Greenkeepers from Port Royal Golf Course are to bring back seeds of expert knowledge from tending to PGA championship courses in the US.

Three Bermudians hope to use their experiences of PGA Championship and US Open fairways in their preparations for Port Royal's first international tournament.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf takes place at Port Royal Golf Course from October 19 to 21, and maintenance staff are currently putting the finishing touches to the South Shore course and facilities.

Anthony Burchall, Hutson Carter and Melvin Smith are part of a team of 30, 25 of whom are Bermudian.

The other five members of staff include Superintendent Steve Johnson and the four former Guantánamo Bay detainees, Uighurs Khalil Mamut, Abilikim Turahun, Abdullah Abdulqadir and Salahidin Abdulahat.

On Thursday, Acting Minister of Tourism and Transport Derrick Burgess said Mr. Burchall was already putting his "invaluable experience" to good use.

Mr. Burchall travelled to Bethpage Black, New York State, in June to observe crews preparing for the US Open.

Yesterday Mr. Carter and Mr. Smith set off to the Hazeltine National Golf Course, Minnesota, to assist in the preparations for the 2009 PGA Championship the winner of which will make the fourth person to play in the Grand Slam.

Mr. Burgess said: "They will have the invaluable experience of learning firsthand from a team of experts who know what professional championship golf is all about.

"They will learn how to prepare the golf course for large galleries, a big television production and the best players in the world.

"This is significant, of course, because Port Royal is preparing for its own international golf event in October. The PGA Grand Slam will attract thousands of fans, television audiences in 100 countries and four of the year's best golfers.

"The golf course will be ready… and now I'm pleased to say our maintenance staff will be ready as well.

"When Mr. Carter and Mr. Smith return they will teach their colleagues on the ins and outs of course maintenance for major championship golf."

Mr. Burgess, Works and Engineering Minister, said: "If we are to maintain our fantastic new golf course at world class standards we must ensure our people are properly trained.

"Collectively, these men and their colleagues are very important to Bermuda's future as a premier golf visitor destination. Already we are moving in the right direction 25 out of 30 workers on the Port Royal maintenance crew are Bermudian.

"In my view, that is something to be truly proud of."

Government MP Zane DeSilva, on behalf of the Board of Trustees for public golf courses, said: "We remain committed to building staff at Port Royal, for them to be as spectacular and as genuine as the course itself.

"The staff have done a magnificent job in the short period of time. And they also have the applause of Government for having the drive to improve."

Asked what final stages remain in perfecting the course ahead of the PGA Grand Slam, Mr. DeSilva said: "It's just growing-in, making sure the grasses are growing as we expect.

"There is also 'rough' around the edges, but with a little help from Mother Nature and from the staff and Mr. Johnson, we have every confidence that when the time comes, the course will be magnificent."

It is understood senior officials at Port Royal have worked closely with PGA of America officials to create opportunities for Bermudians seeking to enhance their expertise in the golf industry.

Port Royal was officially opened last month after an 18-month, $14 million makeover.

This included re-routing two holes, creating new bunkers, a computerised irrigation system, and the planting of TifEagle on redesigned greens.

Bermuda Cedar trees also replaced Casuarinas and the course was lengthened to 6,842 yards the longest on the Island.

Greenkeeper Melvin Smith said yesterday: "This is the first time I've worked on a reconstructed course. There are many challenges but I'm enjoying it very much."

Tickets for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf are available at: www.PGA.com.