Staff at Belmont Golf Club could be facing an uncertain future after learning that the course could be closed down for redevelopment.

The Royal Gazette understands the new owner Richard Halsey, who bought the Warwick property this summer, hopes to refurbish and improve the course next year.

Insiders last night said the 12 or so staff were told by management yesterday. However, they said workers had been told that nothing was yet final and no decisions had yet been taken to definitely lay off staff.

The matter was to be discussed by the committee and members were to be informed, they said.

The source said: "Basically, staff have been told that the golf course is going to have a redevelopment, which may mean that it will close. It all depends on how they want to do it.

"I think there are lots of maybes. It may close and staff may lose their jobs. They probably wanted to tell staff before members were told. Things are a little uncertain.

"But I think everybody is happy. It will make it (the course) better."

However, when The Royal Gazette visited the club last night nobody would comment on the situation.

Attempts by the newspaper to make contact with management or the hotel's public relations officer, Gordon Slatford, to obtain further details last night failed.

Yesterday's winner of the Belmont Invitation Championships at the club, American Tim Conley, praised staff at the club, particularly golf professional Alex Madeiros, and said he hoped they all managed to retain their jobs.

He said: "I understand Greg Norman is re-designing the golf course.

"Some people on the course were explaining 'this is where the first hole will be, and so on', but I don't know much more than that.

"Personally, I think there needs to be a few hole changes. I don't think anybody in Bermuda likes the 18th hole."

Mr. Conley said he did not know whether or not staff would keep their jobs.

He added: "I think Alex has done a great job. I have heard nothing but great things about it (the club).

"I don't know what happens here, but where a golf course in the US is under construction, you still keep your staff. They know what they are doing. You really don't need to be training new people. I certainly hope they don't change the staff at Belmont."