Senator Kim Swan walked away from St. George's Golf Club for the last time last night as its golf professional after being ousted after 16 years in the job.

Without the courtesy of best wishes or a send off speech from his bosses, he spent the day packing up his belongings and tried to focus only on the future, instead on what had passed.

He received a gift of a paperweight, along with a golf figurine from the Club, but he said nobody in an official capacity had called in to wish him well.

However, he said he was not surprised.

United Bermuda Party Senator Mr. Swan, who has said very little since it was announced he would be replaced as the golf pro in April this year, said he had expected nothing more after the way he had been treated.

He said: "I was not surprised. I have only been here 16 years, so I should not have expected any kind of send off at all. I'm cool about it - after all, it was only 16 years and I have only been here since the Club's inception."

Sen. Swan was told he would be replaced as the golf pro by head of the board, Government MP El James earlier this year, who claimed he had not been running the Pro Shop properly.

Mr. James claimed the decision to remove Mr. Swan had not been a political stitch up, as had been claimed, but a committee decision.

He gave clear hints that it was Sen. Swan's handling of the business concession that led to him losing the contract.

However, yesterday Sen. Swan said he had given the job his all.

Just prior to learning that he was to be ousted, he said he had ordered and received new stock for the shop.

But he said the committee made no offer to buy the merchandise from him, and instead has changed the traditional Club logo, so he has had to sell his stock off at a reduced rate.

But despite it all, Sen. Swan said he was feeling remarkably chipper and upbeat yesterday.

He added: "I feel good because I have had some time to look at my life and take on the forward task.

"Right now, it's about the future, not the wrongs of the past.

"I have not found a salaried job, but in the interim I'm going to be teaching at the Golf Academy in Southampton, and I'm also going to freelance.

"I have been offered the use of the Belmont course to take my clients there, which will be good.

"If you have the skills and the demand, you can be successful. And, I have the demand and the qualifications, so I'm going to be okay."

Sen. Swan is one of the Island's few golfers to have competed internationally. He played in the European PGA tour for three years.

He also helped to establish two of the Island's three Government-run courses - St. George's and Ocean View.

Sen. Swan added: "I think it's just a matter of time before I carve out a niche that's tailor-made for me. I feel positive.

"I have been very encouraged by the membership at the club, and the staff has been very nice and supportive.

"I got a very nice impromptu desk ornament today from the staff, it's just a bit unfortunate that I don't have a desk to put it on. I'm sure that will come in time.

"I'm just going to see what happens, but I think I'm going to take a holiday. I think I need one."

Mr. James was off the Island and not available for comment last night.