During the 2011 ADM of the GUI (Connacht Branch), Leo Gardner was presented with the 2011
"He has been a lifelong member of his Club, and served the club as Captain (1980) and President (1998). He was also a Club Trustee for many years.
He was a driving force for the club in the 1970’s, when the club was homeless. He led the Nomads (as they became known) to win the Connacht Shield in 1977.
He competed for the club at many levels, playing off a Category 1 handicap for a prolonged number of years. He has won all major competitions in the Club, including Captains and Presidents Prizes, and was Club Golfer of the Year in 1984.
He was to the fore in the Club’s purchase of lands and development of the initial 6 holes at Palmerstown, which is now home to the club’s facilities (18 hole golf course, modern practice range and state of the art clubhouse)
He has always been a source of wisdom to club committees over the past number of decades.
He was his Club’s first elected member of the Connacht Provincial, serving on the Connacht Branch for 11 years. During that time he held the positions of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. He was Team Manager of the Connacht Boys Team which won the Boys Interprovincial Championships in 2001.
He also served on the GUI National Executive for 2 years.
His Club, Connacht Golf, and indeed Irish Golf have been very well served by this man. He is much admired and respected and his Club feels he is a fitting Nominee for this Award as it would correctly acknowledge a life of Voluntary Contribution to Connacht Golf and his Golf Club in particular;
Gentlemen, I am proud to give you Mr. Leo Gardner (Athenry) as a most worthy recipient of the 2011 Mayo Crystal Services to Connacht Golf Award."
