The evolution of golf in Bermuda

The Bermuda Golf Association has been exhibiting the history of golf in Bermuda over the years with the little known golf courses at Spanish Point and Elbow Beach being shown.

Along with how different courses have evolved, opened and closed and been redesigned.

However, the pace of change has been at the most blistering rate in the last decade. Ten years ago, when I first visited the island, there was only one real championship course, Mid Ocean, now there are three truly world class golf courses, being Tucker’s Point Club, Port Royal and Mid Ocean.

There is a big debate on which is the better course, Port Royal, now rivalling the other top two,  Mid Ocean having the subtlety in design and history, Tucker’s Point having the best vistas possibly in the world of golf.

Not to say the other golf courses are not worth playing.

Riddell’s Bay and Fairmont Par 3 are great facilities, as well as possibly the most fun golf course on the island, Belmont Hills.

The disappointments are the other two public courses on the island. Everyone thought St. George’s would have reopened by now, but various reasons have held that project back and it is hoped that will be redeveloped as soon as possible.

Bermuda has managed to price itself out of the market for local and tourist golf and it needs to reduce prices especially for locals, so that there is a low cost option for the average Bermudian to play golf, this would ideally be Ocean View as government already has a premium course in Port Royal.

The biggest problem is the closing of Horizons.

This means that there is not a suitable location for juniors and beginners to get into the game and have fun without venturing onto a full size golf course, (Even Fairmont Par 3 is too difficult for raw beginners). When I was a kid, I played in a big field for a few years, even cutting the grass to make my own green before I ventured onto a full-sized course. Hopefully Horizons may be able to reopen even just four to six holes would give kids somewhere to play.

Practice facilities in Bermuda were always going to be in limited supply with land in such short supply. However, the ranges at Ocean View and Port Royal lack cover from the elements or suitable areas to practice the other 60 per cent of the game, being chipping and putting.

New course

Even the big nets at Belmont are currently closed. I am sure that these facilities will be upgraded soon and we will have multiple locations for players to get both quality instruction and practice their game.

Finally there is the exciting proposition of a fourth championship course at Morgan’s Point, sadly this is unlikely to happen in the next few years as the site needs to be cleaned up before construction can even start.

Bermuda really has some fantastic golf courses and a rich tradition of playing golf, my hope is that it continues to grow and that a pathway is created for the average Bermudian to go from beginner to winner, I know that the various governing bodies in golf are working hard to ensure that golf remains one of biggest sports in Bermuda.