(L-R) Greg Maybury, General Manager, Port Royal & Ocean View Golf Courses, PH Horgan III, Executive Director Bermuda Championship (PGA Tour) Hon. Zane DeSilva JP MP Minister of Tourism (Bermuda) H. Kim E. Swan JP MP Teaching Pro, Port Royal (Photo by Cindy Swan)
BY AAGD STAFF
November 7, 2019
The 2019 Bermuda Championship marked Port Royal’s 50th Year and the event had a very special meaning for businessman Kim Swan. His response to Bermuda Real’s question on how it felt to be the chosen one to launch the event with his inaugural hit before daybreak went like this:
“It was truly my honor to stand in for unsung Bermuda greats and remember those who helped pave the way, along the way. Many emotions flooded through my spirit as the time drew near to hit the first-ever golf shot to launch the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course – my ‘Field of Dreams’. I salute Bermuda Championship Executive Director PH Horgan III, Hon Zane Desilva, Minister of Tourism for Bermuda, Kevin Dallas CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority and Sean Sovocol of Bruno Event Management for bestowing this honor on me at Port Royal Golf Course; It was not lost on me that on this weekend Port Royal Golf Course enters our 50th Anniversary and I salute the growth of public golf it promoted in Bermuda.”
Kim Continued, “Port Royal’s inaugural Board of Trustees Chairman Reginald Tucker from St George’s, Hubert Smith, George Wardman, Eric Parker, Dr. I. W. Hughes, together with local parliamentarians Ralph O Marshall MP and then Opposition MP for Southampton Reginald Burrows MP; an avid golfer, who must be recognized for supporting the advancement of an outstanding vision to realize a world-class public golf course.”
“Who can forget the contributions of Port Royal’s first Golf Pro Walter King or first manager Martin Greaves, Alora Rabain, Noel Van Putten, Frankie Rabain, WA ‘Toppy’ Cowan, Betty Vincent, Albertha Jones, Inez Curtis, Carlton Isaac, Bremar, Christine Jeffers, Lois Steede, Glenda Todd, Judy Scott, Trevor Madeiros, Cyril Butterfield, Bill Pitt Jr, Henry Ascento, Cal DeRoza, Dennis Pilgrim, Gary Lambert, Greg Maybury and many others during these 50 years,” stated Kim.
“Lovingly, I share willingly that my mother and family were raised on this same property before it was commissioned as a golf course, and that my golf teacher and Uncle Herman ‘Tucci’ Bascome taught golf on the eastern side of this same property where #13 & 14 are today, long before this golf course was built. The opportunity to hit the first golf shot at the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship, was an honor I accepted on behalf of the great generation that taught me golf – who were unable to realize their true potential because of the “Caucasian Only Rule” that was in effect between 1934 – 1961 within the PGA of America (the precursor of the PGA Tour) and its impact globally.”
“Those then young men who in the prime of their lives were unable to realize their true potential- Louis Rafael ‘Kid’ Corbin, Earl Anderson, Herman ‘Tucci’ Bascome, Earl Lowe, George Lowe, Leonard Jones, Bill Pitt Sr. Llewelyn DeRoza, Calix Darrell, Percy Vincent and many others of that era in Bermuda. The impeccable timing of the PGA Tour Bermuda Championship being held at Port Royal as we enter our 50th year is not lost on me. I could not help but be reminded on that first tee to hit that ceremonial shot of the true majesty of public golf – how manifested itself through my life – to be recognized by an American Golf Professional while caddying at Port Royal Golf Course.”
“I tearfully remembered the late Bob Cloughen Sr, who in 1975 saw enough in my character to arrange for me to attend school at Palm Beach Junior College, Lake Worth, Florida. What ensued was a close friendship with teammate Ken Green and the development of golf in the United States.
In my journey that took me out of Bermuda I must acknowledge many people that influenced my development:
Hon Ralph O. Marshall & Family, Ken Green & Family; Jack Moseley of USF&G Insurance; Howell ‘Mickey’ Van Gerbig; Harreld & Marion Kirkpatrick; The Cloughen Family; The Fellenstein Family of Lake Worth,; Joe Sanculius; Coach Mike Griffin; Chancellor Jack Hawkins & the Troy (State) University Family; George O’Grady / John Paramour and the PGA European Tour Family; Dai Reese; Tommy Horton;!John Jacobs; Mac O’Grady; Rafael Alacorn; Karl Narro; Ricky Beck; Ronnie Mobley; McCloud Pro at Palm Beach National; Johnny Warren at West Palm Beach Country Club, Joe Carr; John Mason; Josephine Cook; Tom Smack; Ed Whaley Terence Brannon; Victor Mello; AE ;Dolly’ Smatt; David Ralston; Dave & Dora Ferguson; Fritz Reiter; Judge Rufus Astwood; Governor Posnett; Alex Crofton & the Belmont Manor Hotel Family; Eric & Muriel Parker; Betty Vincent; Alora & Frankie Rabain; John Nicholas Swan Sr; Lloyd James; Earl ‘Townsey’ Russell; Eddie Poland; Vincente “Chino” Fernandez; Rafe Botts; Jim & Carol Thorpe; George Wymmes & the New England PGA; Alfonso Pinero and many others I will eternally appreciate,” said Kim.
Jeffrey T. Sammons, Ph.D.
“Again we note the impeccable timing of Dr. Jeffrey Sammons, of New York University, who has unearthed the contributions of Louis Rafael ‘Kid’ Corbin of St George’s to the progression of Blacks in golf during the height of when the Caucasian Only Clause was in full force 1934 – 1961. It is in memory of your spirit that I hit that ceremonial 1st shot – ironically at the Crack of Dawn!,” concluded Kim.
As a much recommended and retained Golf Coach, Kim Swan’s career includes an array of notable firsts and record-breaking accomplishments. The native Bermudian also releases his journalistic talents as the writer of articles for several golf publications. The Berkley Institute and Warwick Secondary School graduate also gained academic accolades at Palm Beach Junior College, today known as Palm Beach State College (Fla.) Kim then went on to increase his learning and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Troy (State) University, Alabama.
In 1984, Kim won the Americas Zone with his teammate Keith Smith and the duo qualified as the first-ever Bermudians to participate in the World Cup of Golf, a most esteemed professional golf event in that era.
When he served as a former President of the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association, his work was so impressive, the organization made him an honorary member.
As a highly experienced Golf Manager, Kim served in various capacities at the St. George’s Golf Club and at the Ocean View Golf Course through his ownership of a golf management company that included golf operations, local and international golf tournaments, and promoting Bermuda in tourism overseas.
As an amateur golfer, Kim competed at the highest level to become the only Bermudian; to date, to ever hold membership on the PGA European Tour (1981 – 83). His best finishes on the European Tour were 26th Dutch Open 81’, 32nd Jersey Open 82’; 48th Bairriatz, France 83’ and 9th in Timex Open 82’ on French Tour. One highlight was sharing low round honors in the 3rd round of the 1981 Dutch Open with legends Raymond Floyd and Sam Torrance. His bio touts Kim as also the only Bermudian to have won three (3) Bermuda Open Championships (1978, 83 & 84) since the event was racially integrated in 1967.
As an amateur in the 1970’s in the USA Kim competed at the highest level in the Eastern Am, Dixie Am, Porter Cup, Western Am, Orange Bowl Junior, International Fourball, World Am, Rice Planters and Azalea Amateur and in many instances was the only Black in the field. In the 1978 Azalea Amateur in Charleston South Carolina, Kim Swan was; unbeknown to him at the time, the first-ever Black to play in that prestigious amateur event. Photos were required in the years following.
Kim also competed at the collegiate level in America representing Palm Beach Junior College (1976-78) and Troy (State) University (1978-80), where he was named Most Valuable Player for the 1978/1979 year. In addition to being a member of the Palm Beach team that placed fourth in 1978 State Championship and the Troy University team that finished fourth in the 1979 NCAA Division 2 National (USA) Championship.
The highlight of Kim’s collegiate career was winning three individual collegiate titles including the 1979 Northeast Louisiana University Intercollegiate and numerous team titles with Troy University.
Kim is a devoted family man and is married to his wife Cindy. The couple have two daughters and two sons.
