East End residents can now enjoy more tee time with the announcement the St George’s golf course has been officially reopened to the public.The Bermuda Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday that residents and visitors can now walk through the property, take in the scenery or play golf “the traditional way” without carts for a minimal fee.The St George’s course was closed by its board of trustees in July 2008 after it was projected to lose more than $600,000 for the year ending March 2009. Government was allegedly still spending $150,000 to maintain the course more than a year after it had closed to the public.Yesterday Diane Gordon, the Chamber’s executive director said the motivation for opening the course was financial to keep costs to a minimum.It will be a joint venture with the Commerce, the St George’s Club and the Economic Empowerment Zone (EEZ).Ms Gordon said: “The St George’s Golf Course was a key element of the East End’s economic, sports and social scene.“The golf course closure translated into thousands of locals and visitors over the past three years not coming to the East End and East Enders travelling elsewhere in the Island to play golf.“St George’s needs the golf course to reopen. The hope is that this, along with several other projects, will build up the reasons to visit the Old Town and rejuvenate it by “rediscovering St. George’s”.She said the course would be temporarily in operation until the new Park Hyatt project moved forward. It could only be successful with the participation of every individual, she added.The Chamber’s project leader John Kyle said the original concept of a publicly accessible golf course was invented years ago on the east coast of Scotland at St. Andrews “the home of golf”.He said: “We thought it was a good way to reintroduce the game to the east end of Bermuda”.Ms Gordon added that the course would be maintained at a similar level to municipal courses in the UK.She said: “While we appreciate that it has been available at no charge for the past few months, we want to ask the general public to assist us with keeping the course open in a state that it can be enjoyed by all by following the rules and paying for the round before you play.“By doing so you will keep a few more Bermudians employed. If we can make it a success we may be able to take on some more people who currently do not have jobs.”Kim Swan, the former general manager and golf pro at St George’s Golf Club, said the simplified course model would keep operating costs to a minimum.“As a professional golfer I agree with the Scottish public golf course style pay and walk and feel that this will encourage locals and tourists to play. Particularly, those in the East End.”He said the temporary lease was in the “best interest” of the Old Town and would increase its marketability to tourists.The return of the property to its intended purpose meant residents would have to “readjust our habits and be mindful of flying golf balls”, he added.Some changes have been made to the course layout. The front desk area of the St George’s Club on Rose Hill will now serve as the club house.Parking will be at the tennis courts, with extra space at the old Oxford Laundry. Drinks and refreshments will be available at Griffin’s Bistro and Bar and Blackbeard’s Hideout, by St Catherine’s Fort.Green fees will cost $60 per person.Membership for the year is valid through June 30, 2012. Membership is $300; corporate membership is $1,000 and valid for five staff.Useful websites: www.stgeorgesclub.com; www.Tee.bm.