THE latest chapter may signal the end of the book on Bermuda's hopes for another championship golf course.

As reported recently, Government have again rejected the plans of development group BEAM Ltd. who had hoped to make a new 18-hole lay-out the centrepiece of a residential and marina complex on what was formerly the US Naval Annex in Southampton.

Now some six years after the proposal was first tabled for a course that developers promised would match the best in the world, it appears the project is dead and buried.

Alan Burland, head of BEAM, was remaining tight-lipped this week and it wasn't known whether he and his partners would attempt to continue negotiations with Government, having already ploughed several million dollars into the scheme. But if he doesn't, it remains doubtful that any other consortium will be willing to step forward with a similar proposal, given the long and controversial history of the former Baselands.

BEAM, who back in 1997 secured the services of top American golf architect Tom Fazio to design their course, were originally one of five groups who submitted tenders for the land development.

But they were eventually pipped by Morgan's Harbour Investment Limited who claimed to have invested some $4 million in their plans before Government pulled the plug on that proposal which also included a championship golf course, originally to have been designed by Jack Nicklaus.

That move opened the door again for BEAM, who up until last month appeared to be close to signing a deal with Government.

However, they too now appear to have been dumped.

Hazardous waste left on the land vacated by the American military has always been a major stumbling block in attempts to bring any of the plans to fruition, although the reasons for Government's rejection of the BEAM plan still weren't clear this week, Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott having yet to explain his decision.

But it now seems clear that the island, whose long-time claim to golfing fame has been more courses per square mile than any other country in the world, will have to continue its promotion as a golf destination for some years to come with exactly what it's got.

And to be fair, that's not altogether a bad thing. Huge strides have been made in improving the product since the idea of building a ninth course was first suggested back in the mid '90s.

Tucker's Point (formerly Castle Harbour) has been totally revamped, Belmont will re-open with an impressive new lay-out some time next year and Mid Ocean Club are in the process of rebuilding all of their greens. On top of that, all three of Bermuda's Government courses - Port Royal, Ocean View and St. George's - are in much better shape than they were a couple of years ago following a determined effort by the trustees to upgrade facilities.

Given the dramatic decline in tourism, some might even question the wisdom of building another course at this time.

And there were many originally opposed to yet another golf course on what is likely to be the last large tract of land made available for major development who will no doubt welcome the latest turn of events.