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Golfers around Bermuda have been going through their own dry spell.

With both the St. George's and Port Royal courses out of commission it was a welcome sight when Leroy Burch teed off last Friday at Port Royal.

The golf course had a soft opening with nine holes now available for duffers and handicappers alike.

Andrew Brooks, director of golf at Port Royal, said: " There will be a proper full scale opening in late July. This is about getting the operation ready and it's about getting in the minds of people that Port Royal is back.

"This was a good opportunity to get the first ball struck back on the course.

The course has been closed since January of 2008 while it went through major renovations.

And while seeing golfers back on the course was a sight for sore eyes, so was yesterday's rain.

"We've been challenged by the weather. What's that done is effectively put us two weeks behind. We should have been fully ready by June for a full-blown schedule, because it's been so dry."

He said Port Royal's been saved by having their own plant.

"It's been able to supply us with our own water," Brooks said. "If we hadn't had that, we wouldn't be where we are now."

Having said that, Brooks said some golfers have commented that Port Royal is better than some of the other courses in Bermuda.

"They've said visually it's better than some of the other courses they've played and that's a good plus to hear."

He said the crew at Port Royal are "flat out" to make sure the grass comes in nice and green.

"With the growing in period, they're making sure it's getting water and fertilized. The programme is going to make sure it grows in right."

"I've seen the rain clouds out there and that's cheered me up even more. That will really spur it on."

He added it's on par to be ready to host the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in October.

"The PGA makes regular checks and is very happy with the proceedings."[[In-content Ad]]

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