Bermuda may find itself with just one public golf course if plans to change Ocean View's status go ahead.

The Government run course could be put in private hands after members of Ocean View Golf Club expressed an interest in running it themselves.

That would leave Port Royal Golf Course as the only public facility, after St George's was closed last year to make way for the new Park Hyatt complex.

Members apparently decided on the dramatic course of action after being faced with an increase in fees that many found unacceptable.

Under Government proposals, a senior's yearly membership would have risen a massive 60 percent, from $780 to $1250.

Government are believed to be willing to listen to member's suggestions and a 30-day consultation period has begun with the proposed fee structure frozen until a decision has been made.

Discussions took place within the club at the beginning of the week about the idea, and at a meeting on Wednesday night with the Board of Trustees, it was decided to explore the plan further.

"It was decided that we didn't have enough information to make a decision straight away," said Ocean View Golf club president Alan Douglas said.

"A sub committee has been formed to look into the viability of running the course. And we have 30-days to investigate all our options before we have to make a statement of intent.

"It would only be a lease option if we did go down that route, obvioulsly buying the property is out of the question. And in the current economic climate, we're not even sure if leasing it would be viable."

Mr Douglas was quick to stress however that any plans were very much in their infancy, and any change in status was unlikley to effect people who wanted to just turn up, pay and play.

"It's all very hypothetical at the moment. No decision has been taken about how to proceed at this stage.

"We had a meeting where we wanted to gauge the feeling of the members on what they thought we should do going forward.

"But public course means government run, so If it's not run by the government, then it ceases to be a public course. However, it is highly unlikely to be handled any differently to the way it is run now.

"The old fees for the 2008/2009 year will stay in effect for at least 60-days, at which point the club and the Board of Trustees will sit down and discuss the options we have going forward."

While Ocean View members may yet escape the increase in fees, Port Royal members have been left disapointed in their battle to reduce the amount they have to pay.