The Bermuda Tourism Authority expects overseas golfers to pump $1 million into the Island’s economy over the next ten months.

Unveiling its 2015 Golf Tourism Strategy yesterday, the BTA said that it expected the various events over the year, attracting nearly 1,000 golfers, to contribute to more than 4,000 hotel room nights.

Overall, the BTA expects to plough some $150,000 into golf events this year, with officials saying they are confident that taxpayers will receive a significant return on that investment.

The authority has scheduled new events during the slower months of the year “by design”, with a view to creating demand for Bermuda as a “year-round destination”.

Christine Langford’s customers certainly play golf on the Island year-round.

The UK professional, who brings the Women and Golf Bermuda Trophy group to Bermuda every year, is back again this month with a new tournament, the Talleton-Bermuda Pairs. Like the Women and Golf event, Ms Langford is hoping her latest venture will grow just as steadily.

“In 2012 we had 40 ladies playing in the Bermuda Trophy, and five of them came from Uganda, flying 22 hours to get here. They love every minute of it,” Ms Langford said. “Last year we had 56 ladies from seven countries representing about 30 different golf clubs. We’re spreading the word.”

Ms Langford acknowledged that even two years ago Bermuda was not seen as an obvious golfing destination for people coming from the UK and Europe, but that attitudes were changing, and she placed much of the credit for that with Bermuda and its people.

“It’s a long-haul flight, which takes a bit of selling,” Ms Langford said. “But the great venue, the hotel, the place and mixing with the locals make it a very easy repeat sell.”

Pat Phillip-Fairn, the BTA’s chief product and experiences development officer, highlighted a series of golf events for the year, pointing to the Bermuda Collegiate Invitational as an example of what the BTA hoped to achieve and how it may be expanded to other sports.

Eight NCAA Division III colleges will send teams to play in the tournament at Port Royal Golf Course and Tucker’s Point Golf Club at the end of next month during spring break. As well as the players, families and friends are expected to visit the Island.

“In fact, if this year goes well with the men’s teams, the ladies’ golf teams are likely to be here in 2016,” Ms Phillip-Fairn said.

“But this strategy applies not only to golf. We figure why not spring break lacrosse or tennis or rugby? How about field hockey or track and field?

“This is the direction we’re heading as part of our multi-pronged effort to solve seasonality in the hospitality industry.” Later in the year, changes have been made to the Gosling’s Invitational and Bermuda Goodwill Tournament, which have been provisionally scheduled for December 2 to 5 and December 6 to 9. The BTA hopes that playing them back-to-back will encourage more golfers to play both events.

Outside of tournaments, the BTA highlighted the success of its Golf Around Getaway Package, which it said was providing nearly 1,000 rounds a year to the Island’s golf courses.

“To us, this signifies greater confidence among our stakeholders that golf tourism is heading in the right direction,” Ms Phillip-Fairn said.