week and looks set to shake up this area of the Island's golf retail business.

Golf equipment manufacturer Spalding's claims that the Top-Flite `MAGNA' series will "revolutionise'' the game proves to be true, scores around the Island's courses could soon start tumbling.

The secret of the new ball lies in the fact that it is slightly larger and softer than other golf balls, and spins less, helping to reduce hooking and slicing -- the bane of many a casual golfer.

The ball is expected to be particularly useful in counteracting the blustery conditions that all-too-often hamper local golfers.

"It is the first-ever `performance' golf ball developed specially for the casual golfer,'' said Spalding president George Dickerman.

"This ball will allow the casual golfer to hit it longer, straighter and softer than any other golf ball on the market. It will change the game of golf forever.'' The MAGNA series combines a soft 1.545-inch core with a thick Zylin cover and is available in three dimple patterns and trajectories.

Spalding's director of golf ball marketing, Mr. Mike Ferris, added: "According to our testing of more than 1,000 golfers, MAGNA outperformed every other competitive golf ball on the market.

"It was very interesting during our machine testing that as we reduced swing speed, MAGNA's lead in both distance and accuracy widened even further over other balls. You can play this ball at least one or two clubs less into the greens.'' The new balls, which have been approved by the United States Golf Association, have just been shipped to the Island and are currently available from Sports R Us, on Church Street, Hamilton. They are expected to be on offer at other local sports shops soon.

Not one to believe the publicity without trying the product himself, Sports R Us manager Daren Mayeaux immediately dashed off to the driving range to test out the product for himself.

With a handicap which fluctuates between 15 and 18, Daren is the sort of hit or miss golfer the MAGNA ball is geared to help.

"They are tremendous balls which lived up to all expectations,'' he told the Business Diary . They did everything that was expected.

"I personally normally have a hook. I deliberately played hooks and fades just to see what happened and found that, with the new ball, it was much harder to do either.

"I also found that the spin ratio on this ball is so minimal that the wind does not affect it as much which, in Bermuda, is a God-send. I believe this is a major breakthrough.'' * * * In a US civil lawsuit, brewing company Miller has accused rival Anheuser-Busch of preparing an advertising campaign that infringes on Miller's description of its Lite brand.

The case centres around a newspaper article in which Anheuser-Busch officials were quoted as saying they were developing advertisements containing the line: "Less filling like a Light with more great taste.'' Miller claim that's too close to the trademark-protected "great taste, less filling'' slogan the company has used for Lite beer since 1978.

The suit is intended "to prevent Anheuser-Busch from stealing what obviously is a well-established, successful and memorable tag line,'' she said.

The suit requests a court order against any slogan that is similar to the Miller slogan.

* * * Mr. Michael J. O'Brien, senior vice president and manager of the gas petrochemical division of Johnson & Higgins, is the guest speaker at a Bermuda Insurance Institute luncheon on Wednesday, March 17, at the Princess Hotel, Pembroke.

Mr. O'Brien will be talking about `Industry Groups -- Their Needs for Global Capacity'.