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

Gary Player Invitational to be Staged at The Cliffs this Fall

After ten successful years in South Florida, the Gary Player Invitational charity event is moving to the Carolinas and will take place at The Cliffs, one of America’s premier collections of private residential communities.  As the title sponsor of the event, The Cliffs will stage the Gary Player Invitational (“GPI”) on September 28th – 30th at two of their eight golf courses, Keowee Falls and Keowee Vineyards.

The Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs is part of a 2008 GPI global series which begins in London next month, followed by Shanghai, China; The Cliffs in South Carolina; and culminating in Cape Town, South Africa in late November.  The shared objective of all four events is to enrich the lives of children – be it through education or providing support in impoverished communities. Proceeds from the Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs will benefit The Player Foundation which supports charities focused on the wellbeing of the youngest generation.  This includes Zest Quest, a non-profit organization founded by The Cliffs whose mission is to educate and help children achieve healthier lifestyles through in-school programming and wellness coaching. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, The Player Foundation has raised over $25 million for underprivileged children’s education around the world.

Commented Gary Player: “We are extremely grateful to Jim Anthony and The Cliffs for supporting the 2008 Gary Player Invitational.  It’s exciting to be taking our event to such a beautiful part of the United States, and most importantly, teaming up to make a real difference in the lives of children.

“Jim and I are absolutely ‘on the same page’ when it comes to promoting the importance of a healthy lifestyle – and of course education must start with our youth.  I try to encourage and influence people everywhere I go, as it truly breaks my heart to witness obesity and diabetes escalating among American children,” Player concluded.

”We are excited to partner with Gary Player to host this exceptional event,” stated Jim Anthony, Founder and CEO of The Cliffs Communities. “The culture of our communities can be summed up in the phrase, ‘Living well by doing good.’ Gary himself exemplifies this, and the Gary Player Invitational’s impact on children over the course of the last quarter-century is nothing short of remarkable. The opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of children’s wellness is in line with our company’s and our property owners’ belief that health is the foundation for success.”

The traditional format of the Gary Player Invitational is to unite top businessmen, celebrities and PGA TOUR professionals for two days of “golf & giving.”  Festivities surrounding the Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs will include a welcome reception/pairings party, an “Evening in the Blue Ridge Mountains,” an awards dinner and auction – and of course the main event – golf!

Kicking off the Gary Player Invitational presented by The Cliffs will be the Sassafras Mountain Climb on Sunday, September 28th. Mr. Player will join hundreds of Boy and Girl Scouts, First Tee program participants, and elementary school children involved in the Zest Quest wellness program for a 3K trek to the summit of Sassafras Mountain – South Carolina’s highest peak. This event will showcase not only the beauty of The Carolina Preserve – the scenic area surrounding The Cliffs’ communities encompassing over a million acres of protected parklands – but will also connect children with the outdoors.

On Monday, September 29th, guests will be treated to a one-of-a-kind Black Knight Clinic before teeing it up in the Pro-Am at Keowee Falls.  Recently ranked among the Top 10 Best New Private Courses by GOLF Magazine, The Cliffs at Keowee Falls is one of two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses at The Cliffs, featuring rolling, mountainous terrain and spectacular views. Located on the shores of Lake Keowee, the 160-acre Keowee Falls golf course marries a challenging par-72, 7,171-yard layout with the incomparable aesthetics of a pure, core golf experience.

The Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place the following day on the Keowee Vineyards course and will be made up of 18 fivesomes, each hosted by a celebrity. With eight of its eighteen holes along Lake Keowee’s shoreline, five showcasing spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and five running adjacent to state park wilderness, The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards golf course offers players breathtaking scenic views in a natural environment. This Tom Fazio design earned honors from Golf Digest as #7 among America’s Best Private Courses.

In past years, the Gary Player Invitational has included PGA TOUR players such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ernie Els, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Sergio Garcia, Jesper Parnevik, Robert Allenby and others.  The Celebrity guest list has included faces like Celine Dion, Julius Irving, Michael Bolton, Evander Holyfield, Tico Torres, Dan Marino, Alan Thicke, Ronde Barber, Maury Povich, Lawrence Taylor, Beverly Johnson, Marcus Allen, Jerry Bailey, Kevin “Hercules” Sorbo and a host of other well-known businessmen such as Wayne Huizenga and Donald Trump.

Confirmed celebrities and players for this year’s GPI at The Cliffs will be announced next month on www.gpigolf.com.