IF NEW tourism minister Wayne Furbert wants to examine the enormity of his task, he need look no further than this week's Goodwill golf tournament.Once one of the most popular international sporting events on the Island, and in numbers one of the largest, its gradual decline may have reached a new low this week.The downturn in the economy coupled with the expense of getting to and staying in Bermuda has resulted in only 46 teams entering the competition, many of them including local players to fill the shortfall of overseas team members.Several could manage only two amateurs accompanying the pro.A year ago the writing was the wall with just over 60 entries in a tournament which during its heyday saw between 80 and 100 teams. Even a few years ago when the recession began to kick in, there were several more than competing this week.For the first time in the tournament's history this year is the 59th edition only two courses are being used on a single day.Previously, four of the Island's courses had to play host every day in order to accommodate all of the teams, each playing a different course.This year, Riddell's Bay and Port Royal were utilised on Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday and today Mid Ocean Club and Belmont Hills entertained the players.On Wednesday, the rest day, all four of those clubs reduced green fees to $80 in order to give the visiting players an extra round at a relatively cheap price.The one exception was Tucker's Point who demanded a green fee of $130.While they weren't one of the clubs chosen for the event, it was hardly in the Christmas spirit that they decided to charge $50 more than the rest, particularly as their 18-hole lay-out was the only one that the visiting golfers didn't get chance to play on this week.If we're trying to attract new visitors to an Island which believes it can still be considered a golfing destination, this was hardly the way to go about it.A reduced entry this week might be indication that our next international event, Race Weekend in January, will be hit just as hard.As has been said so many times sport, in part, can be the catalyst to Bermuda's economic recovery.Maybe Mr. Furbert will bear this in mind when he begins to outline his tourism targets.He's faced with an unenviable job and attracting sportsmen and sportswomen won't be easy but it's an avenue worth exploring more than it has in the past.It's already been revealed that cost might be a factor when Bermuda host the 2013 Island Games when 1,500 athletes could fly in, as opposed to the 3,000 who competed in the Isle of Wight this year.They, of course, could provide far cheaper accommodation and were more accessible to other islands.Isolated in the middle of the Atlantic, Bermuda's location will always be a sticking point as we try to put on more international events, and that's the very reason why extra effort has to be made to reduce costs.One of the reasons that Bermuda Football Association can't attract more overseas teams and are restricted to playing fewer internationals than their neighbours to the south is that there's not enough cash in the kitty. Twenty players and coaches on a plane doesn't come cheaply.The generosity of corporate sponsors have over the years allowed far more international events to be staged here than otherwise would have been possible. But as they tighten the purse strings, it's difficult to imagine they'll continue to donate.Somehow Government will have to try to fill the void and while it will be diffcult it should be high on their priority.The Goodwill this week has sent out a stern warning. We're no longer a golfer's first choice when he or she attempts to combine vacation and tournament play.More incentives have to be created to bring in not only golfers but for those who compete in a variety of sports.Goodwill players used to provide a reliable advertisement for Bermuda golf.But there are not too many left.- ADRIAN ROBSON