Crowds of golf fans descended upon the Mid Ocean Club yesterday for the Gillette Tour Challenge Championship.

And Government is confident Bermuda will reap a TV tourism boom on November 28.

Many of those among the sea of spectators which followed the eight golf playing trios through the Island's most pristine course were local fans, not visitors from overseas.

Those visitors that did attend seemed delighted by the spectacular weather and the presence of big golfing names such as Lee Janzen, Lee Trevino, Payne Stewart, Anneka Sorenstam, Hale Irwin and Nick Price.

And one man noted that he would definitely return to the Island next year in order to attend the tournament again.

The majority of overseas visitors at the event were employees of the sponsor Gillette, PGA representatives and members of the ABC network's production crew.

But from his position on the clubhouse balcony overlooking the 18th fairway and green, Tourism Minister David Dodwell justified the Department of Tourism investment of half its total golf budget of $1 million in the tournament.

"The biggest benefit Bermuda receives from this tournament is the prime time television programme ABC will air on November 28.

"That two hour show will be watched by millions of people. That is our justification for putting $.5 million into it.

"We are able to sell Bermuda during those two hours. We would never be able to buy that type of advertising time.'' The show reaches people that fit the demographic profile for Bermuda visitors and will be shown in the Island's key northeastern and mid-Atlantic US markets as well as in other areas where the people watching may not have necessarily thought of Bermuda as a vacation destination.

It will attract a wide audience as viewers who support either the PGA, Senior PGA or LPGA will be able to tune in and watch their favourites.

Players from each tour team up to compete in the event which offers a $450,000 first prize for the one round of golf.

The programme will show scenes from around Bermuda but the focus will be on the Mid Ocean and the tournament.

And those watchers will not be disappointed as they will get to witness Bermuda at its best with yesterday's clear, sunny skies and the cool breeze which blew in off the South Shore at Mid Ocean taking prominence.

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