A proposal aimed at giving MPs free access to Government-owned golf courses is a foul stroke, a Shadow Minister said on Wednesday.

And Opposition Works and Engineering spokesman C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said the idea should be bunkered as soon as possible.

Mr. Woolridge said three Government golf courses -- which come under the Works and Engineering banner -- were crowded enough already without MPs teeing off as well.

And he added that it was not a "fairway'' to treat the public -- who could turn green with envy if MPs were allowed the perk.

Mr. Woolridge said: "Government golf courses need to be maintained. Port Royal, for example, needs a new irrigation system which will cost around $2 million and the money has to come from somewhere.'' He added: "I've been an MP for 31 years and I don't think I should be entitled to play free.

"As a matter of principle, no Member of Parliament should be looking to get something free.'' But Golf courses chief, PLP MP El James, denied the idea would be a perk -- and insisted MPs' input into how to improve golf in Bermuda would be valuable.

A round of golf on a Government course costs around $60 or about $40 with a membership card which costs $120.

There are 40 MPs who would be eligible, plus eleven senators, although Mr.

James said not all of them were golfers and many would not take up any offer of free tee-offs.

He added: "It's one of the things we're considering.

Woolridge crys foul on golf `perk' "We figure it's a responsibility of the Government, of all of us, to do everything we can to improve our courses.

"When you look at the golf courses, we try to get as many independent looks at the conditions and if we can encourage people to do that, we can improve them.

"It's not a perk -- that's if it goes through at all. And if you look at it, it's not that many people who are involved.

"And if the only way to get them on site is to encourage them to play, then that would be good.

"And if you look at it, it's not many people we're talking about.'' Mr. James also stressed that the idea was only being "bounced around'' at the moment and may come to nothing.

Mr. Woolridge said: "Any of the 40 MPs can go and inspect golf courses and make any inquiries they want -- they don't need a free ride to do it.'' He added that one of the problems in promoting golf in Bermuda was that Island golfers tended only to be free on weekends -- making it difficult for visitors to get tee times, especially at Port Royal.

Mr. Woolridge said: "If we're going to extend these kind of perks, things will get even worse.

"And if MPs get free golf, we will have the taxpayer saying `I pay my taxes to help keep up the golf courses' and asking why they don't get free golf.

"This is a bad idea and I don't think this is something which should happen.'' C.V. (Jim) Woolridge