150 pounds on the leg press, bicep curls with a couple of 20-pound dumbbells, and then hopping onto the deadlift. This pretty much sums up the workout routine of Gary Player. Well, let that sink in. A retired pro golfer, who celebrated his 90th birthday on November 1, is still hitting the gym regularly. And that’s not all. He also has other tricks up his sleeve to wow his fellow golfers. While at the gym, Player would call his trainer and ask him to hold his hand at Player’s head level. 

Now remember, the legendary golfer stands at 5ft 6 in. And without batting an eye, the 90-year-old takes a couple of steps back and unleashes a karate kick, touching the hand of his trainer! Thus, with so much to talk about from the very beginning, it is quite expected that there will be some pretty interesting stories about such a unique personality. Likewise, in a recent episode of the Talk Birdie To Me podcast on Spotify, the duo of Nick O’Hearn and Mike Allen narrated quite a bizarre story. 

Recalling the incident, O’Hearn started by saying how he met Player at Vines. O’Hearn stated that the very first thing that the 90-year-old asked his compatriots was about physical fitness. And he did not stop there. Claiming to do a thousand crunches each day, the golfing legend asked others to punch his stomach. Surprisingly, while O’Hearn did not do it, Mike Allen admitted to punching Player for real. “I did, I punched his stomach. Because he was my captain at the President’s Cup. The first time I met him was in Washington, DC. Hit me, hit me. I do a thousand crunches a day.” Coming across such a weird request, Allen initially hesitated. 

But Player insisted. “That’s what he was doing. And I’m like, Gary, I can’t. He goes, Come on, hit me. And I go, you know, give it a tap. I’m like, oh, okay. He said, No, come on, hit me,” said Allen. Thus, with no other options left, Allen proceeded to punch his stomach for real. And what happened next was quite beyond the former pro-golfer’s imagination. Taking a stroll back to memory lane, Allen stated, “That was nothing. And I’m going, bang. Hit this old guy. I think I hurt my hand rather than his stomach.

“Because it was rock hard.” Surely, it is evident that Player have attained an incredible level of fitness. And while the world marvels at it, here’s the secret sauce that has kept Player going. 

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What’s the secret behind Gary Player’s fitness goals at 90?

The way Gary Player has stuck to his fitness regime even while he just celebrated his 90th birthday would surely amaze the world. Standing just a decade away from 100, Gary manages to regularly be in his sport. It has already been decades since he has bid farewell to the competitive sphere, but his spirit has never faltered. But what’s the secret code that helps Player turn up in the greens four times a week?

Reflecting on the same, the 90-year-old shared, “We read about people living a long time. On the contrary, they don’t live a long time — they exist. They’re full of medicine. I don’t take one single pill. I exercise profusely.” Player explained how it’s not a magic pill. It’s rather regular exercise, constant movement, strength training, and healthy habits that have helped him to age like fine wine.

Starting from light weightlifting, to strength training, stretching, to core exercises, the South African golfing legend makes sure to incorporate all of it in his daily routine. Adding to this, he does not drink or smoke or sign up for sumptuous meals for dinner. I sleep nine hours a night. He shared the secret and added, “I try not to overeat or have big dinners. You need to be thin to win; fat, and you’re on the mat. I don’t drink or smoke.” Furthermore, the 90-year-old explained how mental well-being and strength are equally important to help one stay fit physically.