Come next June, the greens and fairways of Belmont Hills Golf Club will reopen to the public - and with Michael Sims as the club's touring pro.

Managing Director of the property, Kevin Petty, says interest in the entirely-revamped lay-out is already high with 165 members signed up.

“That's way more than we expected at this point. We're very happy with the response. We're sure everyone will be pleased with what we have done,” he said. “It's practically a new course.”

The new-look Belmont features 20 greens - two new practice ones plus the regular 18-hole course - which have been started “from scratch as well as reconfigured and sprigged fairways and new tees, all of which have been turfed.

A million-gallon lake has also been put in to supplement irrigation on the greens and fairways. There is a new teaching centre too.

“Mother Nature has to take over now. Hopefully most of the fairways will fill in - they already are - and the trees will start growing.

“Based on the reaction of many of our old members who have rejoined we find that they think it's a lot safer. We have planted more than 100 mature trees in areas that used to be unsafe,” said Petty, elaborating on changes at the Paget course.

Regarding Belmont's sponsorship deal with Sims - Bermuda's rookie golf pro now trying to break into the PGA Tour in the USA - Petty noted that “having Michael on board is an added attraction”.

“He is a young Bermudian who is beginning to make a name for himself on the Tour and having him join our forces is definitely a positive.

“When we decided to sign him we felt we would enhance our local membership by having him come to Bermuda twice a year to conduct golf clinics and be available to club members.

“Also, when he is competing in tournaments he will wear our new Belmont Hills logo on his bag as well as on his shoulder lapel.”

Sims' first engagement for the club is expected to be during December when he returns home for Christmas.

“We are excited with the long-term prospects of this relationship that we consider to be not only mutually beneficial to the two parties, but also in the interests of the representation and promotion of Bermuda in sporting events around the world,” said Petty.

In keeping with Belmont's high quality, the managing director disclosed that top-notch personnel will be on hand to service members.

“Members will see a connection between the old Belmont and the new one because we have kept some people who have great experience and who have been with us for many years, including our golf course Director Alex Madeiros, his assistant Gary Burgess, our golf course superintendent Joe Benevides and our accountant Debbie Ford. All of them have worked really hard in this transitional phase, getting things done on the course and with our membership recruitment,” explained Petty.

In addition, he announced that another member of staff, Brian Morris, would be returning from overseas in time for the reopening. At Belmont's expense, Morris is currently attending a one-year course at the Academy of the South Golf School in Florida.

“Our company's policy has been to promote local staff and develop their knowledge of golf course management and golf training methods. Brian's course will enable him to handle golf's dynamic environment in which teaching skills and methods are ever-changing. He is being exposed to the most modern technology.

“We look forward to his rejoining us and making a valuable contribution at Belmont,” said Petty.