Ernie Els has never hidden away from his view that the most significant thing he has done in his life, outside raising a family, isn’t a CV that now shows 79 professional wins. It’s not that he’s a Hall of Fame golfer, a four-time Major champion and now a Senior Major winner. In fact, it’s not even golf-related.

It’s launching the Els for Autism Foundation in 2009 with his wife Liezl and building the Els Center For Excellence in South Florida, which is a beacon of hope for autistic children, including his son Ben. The main building was opened in 2015, with a lower and upper charter school housed on a 26-acre campus, for students from age three to 22.

Further afield, Els for Autism has vibrant programmes involving nearly 40 countries, across every continent, including five in Africa. That’s how far the legacy extends. Whenever this giant of a player and colossus of a human being stops playing competitively, no one can predict how many pro tournaments he will have won. Yet, there’s every possibility that for generations to come his work as a philanthropist will supersede his achievements on the course.

In 1999 Els launched the Ernie Els Foundation, which offers playing opportunities along with educational asssistance; he has always said he “got lucky” as a golfer. In doing so, he preaches that education comes first.

Understandably, though, most of the headlines and social media attention the 54-year-old (55 on 17 October) attracts relates to his on-course genius. He has enjoyed an exemplary 2024, winning three times (as at 1 October), including bagging the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, in July . He also won in Iowa and Wisconsin and his busy playing schedule includes six more tournaments from the start of October until the end of the year.

Yet, the legend continues to grow outside the ropes as he juggles life. He was in South Africa earlier this year to promote his latest Signature golf course, at Zimbali Lakes Resort north of Durban. It’s a R10-billion dream with the Els stamp of approval and where 11 of the 14 residential stands, going for between R4m and R22m, were sold in the first 48 hours of going on the market. The deal is with the Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed IFA Hotels & Resorts.

“We have been fortunate with the success rate of our previous residential golf estate developments in South Africa, Mauritius, Dubai and the UAE,” said Els at the launch. “Apart from the golf course, we are also adding an Ernie Els Performance Academy and the Big Easy Restaurant in the exclusive Zimbali Lakes Sports Club.”

This has certainly been a year of movement for Els. It marked 30 years since he won his first Major ‑ at the 1994 US Open at Oakmont CC ‑ and he has added three more Senior wins. “Golf is still my first love. Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to play at this level and I still do. I’m 54, I love the Tour, I just want to keep going and keep getting better,” he said after winning the Principal Charity Classic.

There was also a change in the way he sees himself “officially portrayed”, and this came in the shape of his new website. “I think it better reflects this stage of my life,” said Els. “Obviously, tournament golf remains my main focus and passion. But life for me now is about so much more– from golf course design, various business interests and our charitable endeavours.”

Which sums up where Els is now on life’s journey.

He continues to change lives, one at a time. Junior golfer Nicole Iniakov (16), partnered with Els in the First Tee division of the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach in September and made a hole-in-one at the iconic 17th. Just for good measure, Els holed out from a bunker on the 18th and the pair finished eagle-eagle to win their competition.

Back to the professional playing aspect, sort of. Els, was on the cart as a captain's assistant for The Internationals as they ultimately again came up short against the US at the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal. The South African didn’t hide his disappointment after the 18.5-11.5 setback. Still, he believes the tournament isn’t a poor version of the Ryder Cup.

Els has never shied away from his critical views of LIV Golf, which has driven a wedge through the men’s professional game. At the end of the Presidents Cup weekend he told reporters: “A lot of our [International] players were lost to LIV. So we’re in a process. These guys may not rank very high in the World Ranking, but they’re coming. There’s a lot of good, great talent here, so we’ve got to give this a little bit of time. When they start winning tournaments on the PGA Tour, their real confidence will come through.”

The comment was statesman-like, delivered with confidence and authority. Which confirms that Els has become more than a golfer. These days he’s as comfortable in a boardroom or behind the camera, or even fulfilling a playful role in social media videos, as he is with a golf club in hand. But, as Ernie will always say, he wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of what he has without excelling golf in the first instance.

IMAGES: PETER POWELL/CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/DAVE SHOPLAND/SHUTTERSTOCK/EPA/BACKPAGEPIX/OISIN KENIRY/R&A VIA GETTY IMAGES/KATHRYN RILEY/USGA/ Tracey Benson Photography/SUPPLIED