1976 Dunlop Masters in South Africa when as a 14 years old and got paired with Gary in the last group in the 3rd round.

On the first hole there were so many people watching they surrounded the entire hole on both sides and it was extremely exciting. I was 4 behind after 36 holes and I managed to pick up 3 shots on him on the front nine but he turned it up a few notches on the back. He went on to win and I finished 11th and was 2nd low amateur.

I'd like to share one more story that shows just how prepared Gary Player was to support junior golf and give back to golf in general. In 1975, my Father decided to have a Father and Son tournament at the club. He phoned Gary Player and asked him and Wayne to join us in the tournament and his answer was an immediate yes. What a great day for all the fathers and sons, to be able to play on the same course as the greatest South African player in history. Gary also gave a clinic after the round and was on hand for the prize presentation---all for free, no appearance fees. The best part is he played the next year with a different father and son team and I'll bet they're still telling the story today.

In seeing at how great he looks today it is a great advertisement for fitness and diet, Someday soon I hope to have another chance to play golf with the great Gary Player

By Philip Jonas
CPGA Class A Professional
McCleery Golf Academy
Philip Jonas Golf Academy at Hazelmere
Philip Jonas Golf Academy

About Gary Player
Gary Player is a legend in his own time. The most successful international golfer of all time, Player has achieved the kind of worldwide acclaim reserved for only a handful of sporting greats. He is, quite simply, world class. Gary Player is renowned as much for his dedication to the principles of excellence as he is for his golfing accomplishments. He is recognized worldwide as an uncompromising perfectionist who settles for nothing but the best. His impeccable set of values, stringent regimen of health and fitness, and insistence on quality, have earned him admiration the world over.

• Named South African Sportsman of the Century in 2000
• Player is the only modern golfer to win The British Open in three different decades
• Oldest Player to make the cut at The Masters in 1998
• Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of St. Andrews in 1995
• Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award (2003) for dedication to charity
• Awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (in gold) by President Mbeki of South Africa for excellence in golf and contribution to non-racial sport in S. Africa
• 2006 Payne Stewart Award from the PGA Tour in recognition of philanthropic achievements and the exemplary manner in which he has conducted himself on and off the golf course
• Three-time Presidents Cup Captain - 2003, 2005 and 2007