Port Royal and Ocean View, the two remaining Government-owned public golf courses in Bermuda, have undergone a rebranding exercise.

The Bermuda Government Golf Courses unveiled new logos for the two courses at Port Royal on Tuesday in advance of the start of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Thursday.

Kim Swan, the former chairman of the board of trustees in charge of the two courses, stated that the revamp was part of moves to advertise the venues to locals and the outside world.

“The ethos of the rebranding was to get the courses known as public courses, not only in Bermuda but around the world,’’ the professional golfer said.

“The only way they can be viable as public golf courses is if they get play, and there is not enough locally driven play to sustain them.

“Public golf can only exist if it’s sustainable. The difference between public and private golf is affordability. Where in the world can you go and play on a course that hosts the PGA Tour two days after the Tour’s been there and pay $150 to play?

“Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than anywhere in the world. We have seven golf courses on 21 square miles and we lost two.

“Fairmont Southampton Hotel, which opened two years after Port Royal, will reopen in two years and bring a lot more visitors to these islands, and we have to help bring in those visitors. They’ll find them in the summer, my challenge is for people to come to Bermuda in the winter to enjoy this beautiful country of ours.”

Andrew Trott, the Port Royal and Ocean View operations manager, feels that efforts are being made to get standards to internationally accepted levels.

“We want to get the service levels at both golf courses to the same level,’’ Trott said.

“We have launched a new website which incorporates both golf courses and unifies them a little bit more.

“Ocean view is a nine-hole course, and it’s the cheapest round of golf on the island with a driving range. We start there with the juniors and build up to Port Royal, which is a little bit more expensive, but still affordable for a regular golfer.”

The acting chairman of the board of trustees, Vincent Hollinsid, spoke of the work that has gone into the rebranding exercise.

“It is with immense pride that I recognise the work of our leadership team,” Hollinsid said. “They have worked tirelessly for the past ten months to bring fresh perspective, innovation, ideas and impetus in guiding us into the future.

“This team has shown that they are ready to carry forward the legacy we've built for golf while embracing the opportunities it brings.”