Black Knight International Presents a Union of Golf and Giving: China 2011

The Links at Fancourt Still the Ultimate Stage for the Gary Player Invitational in South Africa

Tiger Woods declared it as strategic a test of the game as any course he had ever played, and double US Open champion Retief Goosen said it was as tough as a Major championship venue.
From 27-30 November, The Links at Fancourt will further entrench its championship status as the host of the Gary Player Invitational in South Africa.
Following tournaments in the United Kingdom, United States and China, the pro-celebrity series will culminate in South Africa at the Fancourt Hotel and Golf Estate in George in what is also the 25th Anniversary of The Player Foundation’s quest to raise funds for underprivileged children.
With a pedigree that includes hosting The Presidents Cup, Women’s World Cup of Golf, South African Open and several other professional tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, The Links remains a world-class course designed by Gary Player.
“The Links is one of the top ten golf courses that I have played anywhere in the world,” said Player, who has shapped all of the four golf courses at Fancourt.
“Fancourt is very special to me and I have put a lot of effort and hard work into the courses there, and continue to do so.”
It is The Links that stands out as the crowning glory of this focus and attention by the Black Knight.
During the 2003 Presidents Cup Davis Love III proclaimed, “It’s tricky off the tee. You have to be very selective in what clubs you hit. There are some small greens and you have to be very accurate. It’s a very tough driving course.”
Goosen said he required the same resolve he needed to win the US Open at Shinnecock Hills to triumph in the 2005 South African Open at the Links. “This course certainly plays like a major championship test,” he said.
Phil Mickelson’s advice as to how to manage this layout was, “The reality is that you’re going to make bogeys on this course. The trick is to eliminate the double bogeys”.
When the South African Open was played here in 2005, a field including Goosen, Clark, Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman made for a halfway cut of eight-over-par.
“Fancourt shares a special relationship with Gary Player, and it is indeed appropriate for us to be hosting the Gary Player Invitational at The Links this year,” said Fancourt owner Dr. Hasso Plattner, founder of software giant SAP, who also uses Gary Player as a global ambassador.
The Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, is South Africa’s premier pro-celebrity charity golf event. To date, over R100-million has been raised by The Player Foundation for underprivileged children in all corners of the globe, and this year the causes include education, HIV-stricken communities, and childhood obesity.