up to run all three.

Now Port Royal, Ocean View and St. George's will all be run by a single body, rather than three separate ones.

And Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge told the House of Assembly yesterday that the new system would not only be more efficient -- it would save cash.

He said: "One of the advantages of having this will be the benefit of bulk buying....this will afford us the benefit of effective savings.'' Mr. Woolridge added: "The three golf courses now contribute more than $1 million to the consolidated fund.

"This is an important business and I think it's fortunate Government has seen fit to own three golf courses on the Island -- it's good for business and it keeps green areas intact.'' Mr. Woolridge said the single board would have both links and house committees from each golf course under it.

The links committees will be responsible for grounds and maintenance and the house committees will take care of things like catering concessions.

Shadow Youth and Sport Minister Nelson Bascome told Mr. Woolridge that the special place of Ocean View Golf Course -- set up during segregation in Bermuda -- should be recognised.

He said young people coming into the game, especially after Tiger Woods shot to prominence, should be aware of the segregation which once operated, even on golf courses.

Mr. Bascome added that the professionals at all three courses "do an excellent job.'' But he said there was an enormous disparity in commissions paid and added he hoped "a reciprocal arrangement could be made.'' House Leader Reginald Burrows (PLP) said Bermuda had to cash in on its golf courses, especially as golfing on the eastern seaboard of North America was hit by winter, while the same period was Bermuda's off season.

But he questioned the lack of guaranteed tee times meant that all-in golfing packages could not be fully developed.

He added he had also received complaints about maintenance at Government courses -- and warned that needed to be addressed, although he conceded the public courses saw much more play than the private ones.

Former Works and Engineering Minister Leonard Gibbons agreed golf was very important "not just to our visitors, but to many Bermudians.'' He pointed out that Port Royal saw twice as many rounds being played in the average year as the private Mid-Ocean Club.

And he added that plans to set up sprinkler systems to nourish courses so they can be in top-class condition in the drier summer months were in hand.

The PLP's Paula Cox said in management terms, a single board of trustees was a good move -- but she urged "balanced representation'' on the new body and "representation of the community as a whole.''