Opposition MP and Shadow Minister of Sport Jon Brunson has called on Government to come clean over the possible closure of the St. George's Golf Course.

According to Ed Ball of the Bermuda Public Services Union, news of the possible shut-down of the course was broken to staff there during a Wednesday meeting.

Previously Minister of Environment and Sport Elvin James directed all questions over the matter to the Ministry of Tourism, saying, "I've nothing to do with that."

Government's lack of logic and reasoning behind the possible closure which would affect around 18 jobs indicates "disfunction" within Government's decisions, contended Mr. Brunson, of the Southampton West Central constituency.

"To me this is where the disfunction in Government is really highlighted," he complained.

"In that you have the Department of Tourism making a decision to close a sporting facility and then the Minister of Sports isn't aware of the reasoning or logic behind that — at least that's the way it appears to me.

"And this whole issue of cross-Ministry initiatives doesn't appear to be working because the right hand doesn't appear to know what the left hand is doing.

"I think the BPSU's comments are typical of the way this Government operates — they make decisions in a vacuum."

Wendell Brown, chairman of the trustees of the Island's three public courses, reportedly pledged at the meeting to assist affected staff in finding alternative employment.

There has been no official word on why or when the 18-hole course may close down, although the likely reason is a plan to redevelop it with a design by famed golfer Nick Faldo — part of proposals for the new Park Hyatt hotel slated for the Club Med site.

The Port Royal 18-hole course in Southampton is currently in the midst of a $14 million renovation, and is not due to reopen until January 2009.

It is possible, therefore, that locals and visitors will only have the nine-hole course at Ocean View to play an affordable round this summer.

Last night the Ministry of Tourism and Transport would only say that talks with trustees of the golf course had taken place, and an announcement would be made soon.

The Government spokeswoman said: "The Ministry can confirm that they have been in discussions with the trustees of the Government Golf Courses, with respect to the long term viability of the St. George's Golf Course.

"It is anticipated that the trustees will make a formal announcement in the days to come. The public is reminded that the Government golf courses are a Quango which, come under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Transport."

Opposition Leader Kim Swan opened the St. George's course in 1985 and has been closely associated with it since, including a stint as the resident golf professional.

He expressed fear about the impact of its closure on employees and golfers, believing one less golf course was a blow to Bermuda's tourism industry which relies on visiting golfers.

Furthermore, the possible closure fits into Mr. Brunson's recent calls on the floor of the House for the need of a national sports agenda, added Mr. Brunson.

"This is in part why I raised the motion which included equitable funding for all sports, because it seems like the whole sports initiative is disfunctional and there needs to be an overall strategy and that's what my motion spoke to."