Gary Player to Receive NGCOA Award of Merit

Contact Wendy Saari
512-288-9224
wsaari@ngcoa.org

CHARLESTON, S.C. (November 22, 2002) - Gary Player will receive the 2003 National Golf Course Owners Association Award of Merit in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the game of golf. The award will be presented at the Awards Banquet on February 26 at the NGCOA Solutions Summit annual conference in Palm Springs, California. Mr. Player will attend to accept the award.

"It is an honor to receive the National Golf Course Owners Association 2003 Award of Merit," said Player. "To be recognized not only by the association, but also along with such past recipients as Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones, Sr. carries a distinction that I am truly humbled by."

The Award of Merit has been given since 1983 to honor individuals or organizations that have made long-term and significant contributions to the game of golf.

"This award not only honors Mr. Player's many victories on the golf course, but his continuing support of the game of golf as the ëInternational Ambassador of Golf'," said Mike Hughes, NGCOA executive director. "He has contributed greatly to the growth and success of the game and business of golf through Black Knight International and The Player Foundation."

The NGCOA Solutions Summit will be February 22-26 at the Wyndham Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California. For more information visit www.ngcoa.org.

The National Golf Course Owners Association, an international association representing more than 4,600 golf courses, is devoted exclusively to promoting the interests of golf course owners and operators.