WITH tourism showing few signs of revival, golf does it bit in a big way next week to help revive the flagging arrival figures.

More than 400 golfers, family and friends will invade the Island for the annual Goodwill tournament which appears close to recapturing the kind of popularity it enjoyed back in the 1980s and early '90s.

Organisers Alex Madeiros, Rebecca Marsh and Eardley Jones, who took over the reins from long-serving tournament director Muriel Parker last year, have enticed an entry of 93 teams - 22 more than a year ago.

Indeed, it's the biggest Goodwill entry since 1995.

Armed with some different ideas, a slightly new format and a few added incentives, the organising trio are hoping that the team event over four days, starting a week on Monday, will reignite enthusiasm for a tournament which over the past 50 years has probably done more than any other to establish the island as a golfing destination.

With Belmont still under construction, club teams - the majority from the US east coast - this year will play 18 holes at Port Royal, Mid Ocean Club, Riddell's Bay and Tucker's Point, competing for both net and gross awards.

But under the new format, the one-day professional-only tournament, traditionally held on the Wednesday, has been scrapped and instead the club pros will chase a cash purse via a four-round stableford competition held in conjunction with the team event.

Another change in this year's event - jointly sponsored by the Department of Tourism and XL Capital - will see shotgun starts on each day at all four courses, allowing daily prizes to be presented immediately after play.

Belmont pro Madeiros, whose preparation for the event was interrupted when he underwent an emergency appendicitis operation over the weekend, admitted there had been some heavy canvassing in recent months to help lure back many of the American and Canadian clubs who had disappeared from the entry in recent years.

"The whole team has been working really hard to make this tournament a success," said Madeiros, seemingly recovered from his weekend ordeal.

"We've been trying to get as many teams as possible. I even went away to New England to do some promotion there, especially for that purpose.

"I stayed with Joe Carr (professional at the Bedrock Golf Club) and we met a few people and discussed the tournament.

"So what we're seeing as a result of that and the work that Rebecca and Eardley have been doing is a lot of teams who haven't competed in the Goodwill for a long time but who now want to come back.

"We haven't seen 90 teams since 1995, so it's a big increase on recent years."

Explaining the changes, Madeiros added: "We've scrapped the pro tournament as such. But what we'll have is four-day pro stableford.

"What we're going to do on the Wednesday is give everybody the day off and let them enjoy Bermuda. The stableford will be incorporated in the main event itself.

"Every day will be a shotgun this year. Hopefully, all the teams will finish around the same time, the idea being that after the round players can enjoy a light lunch and we can give out the daily prizes.

"We're hoping to increase the camaraderie and encourage all the players to mingle after their rounds."

Added to the social calendar also will be a show featuring Chicago trick shot artist Peter Longo, who will perform at the Southampton Golf Academy on the Tuesday evening.

"It's a fantastic show, and we're hoping that not only the Goodwill players but the general public and their family and friends will come out to watch," added Madeiros. "Admission will be free."

Looking ahead to next year, when Belmont is expected to reopen, Madeiros admits the tournament could have an embarrassment of riches as regards courses available for the Goodwill.

"I guess we're going to have to sit down and talk about that. But there are so many options we can take.

"We could just put the courses on rotation and every year use a different combination, but that's something we'll have to discuss."