A COUPLE of significant developments in the past week could change the face of Bermuda golf.

But for better or worse?

One would like to think that the transfer of responsibility of the Island?s three Government-owned courses from the Ministry of Works and Engineering to the Ministry of Tourism would have positive results.

However, whether the deal struck by Fairmont Southampton Hotel and nearby Riddell?s Bay to share their respective facilities can work out to the benefit of all concerned is less clear.

As for the Government switch, any change might be seen as a change for the better.

While a lot of work and a heap of money has been spent improving the likes of Port Royal, Ocean View and St. George?s over the past decade or more, for an Island which prides itself on being a golf destination, it?s probably fair to say that none of those courses are the tourist attractions they ought to be.

Certainly Port Royal, once the jewel in the crown of Government golf, isn?t the same course it was when first built in the early 1970s and through the 1980s when it was widely revered as one of the best public lay-outs anywhere in the world.

For various reasons, greens and fairways haven?t appeared as pristine as they once were and the installation of a costly irrigation system, which has never been able to adequately service the course?s needs, wasn?t the panacea to all problems that the trustees envisaged.

While superintendents and greenkeepers have done their best to keep the Southampton track in presentable condition, ultimately responsibility for its upkeep has fallen at the feet of the Ministry and Works and Engineering, who some might argue haven?t done enough.

By switching custody over to a minister ? Ewart Brown ? who genuinely seems to understand the importance and significance of developing the enormous potential of sports-based tourism, the end result might be a better maintained course.

At Riddell?s Bay members have been told they?ll be able to receive discount rates for various Fairmont amenities ? restaurants, spa, golf course, etc. ? in return for accommodating hotel guests at their private club.

What in effect that means is that the course should become a whole lot busier, reducing significantly the number of tee times available to members.

Those members didn?t join a private club because they might be able to save a few cents at hotel facilities they?re unlikely to use anyway. They joined because of the privileges afforded by way of preferred tee times. And more than a few might not be so happy when they find their Saturday and Sunday morning slot has been snatched by a party of tourists.

But that?s a problem they were presumably made aware of before the deal was struck.

Of more serious concern is that the arrangement between the two parties almost certainly sounds the death knell for the Fairmont?s own 18-hole par-three course, one of the best of its kind to be found anywhere.

As previously reported, the hotel wants to destroy that course, reducing it to just 10 holes, to make way for a planned golf villa complex. And the deal with Riddell?s this week suggests that is exactly what?s about to happen.

With obvious financial benefits for both Fairmont and Riddell?s, both will argue it makes good business sense.

But at what expense?

Yet another huge chunk of Bermuda?s most precious commodity ? open land ? is about to disappear under bricks and mortar.

Ultimately more golf visitors, less holes to play.