Local golf professionals are angry and frustrated over the handling of appointments for top positions at the Government-owned Port Royal Golf Course, currently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation.

Andrew Brooks was officially named Golf Director at the Southampton course last week but it has since been learned the Englishman was approached about applying for the post early last summer – months before the job was actually advertised.

It's believed that Bermudians submitted applications for that post – one highly qualified in the golf business who sources say was never granted an official interview despite making several follow-up calls.

Meanwhile, it's understood as many as five Bermudian golf professionals have also applied for the vacant posts of head pro and assistant head pro at Port Royal since the advertisement was first placed last September, but not have received any response.

The issue was discussed at the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association's (BPGA) recent Annual General Meeting where several members expressed their disgust at the way they say local applications had been ignored.

And it's believed the Association have already or will be contacting Government's Immigration Department to discuss the matter.

After being given a list of questions with regards to the Port Royal positions, the Premier's Press Secretary Glenn Jones replied: "The Golf Courses (Consolidation) Act 1998 gives the Board of Trustees hiring power for the public golf courses. So there is no appropriate person in Government for these questions."

Jones referred the matter to Port Royal General Manager Bill Pitt who told The Royal Gazette: "Andrew Brooks was brought in by the Board of Trustees as a consultant for a two-year period. The post will be reviewed after that period, that's a matter for the Board.

"We did have two or three other applicants and we interviewed them. But the Board decided that Mr. Brooks was the best possible applicant. He's here to oversee the work at Port Royal along with the Board and other staff to ensure that Port Royal becomes one of the finest facilities in Bermuda."

Asked whether Brooks had been approached by the Board before the post had been officially advertised, Pitt said: "You'd have to ask the Trustees about that."

As for the positions of Head Pro and Assistant Head Pro, Pitt conceded that there had been several applications but as yet none had been interviewed.

"We're just not in the position yet to hire," he said. "We're trying to get the organisation and structure in place.

"It's a little while since we responded to the applicants but at the moment there's nothing for them to do. We will be contacting all of the applicants to see if they are still interested."

Highlighting Brooks' glowing resume, Government officially introduced him to the public last week although he had been working at Port Royal for several weeks.

A golf writer and television commentator, the 44-year-old had previously worked as director at the Marriott Tudor Park in Kent, England.

Premier Ewart Brown said: "Our ability to recruit someone of Andrew's calibre speaks to the high quality of golf we are creating at Port Royal. I think Bill Pitt (General Manager) and Andrew Brooks will lead Port Royal into a new era that will make the members pleased and the country proud."

Brooks has previously served as head pro at Woodlands Manor in Kent and the London Golf Club and also had spells working in both the Philippines and Vietnam.

However, Bermudian Anthony Mocklow, who many pros on the Island believe possesses similar qualifications, was apparently never seriously considered for the post despite forwarding an application.

Mocklow, who resides in England but was back in Bermuda for last December's Gosling's Invitational Tournament, couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.

But a BPGA source insisted yesterday he was not granted an interview.

After leaving the Island several years ago, Mocklow managed and helped design the 36-hole Warwickshire golf complex in the English Midlands which was considered as a Ryder Cup venue but has been eager to return to Bermuda for some time and told The Gazette several months' ago that he saw the Port Royal post as a golden opportunity.

He along with several others are still understood to be interested in the head professional vacancy but claim they have been kept in the dark since their applications were submitted.

"It sounds like they (Trustees) want another overseas pro," said one local professional yesterday. "It's another stitch up.

"Andrew Brooks is a great guy and well qualified and it would be nice to work with him. But the fact is that several Bermudian pros are out of work at the moment and it would be disappointing if one of them isn't given the job. But it isn't looking good.

"It's disturbing that Andrew was apparently approached last summer before the post was actually advertised."

That claim was confirmed on the European PGA website this week where Brooks was quoted as saying: "I played in the Bermuda Open as I knew someone who lived out there. As a result I made some good contacts and they called me in June last year to tell me there was a position available and would I be interested.

"It is one of my favourite places in the world and it is my dream job. It took me all of about 0.1 seconds to decide."

He added: "The Bermuda Government own the course and they put together a proposal to rebuild the course and bring it up to date. They have done that with $14.5 million and we are now at the back end of that.

"They brought me in as director of golf to oversee the launch and put together the infrastructure."

Brooks also confirmed he had been offered an initial two-year contract, terms which have also frustrated local pros.

A member of the BPGA said yesterday: "Why would a Bermudian want a job which only offers a two-year contract. We need more security than that.

"Maybe it's intended a Bermudian will work alongside him and then be promoted when he leaves. But that hasn't been announced."

Work at Port Royal, which staged an opening eight-hole tournament last month, is expected to be completed by June and be ready to host the PGA Grand Slam in October which has taken place at Mid Ocean Club for the past two years.