year.

And Bermuda needs a new 18-hole golf course with land at the US Navy Annex looking the favourite site.

A task force on sports also believes Bermuda should work to attract major sportsmen to the Island.

The task force was set up as part of the Commission on Competitiveness set up two years ago to look at how Bermuda can best deal with its economic problems.

It also looks into other sports and calls for changes in sports like fishing, sailing, diving and tennis.

In fact the task force, led by Mr. Jimmy Amos, believes sports can help to attract more visitors to the Island.

For example it states: "Bermuda could, through the sport of sailing, increase its visitor arrival and length of stay statistics considerably; perhaps even to the point where sailing could attract 40,000 visitors annually.'' Bermudian golfers and tennis players are told they must give way to visitors wishing to play, and special times must be set aside for visitors only according the task force.

The task force also recommends: "With the tremendous growth of golf, serious consideration should be given to constructing another 18 hole course.

"A number of years ago there was the possibility of expanding Ocean View to 18 holes -- that option is no longer available although improvements to the course and the construction of a new club house will make it a more attractive facility.

"The only land which will become available will be the acreage at the US Naval Operating Base Annex. The use of some of this land for another 18 hole course should be a priority in the discussion of use for this land.'' While golf does attract many players, the task force calls for ways to induce top players over.

It says: "We do not think that the cost of holding a major PGA tournament in Bermuda would be worth the considerable cost involved as it is questionable how many visitors would fly to Bermuda to watch golfers they can regularly see on TV.'' However it suggests the Ministry of Tourism should investigate sponsorship from TV companies for such events.

The task force states that sports fishing packages should be offered to visitors and that sport could be encouraged by visiting sports fishing writers.

In tennis it encourages sporting bodies to invites US and Canadian college teams to the Island, so people can see the stars of the future.

The task force has called for the setting up of a sponsorship and events committee to look at encouraging sporting events.

It has laid the groundwork for the return of the Bermuda Triathlon, the staging of a basketball game between two major NBA teams and the finals of the Merrill-Lynch Golf Shootout.