Gary Player - The Legend

From London to Bulgaria to Italy to Morocco: Player Trots the Globe on Golf Course Design Business

The site of Thracian Cliffs in Varna, Bulgaria.

Golf course design has the Black Knight traveling the globe more than ever…

Following the launch of PLAYER Magazine and the Gary Player Invitational charity event in London, Gary Player set off for Varna, Bulgaria, where he is designing two signature golf courses.  Player’s first impressions were confirmed when he arrived at Thracian Cliffs, a site he described as ‘one of the best in the world’ with golf holes built on the cliffs overlooking the Black Sea.  There he tinkered with bunker shapes and positions, green sizes and gave landscaping suggestions to ensure a dramatic color contrast overall.

Mr. Player was extremely pleased with the progress of the second course - aptly named BlackSeaRama - which is built on a plateau with long-distance views of the Black Sea.  This project, further along than Thracian Cliffs, suits his fondness for links-style courses, with fescue-covered mounds integrated into the routing.  Wind is also a major factor on this golf course, which is now nearing the final grassing stages.

After touring all 36 holes on foot, which included steep hills and even some rock-climbing, the 71 year-old hit a few ceremonial tee shots for the crowd at BlackSeaRama followed by a media event and cocktail reception.  Player expressed his enthusiasm for the growing tourism in Bulgaria, and also touched on passionate subjects such as childhood obesity and the importance of education.

Next stop: Sicily.  After a commercial flight from Sophia, Bulgaria to Sicily (via Rome), Gary Player and his design team visited the site of Donnafugata where eight holes have been shaped.  The day was dedicated to reviewing the course and making changes to its strategy.

At 2:00am the following morning, Player and President of Gary Player Design, Scott Ferrell, arrived in Casablanca, Morocco.  Player is designing three signature courses in Morocco - one at Mazagan, located on the Atlantic in El Jadida, and two at Mogador in Essaouira.  The first site visit was devoted to reviewing the raw site at Mazagan and laying the foundation for the golf course design.  The 18-hole Gary Player Signature layout will be part of a master-planned development in conjunction with Hotel and Casino mogul Sol Kerzner of Kerzner International.  Player was particularly impressed with the site and plans to take advantage of the natural sand dunes, views of the Atlantic and unique vegetation.

“I can already see golf holes taking shape among the dunes and natural plant material and I’m truly excited about working with my good friend Sol Kerzner,” Player said.

With equally impressive views of the ocean, Mogador is currently under construction in the city of Essaouira.  The course has been routed through existing trees and boasts dramatic elevation changes.  The development will include a Sofitel Hotel as well as residences/villas on the golf course.  Later Gary Player had the exclusive opportunity of dining with the governor of the province and engaged in a discussion of Morocco as a booming tourist destination for Europeans.

After five solid days of hosting events and touring golf course sites in all corners of the globe, it wasn’t quite time for the Black Knight to kick off his shoes.  Player then flew to South Africa where he visited his brand new home course, Blair Atholl.  The new development, located just outside Johannesburg recently opened in April and his home to the Black Knight International offices and Gary Player’s eight grand slam trophies.

Beginning next month, Gary Player will embark on another ‘site visit spree’ before the end of the year - from Florida to Abu Dhabi and then China.

For additional information contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Gary Player Design, USA.

« Back