It is official: one of the game’s true legends, Gary Player has confirmed that he will make the cut for the 2009 Asia Pacific Golf Summit to be held 26-28 October in Malaysia. The Grand Slam golfer will be one of six world-class speakers who will deliver a major keynote address at the Summit.
“We are delighted that Gary Player has accepted our invitation to be a keynote speaker at the 2009 Summit,” said Mike Sebastian, managing director of Asia Pacific Golf Development Conferences Pte Ltd.
Known as the most successful international golfer of all time, Gary Player has won 163 tournaments worldwide, including nine majors on the regular PGA Tour and nine on the Champions Tour.
Off the course, Player boasts an unparalleled rà©sumà© that includes over 30 years in the golf course design business and a portfolio of more than 300 golf courses worldwide, including over 40 in Asia. He has raised over $25 million for underprivileged children’s education through the efforts of The Player Foundation; has bred over 1,500 winning racehorses at the Gary Player Stud Farm in South Africa, and currently serves as an ambassador for global companies such as Callaway, Citi Private Bank, SAP, MasterCard, Rolex, Coca-Cola and others.
Most recently, Player inked an endorsement deal with the USA-based company, Advanced Senor Technology. On 5th February AST unveiled their new water-saving product, UgMO™, for which Gary Player is a spokesman – a perfect alignment given his passion for creating eco-friendly golf courses.
A true gentleman of the game, Gary Player is equally renowned for his dedication to principles such as health & fitness, conservation, children’s education and promoting the game of golf globally. His 50-plus years of travel have earned him the title “The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™” and he also serves as “Global Ambassador” to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
At 73 years of age, Gary Player continues to travel the globe designing golf courses, playing in tournaments (albeit fewer professional events each year), servicing corporate clients and hosting charitable events. This year he will host four Gary Player Invitational charity events in the USA, Europe, China and South Africa in an effort to raise funds for impoverished children.
Black Knight International, the global holding company for all divisions of The Player Group, maintains a strong presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Its divisions include Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises and The Player Foundation.
Gary Player www.garyplayer.com
Asia Pacific Golf Summit www.golfconference.org