Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Retired Golf champion Gary Player reflects on his life of legacy, sharing his journey from a childhood of hardship in South Africa, to a professional athlete inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame. He shares how he has coped with adversity, determination, and loss to live a life of love and gratitude.
“Golf, Grace and Giving Back” is part of The Thread Documentary series by Life Stories, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing inspiring stories on social justice, history, and culture.
Educators, teach The Thread episodes in your classroom with free lesson plans here: lifestories.org/learning/resources-items/teaching-the-thread-documentary-interview-series
Chapters:
00:00:00 Gary Player introduces himself and his values
00:01:53 Living in poverty in South Africa & overcoming adversity
00:06:01 Love at first sight: Meeting Vivienne Verwey
00:06:53 Learning golf from Jock Verwey
00:08:08 Becoming a professional golfer at 17
00:10:24 Winning his first tournament
00:12:19 Playing with Arnold Palmer and winning the Masters
00:14:07 Addressing Apartheid controversy
00:16:59: Becoming friends with Nelson Mandela
00:18:31 Gary Player’s 1972 PGA win and his father’s influence
00:19:37 Strength, determination, and perseverance in training
00:20:49 Three decades of the British Open
00:22:23 Understanding the map of a golf course
00:22:59 Gary Player and other champions in the World Golf Hall of Fame
00:23:56 The four most important tournaments in the world
00:24:26 Predicting the future of golf
00:25:45 The loneliness of being a pro athlete and the support of Vivienne Player
00:27:41 Coping with the loss of Vivienne Player
00:28:58 Supporting education: The Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation
00:30:47 Gary Player’s legacy
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About Gary Player
Gary Player is a retired professional golfer, recognized as one of the most successful golfers in history. He was born in 1935 in South Africa and became a professional golfer at age 17. By age 26, Player had accumulated 24 career PGA Tour titles and at age 29, became the youngest and first non-American to win all four major championships in a career. Player has collected more victories than any other golfer in the South African and Australian Opens, and was the only player in the 20th century to win the British Open in three different decades. In 2003, President Thabo Mbeki awarded Player the Order of Ikhamanga for his achievements in golf and contributions to non-racial sport in South Africa. Player received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement award in 2012, becoming the first international player to receive the accolade. In memory of his late wife Vivienne, Player founded the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation in 2021 to support underprivileged children in impoverished communities.
Original Title: Golf, Grace and Giving Back
Interviewee: Gary Player
Interviewed by: Teddy Kunhardt
Interview Date: October 9, 2024
© Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
#TheThread #GaryPlayer #LifeStories
Retired Golf champion Gary Player reflects on his life of legacy, sharing his journey from a childhood of hardship in South Africa, to a professional athlete inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame. He shares how he has coped with adversity, determination, and loss to live a life of love and gratitude.
“Golf, Grace and Giving Back” is part of The Thread Documentary series by Life Stories, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing inspiring stories on social justice, history, and culture.
Educators, teach The Thread episodes in your classroom with free lesson plans here: lifestories.org/learning/resources-items/teaching-the-thread-documentary-interview-series
Chapters:
00:00:00 Gary Player introduces himself and his values
00:01:53 Living in poverty in South Africa & overcoming adversity
00:06:01 Love at first sight: Meeting Vivienne Verwey
00:06:53 Learning golf from Jock Verwey
00:08:08 Becoming a professional golfer at 17
00:10:24 Winning his first tournament
00:12:19 Playing with Arnold Palmer and winning the Masters
00:14:07 Addressing Apartheid controversy
00:16:59: Becoming friends with Nelson Mandela
00:18:31 Gary Player’s 1972 PGA win and his father’s influence
00:19:37 Strength, determination, and perseverance in training
00:20:49 Three decades of the British Open
00:22:23 Understanding the map of a golf course
00:22:59 Gary Player and other champions in the World Golf Hall of Fame
00:23:56 The four most important tournaments in the world
00:24:26 Predicting the future of golf
00:25:45 The loneliness of being a pro athlete and the support of Vivienne Player
00:27:41 Coping with the loss of Vivienne Player
00:28:58 Supporting education: The Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation
00:30:47 Gary Player’s legacy
---
About Gary Player
Gary Player is a retired professional golfer, recognized as one of the most successful golfers in history. He was born in 1935 in South Africa and became a professional golfer at age 17. By age 26, Player had accumulated 24 career PGA Tour titles and at age 29, became the youngest and first non-American to win all four major championships in a career. Player has collected more victories than any other golfer in the South African and Australian Opens, and was the only player in the 20th century to win the British Open in three different decades. In 2003, President Thabo Mbeki awarded Player the Order of Ikhamanga for his achievements in golf and contributions to non-racial sport in South Africa. Player received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement award in 2012, becoming the first international player to receive the accolade. In memory of his late wife Vivienne, Player founded the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation in 2021 to support underprivileged children in impoverished communities.
Original Title: Golf, Grace and Giving Back
Interviewee: Gary Player
Interviewed by: Teddy Kunhardt
Interview Date: October 9, 2024
© Kunhardt Film Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
#TheThread #GaryPlayer #LifeStories
