February 4, 2005 – The 2004 golf course award recipients have been announced and, by both panel and reader’s choice nominations, conclude that the Gary Player Design brand is excelling in the world of golf course architecture in Asia and Africa.

In Player’s home country, South Africa, Gary Player Design claimed the top three golf courses, as well as nine of the top 25 in the GOLF DIGEST ranking. Leopard Creek, which borders the Kruger National Park, has overtaken the recurrent number one – Gary Player Country Club at Sun City – for the top spot on GOLF DIGEST (SA)’s 100 Greatest. Over the last couple of years, this isolated course on the doorstep of the African bushveld has been slowly closing in on the Gary Player Country Club, known as the “home of the Million Dollar Challenge.”

The Gary Player Country Club, a course whose every feature is held in high regard by the GOLF DIGEST panel members, retained its prestige as one of South Africa’s top courses coming in at number two. The Links at Fancourt, venue of this year’s Women’s World Cup and the 2003 Presidents Cup, followed behind at number three in only its second year of eligibility.

Over and above the ranking of these spectacular courses is that each has earned worldwide recognition through the hosting of both international and Sunshine PGA Tour events.

Other Gary Player-designed projects that featured in the top 25 include Outeniqua, Lost City, Beachwood, Erinvale, Fish River Sun and Roodepoort.
Bushman Sands, a newly opened golf course in the restored railroad town of Alicedale, South Africa also received recognition as one of the Top 10 Best International Courses in this month’s edition of TRAVEL & LEISURE GOLF Magazine. Bushman Sands Hotel & Golf Course was part of a major conservation effort to rejuvenate a town that essentially stood as a dumping ground for years. Player has always been a firm believer that a golf course should put something back into both nature and the community and Bushman Sands is a case in point.

Gary Player’s brother and world famous conservationist Dr Ian Player also had a hand in the project, working with the design team as well as ecologists and engineers. Only a few months since the cutting of the ribbon and Bushman Sands Hotel & Golf Course has already become the à la mode of tourist destinations.

On the Asian front, Gary Player’s Ria Bintan, a 36-hole golfer’s paradise that lies at the northern tip of Bintan Island was recently voted the Best Golf Course in Indonesia at the ASIAN GOLF MONTHLY Awards. With Indonesia becoming a hotspot on the golfing map, Ria Bintan Golf Club has become a marvel for holiday-makers from Singapore and the sister island of Batam. Aptly named Ria Bintan (Ria meaning celebration) this Club Med golf and beach resort has truly lived up to its name.

Gary Player was especially proud of the fact that ASIAN GOLF MONTHLY readers voted him Best Course Architect for 2004. Having visited Asia so often over his 50-year long golfing career, not only playing in tournaments but designing over 30 golf courses, the Black Knight has come to acquire a special appreciation for the Asian culture and its people.

“Whether competing or designing courses, I have always been dedicated to the development of golf throughout Asia. It is an honor that ASIAN GOLF MONTHLY readers have recognized our efforts. It’s actually more gratifying that the readers or everyday golfers are enjoying our work, perhaps more so than an elite selection panel.”
Player further added that he sees India and China as the most promising nations in the golf course development industry.

For additional information, contact Scott Ferrell, Gary Player Design, USA at scott@garyplayer.com.