Graham Adams…
The name Swashbucklers is a relatively new name for the swindle, borne from a need for a name for our Ryder cup exploits under Simon Bailey’s captaincy.
Bailey’s Buccaneers was a popular name but we did not want to leave a person’s name in the title so rather than Buccaneers, Phil Macve came up with “Swashbucklers” which was thought to be a good name not forgetting it also accurately described a few people’s golf swings!
Despite our first Ryder Cup outing of Swashbucklers being slightly disappointing – we won the drinking competition but lost the cup, the second year under the captaincy of Sean Savedra we won the drinking competition and the Ryder Cup.
Previously the Swindle had been named Jolly Boys after the Only Fools and Horses classic episode of the trip down the coast which led to disaster and we took this name and philosophy on tour to Portugal and Turkey. Just as Happy Valley didn’t quite fit the bill and the club was re named Surrey National, Jolly Boys name didn’t quite fit the growing swindle and the success of Swashbucklers and a great deal arranged by Simon for the tee shirts
Jerry will hopefully be sending over some info about the original formation of the Swindle. From an original band of followers (Barry, Jerry, Brian H) playing a the weekend, and Graham joining them in 2004, over the last 8 years the Swindle has expanded to a team (on paper) of over 45 weekend players with handicaps ranging from 2 to 26 male and female.
We have a strong presence on the club committee and have supplied three club captains in the last four years. Our annual tour around southern Europe is 20 strong with places jealously guarded each year and generally oversubscribed.
And now we even have our own web site!
Click to read Jerry’s words on the start of the swindle
