A true player and legend

Last weekend was indeed a very special one for many golfers around the UAE – especially as on one of the days there was a very memorable victory for myself and Daniel Hicks (XPRESS Sports Editor, aka my editorial boss) in the Emirates Golf Club “Patron's Day''.

OK, so I know it's a personal plug and an opportunity to say how great Daniel and I are at golf, but if truth be known it was a four-man Texas Scramble, which involved a lot of scrambling, a couple of chip-ins and our fair share of visits to the fine mature palm trees of the Majlis Course.

As I said in my column last week though – that's why team games provide a platform for all golfers to excel – ah, the art of dove-tailing! On a much more serious note, aside from Daniel and I, there was another legendary “Player'' in Dubai last weekend and I, along with approximately 120 other keen golf enthusiasts, was fortunate enough to shake his hand and enjoy the company of a quite remarkable man. It was, of course, Gary Player.

At 73 years old, he is the epitome of a sporting legend. His charisma is unparalleled, his passion and drive for his sport is awe-inspiring and his stamina is most certainly the stuff of legends.

He arrived at Emirates Golf Club at 10am to conduct a 45-minute speech to the South African Business Council. This was followed by a one-hour clinic on golf, for the players taking part in the Worldwide Golf celebratory golf day (the real reason for Gary being present that day).

Next was a ceremonial tee off and photo opportunity on the first, a 15-minute interview with CNN on the seventh tee followed by 27 consecutive tee shots (one with every group on the course) at the same hole, a gala dinner and a further 20-minute speech to round off the day. I was only playing in the golf day and at a mere 40 years Mr Player's junior I felt exhausted just watching and writing about his exploits.

Gary is a truly remarkable man. He holds strong opinions on the current state of the industry and the game, how it has evolved, which direction it should go and where it is currently heading.

He is an innovator through his golf course design work and a pioneer when it comes to developing sustainable golf courses.

Over the course of the day as I sat listening to him speak, watched him greet people and help them with their golf swings, as he encouraged juniors on the range and wowed the onlookers with his wit and repartee – I realised just why I fell in love with the game of golf.

All the way through the day he remained the perfect gentleman – he treated everyone with courtesy and respect and never once wavered from his mission to make sure everyone had an enjoyable day. For me he is Mr Golf. He stands for everything the game stands for and more. What an experience.