THEY say love has no expiry date, and golfing legend Gary Player is proof that the heart can find happiness again, even after losing the love of a lifetime.
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Player celebrated his 91st birthday on Sunday, 1 November, at Sun City in the North West, reflecting on his remarkable golfing career, his late wife Vivienne, and finding love again.
After losing Vivienne in August 2021, following 64 years of marriage, Player spent four years alone before finding companionship with American girlfriend Susan Waterfall.
Speaking at the Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational, Player opened up about his new relationship, saying Susan had brought happiness back into his life.
He said she loves travelling and going to the gym and shares his passion for an active lifestyle. The couple even bought a racehorse together.
“I was with my wife for 64 years. It was an incredible marriage. Then, for four years, I was on my own before I met this lady in America,” he said.
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Player believes people shouldn’t give up on love after losing their partners.
“You don’t have to get married again, but you have to have a girlfriend. You have to have some love in your life,” he said.
He also spoke fondly about Vivienne, who remained an important part of his life and charitable work.
Player recalled how much she loved kids and how she wanted their education projects to continue making a difference.
Player said he had promised his late wife that their work to improve kids’ lives would continue.
He remains passionate about supporting disadvantaged kids through education, saying the foundation’s work would continue to grow.
Reflecting on his golfing journey, Player said the sport gave him the chance to travel the world, win tournaments, and build lifelong friendships.
He also remembered visiting Soweto as a young professional golfer to teach kids the game. Hearing penny whistles during the entertainment at Sun City brought back special memories.
Despite his achievements on the golf course, Player said changing kids’ lives remained one of his greatest motivations.
“God has been very kind to me. Life is the greatest gift bestowed upon a man or woman. Use your life. You can still have a lot of fun and enjoy it,” he said.
Beyond the golf course, Gary and Vivienne Player’s love story lives on through the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School, which they established together in 1990 on their farm in the Lanseria area, north of Joburg.
The school was started because of Vivienne’s love for kids and her desire to give disadvantaged youngsters access to quality early childhood education.
What began in a small building on the farm has grown into an early childhood development centre serving kids from surrounding disadvantaged communities, including informal settlements, farms and smallholdings.
The school caters for kids aged three to six, providing education, meals and access to medical care. It has grown to accommodate about 125 pupils.
The Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation continues to support the school, which depends on donations and private funding to keep its doors open and give kids a better start in life.
Player has often spoken about how much his late wife loved the kids and how she made it her mission to ensure they had a brighter future.
He said the teachers were dedicated and the kids were beautiful, adding that visitors could also support the school by spending money there.
Player said he wanted the school to grow bigger and better, ensuring that his promise to Vivienne would live on for generations.
The annual Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational brings together sporting legends, celebrities and business leaders to raise funds for the school, turning their shared love for kids into a lasting legacy.
