PGA give Port Royal the 'thumbs up'
By Colin Thompson
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On course: The Minster of Tourism, Premier Hon. Dr Ewart Brown at Ocean View Golf Course to encourage the use of the golf course and to discuss the PGA Grand Slam.
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Photo: Glenn Tucker
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Port Royal Golf Course, the venue for October's PGA Grand Slam of Golf, has been given the 'thumbs up' by the PGA of America who remain optimistic restoration of the Government-owned facility will be completed before the June deadline.
Roddy Carr, the man instrumental in helping to bring the Slam to Bermuda's shores two years ago, told reporters at a press conference yesterday that PGA of America officials had nothing but "praise" for the "extreme makeover" of the Robert Trent Jones sr-designed golf course which is to host its biggest tournament since opening for business over three decades ago.
"The US PGA were here last week for their first and full survey of the golf course and the facilities and were absolutely thrilled by what they saw.
"They could not believe what had happened in terms of the extreme makeover as I call it," he said.
"The course, designed by one of the great architects, Robert Trent Jones sr, has been completely and utterly upgraded into a modern day facility.
"All the original assets of the golf course, the beautiful views over the ocean have been put back, the greens remodelled and we have also added 400 extra yards so it will be the longest course in Bermuda.
"At the end of the visit they (PGA of America) had nothing but praise about the state of the course and reckoned it will be one of the greatest challenges for the Grand Slam since it started about 12 years ago."
Since 2005, Carr has served as Government's golf tourism consultant and has been tasked with establishing Bermuda as a premier golf destination in the world and boosting annual revenue from golf tourism from 19 to 40 million over a five-year period.
Among those inspecting the Southampton golf course last week was David Charles who is senior director of championships at the PGA of America.
"We had an opportunity to review the course construction and are pleased with the progress of the golf course," he said.
Also satisfied with the steady progress being made at Port Royal was Premier Ewart Brown who described the Southampton venue as a "gem".
"Soon golfers everywhere will appreciate what many of us in Bermuda have long believed about Port Royal – the course is truly a gem," he grinned. "It is good to hear the PGA of America's endorsement because its knowledge base of the world's finest golf courses is unmatched."
The Premier also announced the 2009 PGA Grand Slam of Golf Executive Committee that now comprises general chairman Leon Nearon, vice-chairman, administration Geoff Piggott, executive vice-chairman, operations Andy Burrows, Port Royal general manager Bill Pitt and Port Royal director of golf Andrew Brooks.
Each year the PGA Grand Slam of Golf is contested by the four eventual winners of the Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championship.
Ryder Cup player Jim Furyk, a replacement for Tiger Woods who was unavailable, defeated 2008 British Open champion Padraig Harrington in a two-man play-off to capture last year's Slam at Mid Ocean Club.
