A major Player in water conservation

I’m looking at the first day of Masters coverage, and they’re telling me that these will be Gary Player’s last competitive rounds of golf.

I like how golf allows its heroes to age gracefully. Well, with the exception of John Daly.

I’ve written more than 60 of the back-page Reflections interviews. I’m always on the lookout for a new Reflections interview (and if you have Bill Murray’s number, call me). I had my first chance at a Gary Player interview at the Masters three years ago.

There he was, under the big oak tree, talking to fans, signing autographs, posing for photographs. I decided to hang back, not wanting to interrupt what looked like a cool moment for a lot of lucky golf fans.

I meandered around the clubhouse lawn a little bit and came back. Player was gone. Disappeared. Opportunity lost.

I wondered if I’d ever get a chance to nab a Gary Player interview again.

Then, this year’s GIS rolled around. AST sent me a press release, announcing that Player would be at their booth this year to endorse their UgMo underground sensors.

AST then invited me to a private party they were holding at the House of Blues in New Orleans. Showing a total disregard for cool, I arrived on time, the first party person in the house. Shortly after me, Gary Player and his entourage entered.

I was quickly introduced to Player, and before I knew it, I was sitting down having a 30-minute interview with one of the greats of the game. Good things do come to those who wait, apparently. You can read an excerpt of my interview with Mr. Player in this month’s Reflections on Page 152.

What was really lucky is I found him in this context — as a supporter of a tool that saves water. Had I interviewed him that day under the big oak tree, a quick interview may not have revealed to me his passion for water conservation.

And passion is the right word. Player takes this topic seriously.

“It’s the most crucial thing that we face in the world today,” he told me. “We can do without oil. We cannot live without water.”

Player has constructed what he calls a 70-percent water-free golf course on his ranch in South Africa. This is the future of golf, he told me.

“Golf designers are the ones who are backward,” he said. “We’re the ones designing the courses that are using all the water. We’ve got to change.”

Player mentioned all the glasses of water that go down the drain at restaurants everyday. He told me of being at a country club in California, where he saw a sign that read “Water upon request.” He asked to speak with the manager, so he could thank him personally for saving water.

“We’ve got to think about our children, and our grandchildren,” he said to me, practically shouting. “Are they going to be paying for water? It’s scary!”

Player may have played his last competitive rounds of golf, but I have a feeling that just means we’ll see his previously unknown passion exhibited more on our side of the industry.