8 | ASIAN SUMMIT
The legendary Black Knight is back
for a command performance
Gary Player, arguably one of the greatest
golfers the world has ever seen, will make a
special appearance at the 2010 Asia Pacific
Golf Summit.
The South African golfing superstar will be
honoured at a special ceremony where he will
be presented the prestigious Asia Pacific LifeTime Achievement Award for golf.
Affectionately renowned globally as the
“Black Knight” Player will join an exclusive elite
,
corp of golfing luminaries who have been
bestowed this same award - amongst them,
Jack Nicklaus.
Player made his first appearance at the 2009
Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Kuala Lumpur and
he was an instant hit amongst the delegates.
He received a standing ovation for his address
and was unanimously voted as the top speaker
at the Summit.
Besides receiving the Life-Time Achievement
award, Player will deliver the closing keynote
address at the 2010 Asia Pacific Golf Summit
which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on
October 18-20.
“We are indeed privileged and honoured to
have Mr. Player as our special VVIP guest and
we know that he will provide the Summit with
that special touch that only he can deliver,”
said Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia
Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd,
the owner and producer of the Summit.
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.
Recognized around the globe as the Black
Knight, Mr. Fitness and the International
Ambassador of Golf, Gary Player is also a
renowned golf course architect with over
300 design projects throughout the world.
Black Knight International, the company
founded by his son Marc Player, includes Gary
Player Design, Player Real Estate, Gary Player
Enterprises and The Player Foundation.
The company has also been trademarked The
World’s Most Traveled Athlete™, but when
Player is not traveling on business or playing
on the Champions Tour, he spends time on
his ranch in South Africa. The Gary Player Stud
Farm has received worldwide acclaim for
breeding over 2,000 top thoroughbred race
horses including 1994 English Derby winner
Broadway Flyer.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary last year,
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.
The foundation has since expanded efforts
in all corners of the globe, raising funds for
impoverished children through four Gary
Player Invitational events – in Europe, China,
the USA and South Africa. Over $30 million has
been raised in 25 years and counting…
Other achievements:
• 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
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