MOTHER NATURE, maintenance and money – the three main ingredients that will determine the growth and ultimate success of Port Royal Golf Course.

The same could probably be said for any major course anywhere around the world, but those words are particularly significant as the Government-owned Southampton lay-out undergoes re-construction.

Of those factors, only one is out of our control. We take what the Heavens give – rain, blow or shine. But on a sub-tropical island, although prone to devastating hurricanes, there's sufficient of each year-round to ensure that in the most part golf courses can be properly cared for.

And that immediately brings us to maintenance, the lack of which has led to Port Royal ridding itself of the glamorous reputation which it enjoyed several years after its opening in the early 1970s, a time when overseas observers regarded it as the best public course on the planet.

It was also at that time I had a chance to meet and become good friends with the charismatic Walter King, Port Royal's first manager.

He was immensely proud of the real estate over which he reigned. And he was even more proud of the Portuguese maintenance staff who worked day and night to retain Port Royal's image.

"If they ever left, I'd go too," he'd say. "It's the expert Portuguese workers who make this course what it is, Bermudians can't do this kind of work and they don't want to."

A controversial assessment, perhaps. Walter never intended to insult his fellow countrymen, he simply wanted the best for a lay-out which he considered better than the majority of private clubs.

As it turned out, within a few years he left, to be followed by Noel ('no-nonsense') Van Putten, whose strict disciplinary code sometimes aggravated members but ensured high standards would be maintained. Current PLP MP Zane DeSilva was once sent home by Van Putten because his Bermuda shorts were "too short".

Van Putten was to be followed by Max Atherden who in turn handed over the reins to the current incumbent Bill Pitt, and there may have been others inbetween, but through no fault of their own, Port Royal declined.

Its demise came about by poor maintenance which the groundstaff will claim resulted from the lack of proper equipment and insufficient funding.

Over the years it occasionally has been restored to pristine condition but even with the changes made to a number of holes, it never remotely resembled the day it was opened.

Now being redesigned at considerable expense, the question remains can it make the same impression as the 'old Port Royal'?

Those who played in an event earlier this week which allowed guests to survey eight of the first nine holes, will probably agree it's certainly on track to do just that.

New expansive tee boxes adding much-needed length to combat the technology which allows players to drive further than ever before, new greens planted with Tiff-Eagle grass which will make them faster and more durable, enlarged water hazards on the opening three holes, one of which is completely new, and an array of bunkers which add to the difficulty, are some of the more noticeable improvements.

As for the fairways, it's difficult for this player to comment as none of the balls leaving his club face on Wednesday actually found one!

But, even taking into account the torrential rain of late, there was enough to suggest that when the leading pros take on the course in the PGA Tour's Grand Slam later this year, by which time we've been assured all work will be completed, Port Royal will be ready for the challenge.

Naturally manager Pitt is excited about the revamp, explaining the spectacular back nine will match any stretch of holes anywhere around the globe.

While complaints have surfaced about the project running over budget, particularly during these tough economic times, that shouldn't have come as a great surprise.

The same could be said of almost every Government project over the past 30 years (some more shocking than others). Anybody constructing their own home, or renovating it, will have likely suffered that experience.

While it's taxpayers' money and has to be carefully spent, perhaps more important is not the money spent now but the finances made available after Port Royal re-opens.

Proper maintenance for what promises to be a magnificent facility will go a long way to restoring Bermuda's reputation as a tempting golf destination.

With uncertainty facing international business, more emphasis will have to be put on tourism and if somehow golf packages could be arranged to encompass Port Royal and the various private clubs on certain days of the week, that reputation would be further enhanced to the point that it provides substantial revenue.

The money splashed out now would certainly be money well spent.

* * * *

IT was no surprise that my old pal Mike Watson took exception to comments in last week's column.

But I'm sure I wasn't the only person in the running community who had to chuckle at the manner in which this self-described 'athletic great' signed his name in a contribution to Sports Mailbox this week – 'IAAF Qualified Coach'.

I look forward to another letter detailing his success in that department.

Less than a sentence, I'd guess.

– ADRIAN ROBSON