British journalists came out swinging for Bermuda tourism after sampling five of the Island's top golf courses.

They returned to write several positive stories in the UK media, according to the Tourism Department.

In February, the UK/European branch of Bermuda Tourism arranged for five golf and travel journalists to come to the Island.

They tried their hand at five local golf courses ? Mid-Ocean Club, Tucker's Point, Riddell's Bay, Port Royal and the Fairmont Southampton.

The largest UK Press coverage featured two pages on learning to golf in The Observer, a daily UK newspaper with a circulation of 445,953.

Another two pages followed in Wellness Magazine (circulation 50,000) which is distributed to wealthy members of the UK's top health club chains.

There was also a six-page article in Golf International (circulation 36,890) and a full page on golfing in TTG(circulation 24,605), which is the UK's leading weekly travel trade publication.

"All of the guests said they thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Bermuda and the warm welcome they received, a fact that was evident in the positive articles written on their return to the UK," a Government spokesperson said.