champions retreat

GPI, London - A fitting Celebration for the 25th Anniversary of The Player Foundation

London—A select gathering of golf professionals, sports stars, celebrities and executives gathered at Wentworth on July 28th for the 2008 Gary Player Invitational (GPI). The event kicks off a series of four charitable events globally, this year celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The Player Foundation.

In attendance at the event were top golf professionals Thomas Aiken, Rob Dinwiddie and Bobby Lincoln, sports stars including Barry Richards, Matt Dawson and Jamie Redknapp, as well as a host of other celebrities including John Inverdale and Ross Kemp. All this coupled with Gary Player hosting the two-day spectacular creates one of Europe’s must-attend pro-celebrity golf events.

On Sunday evening guests had the chance to get up close and personal with our nine-time Major Champion host during “An Audience with Gary Player,” followed by a day of top class action on the golf course. This included a one-of-a-kind Black Knight Clinic, which left all guests astonished and taking valuable new swing thoughts out to the course where they competed for the 2008 GPI title over Wentworth’s Edinburgh Course. In the end it was the team from Verizon Business, led by former footballer Mark Bright who won with a team score of 17 under par.

This was a fitting victory for this year’s event, which welcomed Verizon Business as its new Premier Partner, joining Official Sponsors, Davenport Lyons and MWB, as well as Official Suppliers, Callaway Golf and Coca-Cola. Other businesses across a wide variety of sectors from telecoms, property, finance and professional services were represented, all of whom were able to strengthen existing relationships and build many new connections. This was clearly in evidence at Monday’s Auction and Awards Dinner where guests stayed well into the night, joined by their celebrity hosts and ably looked after by rugby star turned comedic MC, Martin Bayfield.

The principal objective for this event, along with sister events in USA, South Africa and China, is to raise much needed funds for The Player Foundation and early signs from Monday’s event are that sums over $100,000 were raised for charity. A great start to what is certain to be a fantastic year of golf and giving for the benefit of many disadvantaged communities all around the world.




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