Port Royal Golf Course finally marked its 50th anniversary after a near four-year delay with a special celebration last Saturday.

The golf course officially opened its doors for business on October 29, 1970 and has since evolved into a leading public sporting facility, serving overseas visitors and local alike as well as hosting PGA Tour events such as the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and Grand Slam of Golf, which featured the winners of the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

Spearheading the proceedings was Bermuda Government Golf Courses Board of Trustees chairman, and former golf professional, Kim Swan, who was ably assisted by the team at Port Royal Golf Course, including Judy Scott, Andrew Trott Francis, Jayson Jackson, Steven Lambert Jr, Thomasinna Hassell, Ianthia Butler, Chris Gibbons and their respective support teams.

The Government MP spoke of the “divine heavenly providence at play” with the advent of Port Royal and shared the social, economic and political significance of its existence, which helped to usher Bermuda out of the doldrums of racial segregation.

Swan also acknowledged the valuable contribution of present and past Port Royal staff, such as former general managers Max Atherden and Noel Van Putten, golf professional Frank Rabain, who competed in The Open in 1971, and longest serving chairperson Shirley James.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Owen Darrell, opened the proceedings which also featured an appearance by the Bermuda Regiment Band and the staging of the Port Royal Golf Course 50th Anniversary Tournament, which was won by the team made up of former club head professional Dwayne Pearman, Darren Woods Sr, Geza Wolf and Morgan Lightbourne.

“Even though the event was deemed a fun celebration, the plethora of good and competitive players were keenly contested in obtaining bragging rights,” Swan said.

“A huge thank you to all competitors and spectators.”