In recent years Gary Player Design’s global portfolio has seen a tremendous expansion into emerging golf markets around the world and Gary Player has found himself travelling the globe more now than ever – particularly to the Middle East, Eastern Europe, North & South Africa, Asia and Central America.
In the month of November, between playing golf, servicing corporate clients and hosting two Gary Player Invitational charity events in China and South Africa, Gary Player made stops in Cyprus, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman where he is currently designing golf courses.
On 17th November the Shakolas Group gave the ‘Black Knight’ his first tour of the raw site near Polis, Cyprus where a 36-hole golf course is planned – 18 holes by Player and 18 by Jack Nicklaus. The site, formerly a quarry, is characterized by an enormous crater which was being filled with earth during Player’s visit. Gary Player has an interest in improving and restoring each designated golf course site.
During his visit Gary Player said, “The introduction of a golf course to this particular site really enables us to ‘mend a scar’ and give back to Mother Nature. By the time we’ve finished here, Limni will undoubtedly be a showcase for golf’s green movement.”
Player also expressed excitement about working with a piece of land that offers such dramatic elevations. The topography will lend itself to a golf course with a lot of character, with some holes offering long distance views and others playing along the quarry wall.
From Cyprus, Gary Player flew to Abu Dhabi in the UAE where he visited to the site of his new signature course on Saadiyat Island – the first ocean course to be built on the Arabian Gulf. There, Player gave his go-ahead signal for the grassing of the final eight holes and spoke of how the island’s natural environment is being leveraged to deliver a course ‘at one with nature’. Now in its final stages, the Saadiyat Island Ocean Course is on track to open in September 2009 and serve as the host venue for the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2010.
“We have designed over 300 courses but there’s something unique about this one which excites me. Set alongside the world’s largest cluster of renowned cultural institutions, such as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum and the Louvre museum, this course will raise the bar and set a new standard for golf courses across the Middle East region – if not the world,” Player told the media.
According to recent research, the golf market in the UAE represents the most sophisticated in the region, which is based on the UAE’s appetite to be seen as a major venue for sports events and a desirable golfing destination.
To the east of the UAE lies the country of Oman, another emerging market where Gary Player Design is making its mark. Before heading back to South Africa to host the Gary Player Invitational, Player made a final stop in Oman where he is designing two golf courses near Muscat.
With beautiful beaches and year-round sun, the country has seen a boost in tourism over the last two years which is attributed largely to the development of new golf courses of international standards.
Gary Player Design www.garyplayerdesign.com