IF CLEM TALBOT'S been striding into his Bank of Bermuda office every morning this week with a big grin on his face, then nobody will have been too surprised.

The man behind Bermuda's most successful charity golf event has every right to feel pleased with himself.

Ten years after organising a social gathering of golfers to celebrate his father's birthday, the event which now honours that late great entertainer, Ross (Blackie) Talbot, has mushroomed into THE tournament of the year.

Over two days at Riddell's Bay last week, some 400 golfers competed in four separate shotgun starts. And dozens more turned up at the crack of dawn in the hope of filling in for any late withdrawals.

Two-time US Open tennis champion Pat Rafter made an appearance, as did many of the high fliers from international business. And even film star Michael Douglas graced Friday night's presentation, dashing to Riddell's Bay directly from the airport.

Douglas didn't get to play, but schedule permitting he will next year, promising to bring with him other stars of stage and screen.

Yet, in keeping with Blackie Talbot's own spirit, it's unlikely the tournament will lose its common touch. Indeed it's been the ability of Clem and his committee to attract entries from all walks of life, crossing racial, social and other barriers, that has contributed so much to its amazing growth.

And if anyone questions that success, they need only look at the balance sheet. Prior to last week, more than half a million dollars had been raised for local charities. At the final count this year, another $170,000 is expected to be added to the kitty, a record figure for a single year.

"Everything exceeded our expectations," said an excited Talbot this week. "The tournament just seems to feed upon itself, it goes from strength to strength.

"Everybody seems to forget about their social or financial standing in the community, and goes out and enjoys themselves.

"This year, apart from Thursday afternoon, we had wonderful weather. I think my father must have had something to do with that - they were predicting all kinds of bad weather for Friday, but it was absolutely gorgeous."

With the 10th anniversary out of the way, Talbot is already looking ahead to next year and he confesses the magnitude of the event will necessitate some changes.

"We will probably have to look at hiring some professional assistance," he said. "The tournament has grown to such an extent that it's overwhelming the executive committee."

Of this year's return, Talbot said: "I'm positive we will exceed our record of $150,000 last year. I'm projecting that we'll probably raise somewhere in the area of $170,000 to $180,000 dollars. And that's a significant amount from one event.

"The corporate community have really embraced this event. We had executives playing for the first time, and they've said they want to be part of this next year.

"Even Michael Douglas told me: 'Clem, I like what you're doing. I'm going to bring some of my friends down next year so they can experience this atmosphere'."

For the record, overall victory went to the team of Douglas Hillen, Susie Elton, William Steade and Richard Munday who returned a net score of 16-under-par 54, edging on retrogression the team of Trevor Boyce, Richard Bartlett, Paul Cann and Edward Darrell.

Prior to the Talbot Tournament, it was the Island's juniors who occupied Riddell's Bay for three days as some 35 players - a smaller field than usual - competed in the annual Glidden Bowl, sponsored by Pembroke Paint Supplies.

Laura Robinson lifted the Girls' Open title, Jarryd Dillas the Boys' over-15, A. Osborne the Boys' 13-14 and Blair Marshall the Boys' 11-12.