Denver, Co. (June 4, 2025) — The Robert Trent Jones Society has announced that professional golfer Gary Player is the recipient of the fourth annual Legacy Award, in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the game of golf. Previous recipients of the award include Al Geiberger, Lee Trevino, and Hollis Stacy.
Player is recognized as golf’s premier international ambassador, having won golf’s Grand Slam with his U.S. Open win in 1965 at Bellerive in St. Louis, an RTJ Sr. original design and Society member. Player has more than 160 wins over seven decades and is also a highly successful golf course architect. He single-handedly ushered in an ethos of fitness to professional golf and has raised tens of millions of dollars for his charities, most notably cancer research and education for underprivileged youth.
In announcing the award, David Leigh, President of the Robert Trent Jones Society, said, “The Legacy Award was established in Mr. Jones’ name to honor individuals whose lifetime is committed to expanding the game we all love. It is with great pleasure that we honor Mr. Player for his countless contributions to the game, on and off the course.”
Leigh made special note of Player’s win at Bellerive in 1965, which completed his career modern Grand Slam, joining only Gene Sarazen and Ben Hogan at that time. Earlier this year, that feat was matched by Rory McIlroy at this year’s Masters and previously earned by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
“Bellerive is sacred soil,” Player said in accepting the award. “I prepared for that Open like no other.”
He also shared stories from his long career and playing alongside greats like Sarazen and Hogan. Player spoke highly about RTJ Sr. and his two sons, “working tirelessly to create outstanding golf venues. Mr. Jones had a tremendous work ethic well into his 90s.”
The video interview of Mr. Player accepting the award and recounting his playing at Bellerive can be found here.
Robert Trent Jones and the Legacy Award
Robert Trent Jones is remembered for his genius in golf design, ushering in a modern, post-war feel for the game as represented by iconic course designs and redesigns such as Bellerive, Hazeltine, Firestone, and The Broadmoor. That list is virtually endless.
The Robert Trent Jones Society is committed to preserving how Jones expanded the game— for example, modern industrial construction techniques, use of statistics to shape course design for all players, care for the environment, improving turf conditions, and, of course, “heroic” shot values. He supported municipal golf available to all, mentored countless architects, and expanded modern designs around the world across different climates.
Most importantly, Jones pioneered a deep appreciation for the tapestry of the game. He said it best himself in his autobiography, “Golf’s Magnificent Challenge”: “If I am to be remembered, I hope it is not just for the golf courses I built but for the other contributions as well to the game I love, to the game that has been my life.”
The RTJ Society created the Legacy Award to honor similar individuals who have electrified the game by their presence and given so much to golf over a lifetime.
About the Robert Trent Jones Society
The Robert Trent Jones Society was created in 2004 and consists of 40 member clubs worldwide designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior. The mission of the Society is to honor Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his work, to preserve the historical information and documents pertinent to the golf courses he designed, and to encourage and support the education of member clubs on the design principles of his courses. The Society holds an annual general meeting hosted at one of its member clubs. www.rtjsociety.com
Media Contact
David Leigh, President
Robert Trent Jones Society
Email: David.Leigh@rtjsociety.com
720-219-6784