Italian soccer legend Gianluca Vialli will be swapping footballs for golf balls when he arrives in Bermuda later this month.

For the former Chelsea and Watford boss will be playing a few rounds at Mid Ocean and Port Royal golf courses, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The visit is as a result of his membership of the exclusive organisation, The Finest Golf Clubs of the World, which is holding its Invitational tournament here.

"We are a club of the `good and the great' with a base at the Eden Club at St Andrews in Scotland," said spokesman James Deen. "Our members come from all parts of the globe. They are business people, entrepreneurs and other influential individuals who like the best that the world of golf has to offer.

"We host tournaments for our members and their guests at some of the world's greatest courses and this is our first trip to Bermuda. A number of important Bermuda-based people are members of the club."

Even if Vialli was not a celebrity through his footballing prowess he would not be out of place among the club's members as he is the son of a multi-millionaire industrialist and was brought up in a 60-room castle.

Those involved in the tournament will play a 54-hole stableford competition, beginning at Mid Ocean Club on May 12. Play then moves to Port Royal on May 13 and for the final round on May 14 players will return to Mid Ocean.

Vialli said he could not wait to get out on the course.

"Bermuda is one of my favourite golfing destinations and I am greatly looking forward to playing Mid Ocean and Port Royal again," he said.