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Photos by David Cannon, all captions by Gary Player
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I drew the fortunate assignment of visiting the Gary Player Stud Farm in Colesberg, South Africa. It was an honor to spend time with him at his beloved family ranch, but I had no idea that it would be three of the most exhausting days of my life.
The miracle of Player’s endless energy is almost a cliché in today’s golf circles, but I found it to be oppressively true: I’ve never met a more tireless human being. From the moment I arrived after the nearly seven-hour drive from Johannesburg, the only time we stopped was to eat and sleep.
Player acquired the 3,540-acre ranch in 1974 and spent decades reshaping it into his family’s oasis. His passion for horse racing and thoroughbred breeding is well known, but to see him in his element, spending time with these beautiful animals, was awe inspiring. He bounded through the stables, describing each horse’s history and personality traits in loving detail. I’ll never forget the look on his face as an 18-day-old foal sprinted around him in a small grass paddock. If static images had sound, it would still never do that moment justice.
Every morning, Player gets up and climbs what I immediately christened “Heart Attack Hill,” a massive bluff overlooking the farm where Player constructed a 365-step incline. I also witnessed one of his legendary hour-long gym sessions, quivering with fear that he would make me join him.
When we did stop to eat, dinners were incredible. Each evening, we would all congregate in the marvelous dining room, where Player would sit at the head of the table and tell remarkable stories about his life. One of my favorite memories of the trip was telling Player a story of my own, about an English golf colleague who made a hole-in-one on the same hole three days in a row. Incredulous, he made me repeat the tale. Gary Player nearly speechless—now that’s a miracle!
Horses are such characters, each with a distinct temperament. They are playful animals. They are very sociable and will let you know if something is bothering them. This includes when they have an itch they can’t scratch.
The nine-hole golf course on the farm really just started as an experiment to see how sustainable a course could actually be. The goal when designing and building the course was to make sure it was as environmentally sensitive as possible. The Karoo has been in a drought for decades, so no water could be wasted. We didn’t use big machines to move earth; we worked with the natural land and indigenous vegetation.
My one piece of advice for someone trying to get fit: Put a treadmill in your house. If you only have 10 minutes during the day or even if it is raining, you have time to do a little exercise. It’s the best investment for your health.
Stretching is essential before a workout to prevent injuries. My normal routine in the gym consists of stretching, crunches and sit-ups, dumbbell work, leg press and sprints on the treadmill.
Photo by David Cannon
We dedicated a hole to Jack Nicklaus, named Cactus Jack—to the greatest gentleman whom I ever played golf with. I have a plaque with his face on it that when the sun shines, it nearly blinds you during your tee shot. We joke about how he still tries to get in my head from thousands of miles away.
This hand-built, 365-step climb up a mountain is difficult to complete, but fantastic exercise. It took a year to build, but was a fun project. When you start something, it is your job to finish. In this case, coming down these stairs is a workout in itself.
Photo by David Cannon
Photo by David Cannon
I have spent the better part of my life studying the genetics of horses and know a hell of a lot about nothing. When I travel, I constantly read about their bloodlines and what could be the makeup of a great champion.
The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. These great creatures have always given me love and I to them in return. When the horses poke their heads out of their stalls, they want a morning rubdown, breakfast or to be let out for exercise.
Bringing a new foal into the world is a great thrill. Witnessing the first steps of a horse is important for its future training. A lot can be learned about the horse by studying it as a baby.