Finally after all these years, the innate talent and prowess of Andy Byrne's golf game is coming to fruition. One theory has it that Andy was just a "Sleeper", waiting to qualify for the Super Senior Canadian Golf Tour (65 +) - more about that later.

Andy was born in 1933, grew up in Donnycarney on Dublin's northside and was educated at the famous Marino School, a well-known nursery of football. He had a very successful soccer career with Belgrove from 1952 - 1960 winning all available leagues and cup titles including the F.A.I. Junior Cup in Dalymount Park in 1956. He holds a unique record with the club having been selected to play in all eleven positions.

He had several offers to join professional clubs but traded the large ball for the small ball in 1960 when he joined Hermitage G.C. in Dublin. Within three years he was down to a three handicap and represented the club in many national events. In 1965 he won the "Grange Open Matchplay Championship", a highly regarded amateur tournament at Dublin's Grange Golf Club. He has happy memories of playing and befriending some of Ireland's great players of the day including Christy O'Connor, Paddy Skerritt and Joe Carr whose sons now own and operate Carr Golf Ireland. He would never miss the Evening Herald where tournament results from all across the country would list the winners and more importantly the up and coming players.

In 1967 Andy headed to Canada with his wife Joan and his two young sons, Gary & Terry. He had $200.00 in his pocket and didn't know a sinner in his adopted land. He joined the Canadian & British P.G.A. and landed his first Canadian job as Assistant Pro at Cedarbrae, an excellent course in Toronto's east end.

By 1973, Andy had leased a ski club on 173 acres in Guelph with the intention of building a year round sports facility to include a 27 hole golf complex with an 18 hole championship course and a 9 hole par three course. Four years later disaster struck when Andy received major burns in a fire in the ski chalet - he spent the next four months in hospital where his legs and arms had to be reengineered. Thankfully a friend threw a ski jacket over his head, which at least spared his face of burn damage.

He continued to develop "Aberfoyle Golf & Ski Club", completing the Par 3 course with major work also completed on the Championship course. By '82, it was strike two, when interest rates soared to 23% and Andy, his wife Joan & family lost everything, including their home in Guelph.

The word "Quit" is not part of Andy's persona so he accepted the position of Pro-Manager at Big Bay Point G.C. on Lake Simcoe, near Barrie, which he managed for three years.

During the late '70's and early '80's, Andy recalls some great times with fellow Irish golf professionals from Southern Ontario. Names that included Fergie Gallagher, Ian Clarke, Tony Curtin and Gary Menaul. Each year at Uplands G.C. they would play The Catholics vs. The Protestants along with a roster of Orange and Green amateurs as well. The party used to go on for two days eventho' the tournament was only 18 holes. The craic was mighty.

His dream of owning his own golf course never wavered and in November 1985 he put together a deal to purchase Cambridge Golf Club, just outside Cambridge, Ontario. Andy and his wife Joan along with sons Gary & Terry have successfully managed and developed Cambridge Golf & Country Club over the last twenty years and have also been involved in the ownership of three other courses in Ontario as well as Royal Oak Golf Resort in Florida.

Never a man to rest on his laurels, in 1989 the Byrnes were involved in the purchase of "Killeen Castle", on 400 acres near Dunshaughlin in County Meath. The plan called for the development of a 36 hole residential community to include a Conference Centre. Having received the necessary planning permission and approvals they sold their interest when their vision of development strategies did not coincide with their Irish partners.

Back in the Land of the Maple Leaf, by 1998 the former soccer star from Donnycarney had purchased 65 acres in the City of Cambridge. He designed and built two nine hole courses open year round, complete with Clubhouse named Saginaw Golf Club. This development includes a nine hole par 3 and a regulation par 35.