Bermuda is one of the key players in the Caribbean region in terms of generation of golf centre revenue.

That is according to the KPMG Caribbean Golf Benchmark Survey, which was officially unveiled to delegates at a seminar held yesterday by Steve Woodward, local business co-ordinator at KPMG Bermuda and revealed that the average revenue of an 18-hole golf course on the Island is about $3 million.

The revenue, which comprises membership fees, green fees, food and beverages, pro-shops and other facilities, is significantly higher than the likes of South Africa ($1.3 million), Great Britain and Ireland ($1.3 million) and Western Europe ($1.6 million), but only one-third of the Middle East average ($6.6 million).

Membership revenue made up 39 percent of the total revenue of the country's golf courses, while green fees accounted for 24 percent, food and beverages 18 percent, pro-shops 18 percent and other facilities four percent.

The average initiation fee for a course in Bermuda is $22,000, almost double that of the Caribbean, which stands at $11,592, and much more again than Western Europe ($8,158), Great Britain and Ireland ($2,936), the Middle East ($1,469) and South Africa ($450). Initiation fees are often waived if a member buys a home at the resort, said Mr. Woodward.

Meanwhile, the average annual subscription fee for a golf course on the Island is $3,200, higher again than that of the Caribbean region as a whole at $2,244, but slightly lower than the Middle East ($3,762).

The green fees, however are very competitive, when compared to other Caribbean countries, with Bermuda coming in at an average of $108 for 18 holes, just above Jamaica ($105) and the other Caribbean nations ($102), but below Puerto Rico ($110), Barbados ($153), and The Bahamas ($172), and even the average Caribbean region ($123).

The average revenues per utilised round (The total value of services sold per round played) though is significantly up for Bermuda at $148 in comparison to the average Caribbean region ($105), Central Europe ($75), Western Europe ($56) and Great Britain ($44), but behind the Middle East ($159).

When it comes to operating costs, the Island averaged $3.7 million for 18-hole courses, with the average salary making up 55 percent of those operating costs, well above Europe (salary accounting for 30 to 40 percent of total costs), Great Britain and Ireland (38 percent), and ahead of the Middle East (52 percent).

Bermuda also reported the lowest number of staff members in the Caribbean at 34 people on average, below The Bahamas (40 people), Jamaica (57) and the average Caribbean region (45). This figure is also considerably less than that of the Middle East (188 people), but more than Great Britain and Ireland (21).

The report, which included eight courses on the Island, even revealed that each course in Bermuda possesses an average of 63 golf carts, costing $27 per round, more than the average Caribbean total, out of 40 courses, of 54 carts.

Each course averages 548 members, almost three times more than the average total for tourist resorts of 168, and above that of the Caribbean region at 376 per 18-hole course., averaging 23,077 rounds per year and 64 rounds on any playable day.

In terms of the future, only three Bermuda courses reported major capital investment planned for 2007, with the most significant being the multi-million dollar redevelopment project at Port Royal Golf Course, according to Mr. Woodward, with 63 percent of them viewing their future prospects as "excellent".