Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson is planning to host a celebrity golf tournament in Bermuda next year featuring actors Bruce Willis, Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone and Microsoft boss Bill Gates among others.

The Royal Gazette has learned the American actor -- whose most recent movie "The Long Kiss Goodnight'' is showing this week in theatres across the US and in Bermuda -- will be arriving on the Island this week to scout out courses for the tournament.

Peter Godber of the Montreal-based marketing firm Canadian Connection Sports & Entertainment which is promoting the tournament, said talks had been going on for some time about selecting a venue for the classic.

"The lush landscape of Bermuda provides an ideal setting for the Classic,'' said Mr. Godber who was last on the Island two weeks ago.

"This is an event which will capture three times the media attention as the Merrill Lynch tournament. Bermuda will never have seen anything like this.'' Also among the celebrities who have been invited are former US president George Bush and vice president Dan Quayle, actors Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Costner, Heather Locklear, Richard Roundtree, Cheryl Ladd, Don Johnson, and musicians Eddie Van Halen and Darius Rucker.

The tournament -- which has been labelled the most dazzling celebrity benefit golf classic of the century -- is tentatively slated for May 2 through 4, with celebrities and other guests scheduled to arrive on April 30.

Mr. Godber said Jackson's passion for the game and desire to assist charities were the driving forces behind the creation of the "highly-spectacular event'' which is expected to generate more revenue than the Super Bowl.

"Sam is ecstatic about this'' he added.

In addition to sinking millions of dollars into Jackson's favourite charity The Catalogue for Giving and a local charity yet to be chosen, Mr. Godber said the event was sure to be a media blitz for Bermuda.

International newspapers, magazines, and television stations are expected to converge on the Island. They include all of the American television networks; People, Rolling Stone, Golf Digest, and GQ magazines; and USA Today, the Boston Herald, The New York Times, and the Globe and Mail.

"As far as the marketing goes for Bermuda, the reach of this event will be phenomenal,'' Mr. Godber noted. The celebrity tournament will be shown across the US on a tape-delayed basis.

Locals and visitors will also get the chance to swing with Hollywood's elite.

"We have not come up with a figure yet for playing with the celebrities,'' Mr. Godber said. "But there will be a corporate rate, and an individual rate which is expected to be more reasonable.'' He also pointed out that the event, which he said has been fully embraced by local and overseas sponsors, will be "very accessible''.

While the celebrities main aim will be to raise money for charity, they will also enjoy a comedy benefit evening, a beach party, and a gala benefit dinner.

Among the list of corporate sponsors are Reebok Corporation, Kodak, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Warner Brothers, Planet Hollywood, AT&T, the Marriott Corporation and Delta Air Lines.

Local sponsors include the Bank of Bermuda, Bank of Butterfield, and Princess Hotels.

While preliminary discussions had been held with some Tourism officials, Mr.

Godber said he was looking forward to hearing more from Government.

When contacted, Tourism Minister David Dodwell said: "Obviously we welcome anything that brings people here.'' The idea of celebrities interacting with visitors was becoming increasingly popular, he noted.

"You have cruise ships which take sports stars out to interact with passengers,'' he said, adding that the Merrill Lynch Tournament now at the Mid Ocean Golf Club also attracted visitors.

"The idea of celebrities playing with visitors is good.'' Mr. Dodwell said while he was not familiar with plans for the upcoming event, it sounded appealing.

"I will encourage him to continue his dialogue with us,'' he said. "And we will do whatever we can to assist.'' Stallone Connery