he has lost his position as golf pro at St. George's Golf Club -- a job he has held for 12 years.

One of the Island's only golfers to have competed internationally on a professional level, Mr. Swan also helped establish two of the Island's three Government-run courses -- St. George's and Port Royal.

While the St. George's course manager Max Atherden claimed last night that Mr.

Swan's position was simply put out to tender and he was unsuccessful, others -- including Mr. Swan's wife -- said the decision could only be political.

Sources have told The Royal Gazette that Mr. Swan was informed that he lost his pro position by messenger-delivered letter yesterday. Despite his 12-year commitment to the club, there was no phone call or attempt to inform Mr. Swan personally. They said: "This smells really political.'' Meanwhile, it is understood that the man who is to replace Mr. Swan holds neither a university degree nor the professional golf pedigree that Mr. Swan earned competing in both the European and Canadian PGA tours.

Mr. Swan refused to comment on the matter, saying simply that it was not a good time for him at the moment.

However, Mr. Swan's wife, Cindy, spoke to The Royal Gazette about her husband's "devastation''.

"It took him off guard,'' said Mrs. Swan. "We need to give him time to digest this before he can deal with the public. Looking at him, it's like there has been a death.'' But speaking from a personal viewpoint, she said the decision had to be political. "I personally feel it has to do with his involvement in politics because, to the detriment of his family, he's always put that golf course and politics as priorities,'' she said.

Mrs. Swan said her husband dedicated upward of 70 hours a week to the St.

George's club. "During daylight savings' time, my daughters and I hardly ever see him,'' she said. "He's up at 5.30 in the morning and when he comes home, it's dark. He works 24/7.'' And Mrs. Swan said this dismissal has essentially "stagnated'' her husband's golf career. "He believes that golf is a gentleman's game. He can't go teach golf anywhere else because every club has a pro and he feels it's against protocol (to approach another club),'' she said. In addition to serving as the club's pro, Mr. Swan also held the concession at the club for the pro shop.

In past years, Mr. Swan had served a dual capacity at the course -- managing the club and acting as club pro. "He gave up the management side because he wanted to continue to pursue professional golf in the PGA,'' said Mrs. Swan.

And Mrs. Swan said that she did not understand why, out of three Government courses all being run without a contract, her husband's club was the only one put out to tender.

"I'm honestly being objective when I say I feel he's the best qualified golf pro on the Island,'' she said. "He attended Troy State University and was MVP for golf the year he graduated.'' But she said her husband is "not a jock''. Mr. Swan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business and economics at Troy State. "I would say he is the only university-trained golf pro and he is responsible for the golf careers of several pros on the Island right now,'' she said.

Course manager Max Atherden would only comment that Mr. Swan's contract had expired. "It was put out to tender and several people applied for it,'' said Mr. Atherden.

He said that Mr. Swan was not the successful candidate and that any further comment would have to be made by chairman of the club's board -- El James. Mr.

James did not respond to calls from The Royal Gazette last night.

Sen. Kim Swan GOLF GLF