A remarkable link with Mullingar GC ended last weekend when Finian Garry retired. It means that for the first time since the present course was built at Belvedere in 1936, a member of the Garry family will no longer be responsible for the greenkeeping duties at the club. The new man is Pat Liddy.

Behind them, the Garrys have left a proud tradition. Indeed the quality of their contribution can be gauged from a letter to the club in December 1937, in which James Braid, five times British Open champion and designer of the new layout, wrote: "Whoever is responsible for the condition of the course deserves great credit." Kit Garry could hardly have wished for a better endorsement of his work.

His nephew, Finian, began work on the greens staff in 1954 and took over from his uncle 11 years later. During that time, he would steal out onto the course and practise with his cousins - Kit's sons. "We weren't members and weren't entitled to play, but when Kit came looking for us, we'd hide behind one tree after another," he recalled.

A tribute to Finian's greenkeeping skills came from former member, Mickey Bagnall, who, having emigrated to the US, returned in 1994 to help the club celebrate its centenary. "Every time I come home, I have to buy Finian Garry tons of pints for all the repair work he did for me," he remarked. "I mean I knocked chunks out of those fairways."

Regarding that visit, author David Walsh recounted in the centenary book, one of those classic incidents which, one feels, could happen only at Mullingar. It concerned the three bushes down the first fairway which Bagnall was convinced he could clear with a seven-iron shot, even while tired and emotional in the clubhouse bar at 2.30 in the morning.

Almost inevitably, the centenary captain, Joe Healy, was involved. "I'll have a tenner you won't carry those bushes," said Healy. The bet was struck and a seven iron along with a Dunlop 4 golf-ball, found their way into Bagnall's hands. Then, with a crowd of about 25 gathered in almost pitch darkness, the great feat was attempted.

Focus is something of a buzz-word among leading sportspeople these days, but it would have had a rather different meaning in the context of this particular challenge. Anyway, the shot was struck, eventually. "There it is along the ground," said Healy triumphantly. "Don't anyone move. There's a ball just down there." Someone shouted: "I have it." "What make?" enquired the captain, expecting no surprises. "A Dunlop 4," said the finder.

Proud of his five handicap, Bagnall was devastated, while Healy and the others extracted maximum mileage out of his embarrassment. On the following day, he was on the practice ground when Finian Garry came towards him. "Mickey," said the greenkeeper, "that was some seven-iron you hit last night." "What do you mean?" "Longest seven iron I've ever seen," insisted Garry. "One hundred and ninety yards if you ask me. Dunlop 4, wasn't it?"

Bagnall's response was barely audible. "Dunlop 4," he agreed. With that, he caught the ball tossed to him by Garry, knowing it was too late. Who would ever believe him?

"Myself and my wife thank Tiger every day. Because of him and the interest he's generated, I've made about half a million more in the last 18 months than I would otherwise have done."

- US journeyman professional, Dennis Paulson.