Gary Player - The Legend

Nelson Mandela Invitational Presented by Coca-Cola Moves to Cape Town, South Africa

Jun 24, 2003 | Filed Under: The Player Foundation   

New beginnings await the traveler at the tip of the world’s most ancient continent…

The 2003 Nelson Mandela Invitational, benefiting The Player Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, will be hosted by Gary Player at Arabella Country Estate near Cape Town - a six star resort which boasts a championship golf course. The tournament will consist of eight foursomes (Regular Tour player, Champions Tour player, celebrity & businessman) and will be played the week preceding the Presidents Cup. However, the beauty and international flavor of the Cape alone is good enough reason to make the trip.

We are both honored and delighted to announce that Coca-Cola has agreed to sponsor the event, which is scheduled for November 13th through 16th.

Since Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1994, South Africa has invested a great deal of money in its tourist industry and has now become one of the top travel destinations in the world. South Africa has become a culturally diverse democracy with unmatched hospitality. After spending 27 years in prison, the vision that Nelson Mandela had for his country has finally materialized.
This year’s tournament venue, the Western Cape Resort & Spa, is just a short drive from the cosmopolitan city of Cape Town, world renowned wine farms, the southern most tip of Africa and the whale-watching sanctuary of Hermanus. Two recent tourism ad campaigns claimed, “Your spirit will be lifted before you taste the wine” and “This is where the world’s most intelligent creatures take their breaks.” Enough said.

In Cape Town, wherever you may be, you are spoiled with the majestic backdrop of Table Mountain. From the wild seas on the coast to the tranquility of the vineyards of Stellenbosch, the traveler is overwhelmed with a mix of culture. Throughout the history of the Cape, many different peoples have settled in this region - the original Khoi inhabitants, the Portuguese and Dutch explorers, and later the English, Asian & Xhosa settlements. The various international influences coupled with the wild life of the Cape have brought about a wide range of entertainment, five star dining, luxurious accommodations and unbeatable site seeing opportunities.

Players and guests of this year’s Nelson Mandela Invitational will enjoy not only the luxury of the Cape and Arabella, but the opportunity to share a day on the course with South Africa’s sportsman of the century - Gary Player and South Africa’s hero - Nelson Mandela. Since the inception of the Nelson Mandela Invitational in 2000, the event has been an enormous success and has raised funds in excess of R5 million for The Player Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

We salute the Coca-Cola Company for making a difference in the lives of the children of South Africa.

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