ARCHITECT Algie Pulley might not be the best known name in golf.

But he might just be one of the most innovative.

What he's achieved in seven short months at Belmont is truly remarkable.

To the casual roadside observer, the Warwick course might still appear much like any other construction site - piles of dirt, patches of grass and, particularly after last weekend's deluge, plenty of puddles.

But a closer peek reveals a transformation that few Belmont members could hardly imagine if they didn't take a look for themselves.

Pulley, a member of the exclusive American Society of Golf Course Architects, appears well on his way to accomplishing what the sceptics said was virtually 'mission impossible' - turning, on what little land was available, a course that had never been described as one of the island's most interesting into a track so thoughtfully redesigned that it may yet equal the likes of Port Royal, Mid Ocean and Tucker's Point in terms of challenge.

Lack of real estate means that Belmont Hills - as it will be renamed - will never match Bermuda's 'big three' as regards length.

But the magnificent shaping and contouring of the greens, all 18 of which have been completely rebuilt and redesigned, a strategically placed lake and waterfall that brings three of those holes into play, and the imaginative placing of huge turf mounds which give the course a links flavour, will ultimately test all of the golfer's skills.

When all's said and done, Belmont - with equal outward and inward nines of par 35 compared to the old 34-46 - will still measure no more than 6,100 yards, almost minuscule compared with the monsters sprouting up elsewhere in the world.

Despite two par fives - one on either side - Pulley's intention was never to test the big hitter.

Belmont has always been about finesse rather than brute force, and thanks to some creative design work that will continue to be its trademark.

Yet members who expected no more than a few cosmetic changes are in a for a huge surprise.

Every single hole from the first - which now shares a mammoth 17,000-square-foot double green with the 10th - to the 18th where the old, sloping fairway has been levelled and reshaped, has been dramatically changed.

Some follow a similar path, others are completely new - one of the most interesting being the par-three seventh bordering the lake, another the eighth, now a long straightaway that also brings water into play.

Much of the heavy equipment work is already complete and now Mother Nature, so cooperative during the initial stages of redesign, must play her part as Belmont's owners target an opening date of spring/early summer.

By that time, new general manager John Mason believes Bermuda will have a new jewel in its collection of golfing masterpieces.

"Without doubt it's going to be a more challenging, more enjoyable course. Anybody who looks at what's been achieved already can see that," said Mason, the former golf director at Castle Harbour.

"It's target golf. That was pretty much determined in the beginning because we had such significant safety factors to address.

"The old course probably went as far as it could to address those safety issues. But with the machinery we have now, we have found ways to give safety to greens and tees that I don't think could have been done before.

"From a challenging point of view, I think every hole has merit and our last four holes will stack up against any four finishing holes on the island.

"Fifteen, 16, 17 and 18 are really challenging holes although basically they're playing in the same footprints, so to speak, as the old holes. But we have been able to increase the length on 17, 18 and 15.

"I think we have created some nice new holes. I think number seven is going to be a wonderful hole - a par three that's not short by any means. It's going to be a 150-180-yard shot to a green that's hanging on the edge of a pond.

"Then there's the other par three that's been created, number 11 - a really good uphill hole.

"There are so many things that have been improved. No hole remains as it was. In fact, I think every hole has improved dramatically."

Besides improvements to the course itself, much is planned for the surrounding area, not least a number of residential units and even a new, small hotel - providing planning permission is secured.

Demolition of the old hotel, however, has been put on hold as plans are drawn up to use much of that structure for a new clubhouse, golf shop, kitchen and dining room.

None of those facilities are likely to be complete by the time the course itself is ready to open next year. But former club members who respond to a new offer for membership by the August 31 deadline could be playing the new course by late spring.

As regards the opening, Mason says: "I think it would be terrible to take in a membership and have a course ready to play and keep it from them. We'll open the course as soon as it's ready to play, even if that means using a temporary golf shop."

Golfers who were not among the former Belmont membership but have shown an interest in joining the new club will be contacted next week.