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The Day I Met Gary Player

By Dan Johnson

I haven't really met too many superstars in my life. As a cub scout, I once handed the queen a bunch of daffodils on her birthday, but that's not really the same thing. Particularly because that day was somewhat marred by a nasty rash caused by daffodil sap resulting from a friendly bit of daffodil jousting... Anyway, on Monday, I had the great pleasure of meeting a genuine golfing legend - Gary Player - at the Harlequin Hotels and Resorts launch event for an impressive project called the Marquis Estate in St Lucia.

For those of you not familiar with his record, this is a man who won an incredible 164 titles in a long and illustrious career. His haul included 9 major titles, making him one of only 3 players ever to win all 4 different major events. That feat puts him right up there with Jack Nicklaus and the modern phenomenon that is Tiger Woods.

For several hours on Monday morning, Gary warmly hosted group after group as they made their way to the par 3 4^th hole at The Grove hotel & golf complex near Watford. "Glorious Day," he chirped as we made our way towards his entourage. "Shame the golf is not so glorious," was my instinctive response, remembering my duffed tee shot in front of an audience at the first. "Beats being in the office," was his 100% correct response.

For 5 minutes on the tee, we chatted, asked questions and had our photos taken. Gary explained that for the first time he could remember, he wouldn't be heading to the British Open, which starts this weekend, as he would be heading off to Bulgaria, to check on progress at Thracian Cliffs, one of his courses currently under construction there.

For a 74-year old, Gary Player has a tremendous energy about him and he still possesses great power and accuracy with a golf club - his ever-reliable swing with an 8-iron plopped his ball comfortably closer to the pin than anyone in our group. The great man was less than impressed; he said it was the worst shot he'd hit all day. Lucky him...

I hadn't fared quite so well, thinning my ball with some venom and skirting dangerously close to the water hazard that protected the green. Obviously this was a deliberate ploy that would result in my being the beneficiary of some personal advice from the man himself. By way of demonstration he showed me how my flat footedness had led to my watery adventure and gave me a pointer for correcting the problem.

Enthusiastically encouraging me to show him my improved swing, he seemed delighted that I had been able to assimilate his tip and quipped that he wished his wife listened to him as attentively. I'm sure he was only joking though, he's been married to his wife Vivienne for more than 50 years and together they have 6 children and many more grandchildren.

A phenomenally successful golfer, Gary Player has now turned his attention to golf design and real estate development. His course at the Harlequin resort in St Lucia will be the latest of nearly 300 to bear his signature. Only a very small number have Gary Player real estate associated with them and this will be the first to have a hotel that carries his name.

It was a great pleasure to meet him and his mantra, repeated below, is certainly one from which I think everyone in business can learn something:

1. Change is the price of survival.
2. Everything in business is negotiable, except quality.
3. A promise made is a debt incurred.
4. For all we take in life we must pay.
5. Persistence and common sense are more important than intelligence.
6. The fox fears not the man who boasts by night but the man who rises early in the morning.
7. Accept the advice of the man who loves you, though you like it not at present.
8. Trust instinct to the end, though you cannot render any reason.
9. The heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but that while their companions slept were toiling upward in the night.
10. There is no substitute for personal contact.

"The Black Knight" and his rather less colour-coordinated group of golf afficionados.

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