Andrew Brooks believes golf in Bermuda is as affordable as it should be, and adequately caters for players from all social backgrounds.

In a two-part interview the director of golf at Port Royal gave a frank assessment of the realities of running a golf course in the current economic climate, and outlined a vision for a positive future for the sport in Bermuda.

Labelling claims that his course is losing $30,000 a month, as some sources have claimed, as 'untrue', he nevertheless conceded that it had been a tough winter for golf in general. However he believed the sport will recover, and has the figures to prove it.

"Those figures are untrue," he said, "all this about us losing money is nonsense, these figures get bandied about all the time. Yes, it's been slow, but it's on the up.

"The business is running along nicely, we are meeting the demands we have to meet as a business, and the future is looking bright.

"Are people playing as much golf at the moment? The answer to that is no, people are not playing as much golf. And you know what, if you're a young guy, you've got a family, you have to make a living, you have bills to pay, your disposable income is less, there is no two ways about it.

"The number of rounds in Bermuda are down, and there are the two sides to the coin, the local market, and the overseas market. I can tell you that our forward bookings for 2010 are up considerably on the last couple of years. We've got x-number in, and they are coming in day by day.

"If you turned around to me and asked 'is Port Royal having a hard time', I'd say it's not. January and February, yeah we're down, everybody is down, the answer to that question, weather. The make-up of what's happened, with the downturn in the economy, and the bad weather we have had, people haven't been going out."

There have been suggestions that part of the reason people haven't been playing is because the cost of golf has risen to the extent that it has become unaffordable for a lot of people.

Ocean View currently charge $85 for an 18-hole round, cart included, while Port Royal's prices see a local paying $130, and that cost will fall to $99 next week as part of the course's March Madness promotion, with seniors paying $65.

"I don't agree (that people are being priced out of the market)," said Brooks. "I think . . . it's like going into a supermarket, and you have top brands, and lesser brands, a cheaper end and a higher end. I think Bermuda offers both ends of the spectrum. You can go and play Ocean View, at $85, you can play Fairmont Southampton, which is a great par-three course for $85 with cart. If you look at that, that's one end of the market.

"Is that a lot of money for a round of golf? In the current climate, I don't actually think it is, I think it is value for money. I think what some people are asking is 'is golf getting out of reach of the average guy', my answer is I don't think it is.

"I don't think it (golf) is over-priced, but I think it has to be watched though, I think it's got to be controlled, because you do want to attract people to play golf. You don't want people not playing, and it should be made available for all. I'm all up for that, I want juniors to come and play, I want the seniors to enjoy their golf, and I certainly think some of the memberships are well within the reach of the general public in Bermuda."

For Brooks the real issue is for people to take a realistic look at golf, and the costs concerned in providing a leisure activity that is a non-essential item.

"Some things are more expensive than others, and you cut your cloth accordingly. You can have them, or you can't, but as long as the price is available, which it is, then that is what matters," he said.

"The thing that has to be looked at, with running all these golf courses, there is a cost. And that cost has to be covered. What is golf? Golf is a leisure activity that people can get involved in, but it is a lifestyle.

"It's about enjoying yourself, but that has a value, and that value obviously needs to be met. The flip side of the argument, is, are the costs realistic of running the golf course and yes they are, because everything has to be imported. Fertilisers, sand, everything, and there is a cost to those products.

"If you want the product to be a quality product, then you are going to pay extra. You've got to meet the demands of the public, and the visitors. As a public course/resort course, we have to play both sides of the coin, we have to look after the locals, and look after the visitors.

"We want a top line product. You don't want to be going out playing a course where the bunkers aren't any good, the greens are long. You want a good surface. If you don't, go and pay your $80 and play somewhere which isn't quite as manicured, and doesn't look quite as good. You get what you pay for."

Still Brooks and the golf trustees aren't totally unaware of the economic difficulties that people are facing, and the March Madness promotion reflects that. As well as the drop in the cost of a round, there will be a new membership offer which will allow people to pay the $4,700 fee, which includes initiation, monthly.

"I think what you get for that is value for money," said Brooks. "The numbers don't work against the public, and it's a lifestyle thing as well."