The dismissals of several senior Port Royal Golf Course personnel this week is linked to the retention of Andrew Brooks as the director of golf, The Royal Gazette understands.Some staff members are said to have been unhappy with Brooks remaining in charge at the Government-run course, despite his contract ending in January.A merger between Port Royal and Ocean View Golf Club, the other Government course, is also believed to be in the works, a move that is said to have played some part in the sackings.In all 11 staff are understood to have been let go across the Government’s two courses in the past week. While some have been found other work within Works and Engineering it has been much harder to relocate senior employees such as general manager Bill Pitt, and teaching professional Judithanne Astwood.So far the Bermuda Public Services Union have declined to comment on the redundancies, although several of the staff are understood to have taken legal advice with a view to pursuing a claim for unfair dismissal.Originally employed on a two-year deal, during which he was tasked to train a Bermudian replacement, Brooks is believed to now be well into a three month temporary permit, his second of the year.Minister for Works and Engineering, Derek Burgess, is sticking to his policy of ‘not commenting on personnel matters’, while Nitin Aggarwall, the chairman of the Board of Trustees said: “It’s a difficult period for everybody and I’ve been told by the ministry to make no comment.”The matter has been further complicated however by the fact that a Bermudian, believed to be Alex Madeiros, the owner of To A Tee, Bermuda Ltd, applied for Brooks’ job when it was advertised in January.Madeiros is well-qualified for the role having been involved in golf on the Island for 20 years, during which time he has been director of golf at both Riddell’s Bay and Belmont Hills, as well as being managing director of Bermuda Golf Company which oversaw the running of St George’s and Ocean View Golf Clubs.More recently, alongside Brooks, he has been involved in helping Bermuda retain the PGA Grand Slam, and is well known as the man behind the Goslings Invitational and Goodwill Tournament.However, nearly six months later, Madeiros is understood to have heard nothing from Government regarding his application. When contacted by The Gazette, Madeiros also declined to comment.There is speculation that the delay is because Minister Burgess has yet to decide exactly what to do with the position of director of golf, and what role that person, whoever it may be, will take.Ocean View was put out for tender more than a year ago and, as yet, no decision has been made on who should actually run that facility. Madeiros is understood to have bid for that tender in his capacity as owner of To A Tee, while the Bermuda Golf Association and Port Royal also expressed an interest in getting involved.The dismissal of Ocean View general manager Marie Johnson, and administrative assistant Marie Burgess earlier this week is now being seen as a step towards combining the staff from the two courses.With Port Royal assistant manager Greg Maybury expected to take on some of Bill Pitt’s responsibilities there is a growing belief among the golfing fraternity that it is only a matter of time before the director of golf is made responsible for both –locations.The rumoured hiring of BGA president Nick Mansell, who has worked at both courses in senior roles, has only fueled speculation that this is the Government’s –ultimate aim.n Michael Sims shot a level-par 71 in the opening round of the Melwood Prince George’s County Open.Sims battled back from being four over after back-to-back double bogeys at 10 and 11, and went on a birdie blitz dropping four in his last six holes.