The Premier officially opened Port Royal Golf Course last night and hailed it 'one of the best public golf courses in the world'.

And Dr Ewart Brown predicted that golfers from near and far would come to play the course once they had seen it when the Grand Slam is televised later this year.

He also challenged anyone to call the course 'dull' an accusation that was levelled at Port Royal before its renovation.

"The remake of Port Royal is more spectacular than even I imagined," said Dr Brown, "and that's saying something.

"One of the criticisms from golf visitors (in the past) was that our courses were dull.

"When I first became Tourism Minister I can't tell you how many times I heard that awful word.

"But now, have them stand on the eighth green lining up a putt against a canvas of turquoise blue ocean. The word dull doesn't come to mind.

"When I look out toward the Atlantic Ocean I see what is, without a doubt, one of the best public golf courses in the world....and it belongs to all of us.

"That is something truly worth celebrating."

Guests from around the world attended the opening ceremony, with basketball legends Julius Erving and Bill Russell among the crowd.

And according to Dr Brown, their presence, and susbsequent TV exposure will see visitors flock to the Island to play the course.

"These distinguished guests are symbolic of the kind of draw Port Royal will be for our tourism industry," said the Premier.

"We want the world to come and see it, we want the world to come and play it."