50 Golden Years for Gary and Vivienne Player, Gary and Vivienne Player couldn’t ask for a more blissful place than Hawaii to celebrate 50 years of marriage. On January 19th, the couple will toast to their golden anniversary while Player competes in the Champions Tour’s MasterCard Championship at Hualalai from January 15th - 21st.
The two were married on January 1957 after dating for five years. Player first laid eyes on Vivienne at Virginia Park Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he practiced so hard every day. He was only 14 years old at the time, and Vivienne, a little younger, worked part-time behind the counter at the pro shop. Her father, Jock Verwey, was the pro at Virginia Park and came to be Gary Player’s mentor during his teenage years.
Quite the golfer herself, Player recalls being instantly attracted to Vivienne “like a nail to a magnet,” he says. They essentially grew up on the golf course together, along with her brother Bobby - also a pro golfer. They reminisce competing against each other for money, which at that time, was just ‘a few coins in the kitty.’
Before heading to Melbourne, Australia to compete in the 1957 Ampol Golf Tournament, Player declared that he would marry Vivienne if he won. When the 19 year-old Vivienne received the news of Player’s - 5000 victory via telegram, a photographer captured her jumping for joy. That photo was later voted “Picture of the Year” in South Africa.
50 years, 6 children, 18 grandchildren and 14 million miles later, Vivienne continues to travel the globe with Gary. Although she spends less time walking golf courses and more with the family, she remains as dedicated as the day Player turned pro in 1953.
Looking back on his 53-year golfing career and the extraordinary life they have shared, Gary Player says, “Behind every successful man is a woman, but behind every successful professional golfer is an exceptional woman.”
Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Player for the enduring love and commitment they have shared and for the example they have set for so many.
The two were married on January 1957 after dating for five years. Player first laid eyes on Vivienne at Virginia Park Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he practiced so hard every day. He was only 14 years old at the time, and Vivienne, a little younger, worked part-time behind the counter at the pro shop. Her father, Jock Verwey, was the pro at Virginia Park and came to be Gary Player’s mentor during his teenage years.
Quite the golfer herself, Player recalls being instantly attracted to Vivienne “like a nail to a magnet,” he says. They essentially grew up on the golf course together, along with her brother Bobby - also a pro golfer. They reminisce competing against each other for money, which at that time, was just ‘a few coins in the kitty.’
Before heading to Melbourne, Australia to compete in the 1957 Ampol Golf Tournament, Player declared that he would marry Vivienne if he won. When the 19 year-old Vivienne received the news of Player’s - 5000 victory via telegram, a photographer captured her jumping for joy. That photo was later voted “Picture of the Year” in South Africa.
50 years, 6 children, 18 grandchildren and 14 million miles later, Vivienne continues to travel the globe with Gary. Although she spends less time walking golf courses and more with the family, she remains as dedicated as the day Player turned pro in 1953.
Looking back on his 53-year golfing career and the extraordinary life they have shared, Gary Player says, “Behind every successful man is a woman, but behind every successful professional golfer is an exceptional woman.”
Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Player for the enduring love and commitment they have shared and for the example they have set for so many.
