St George’s Golf Course is now being maintained and independent general election candidate Kim Swan is hoping that means that a commitment to reopen the facility will be kept.In an e-mail to The Royal Gazette yesterday, Mr Swan said he was pleased to see the club being restored.“Whilst there remains much concern about the state of disrepair of the course — caused by years of neglect — now that the restoration project has commenced, the improvements are more noticeable in certain areas and greatly appreciated,” Mr Swan said.“Notwithstanding, it will take several months of meticulous maintenance to restore the course to an acceptable playing standard.”Mr Swan, a retired professional golfer, is seeking reelection as the representative for St George’s West and has been lobbying Government to reopen the course.“The current maintenance programme is a huge step in the right direction for the Town of St George — especially the many timeshare owners who purchased units at St George's Club when golf was on their doorsteps."Government made a Throne Speech commitment this year to set a firm date for the reopening of the facility which has been closed since Club Med was demolished in 2008.Mr Swan noted that the United Bermuda Party Government had built the course, which brought thousands of visitors to St George’s each month.And he noted that the Members Advisory Committee of the St George’s Golf Club had collected 400 signatures on an online petition supporting the reopening of the golf course.While the course is a Government facility, the club is owned by 1,700 timeshare investors.The MAC petition reads: “I am an owner of timeshare week/weeks at the St George’s Club on Rose Hill of St George’s. I unquestionably agree with the Honorable Kim Swan that reopening the government’s golf course in St George’s would be a positive and desirable move that would enhance tourism and help support a resurgence of the economy in the town.”Mr Swan said: "Now that the PLP Government has seen the wisdom of reopening the St George's Golf Course, the east end will again have a major amenity to market."He said that the facility could host a golf academy and “partner with a suitable national golf body in either Canada, USA or Europe to develop their talent in Bermuda during the winter months.”"This is but one example of the importance of advancing good ideas and keeping the issue in the forefront until it is realised by the powers that be."