Turning professional in 1969, he was a leading player on the Southern African Tour for over twenty years.

He was a more consistent contender than this tally might suggest, as he finished in the top-20 on the Order of Merit six times.

After reaching the age of fifty in 1995, Bland played mainly on the United States-based Champions Tour.

He won five tournaments on the tour, including four in 1996, when he finished third on the money list.

Bland died after battling cancer in George, Western Cape, South Africa, on 9 May 2023, at the age of 77.