Bermuda has gained entry to the prestigious World Corporate Golf Challenge.

The final of the tournament will be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica in May with a qualifying tournament at Riddell's Bay on April 24.

The final will feature 22 teams who have made their way through competitions in various countries.

In Ireland alone, nearly 4,000 golfers took part in the qualifiers.

"The Challenge was conceived in the United Kingdom in 1999," said organiser John Kane.

"It was first known as the Times UK Corporate Golf Challenge. Such was the popularity of the event that the concept was subsequently licensed internationally, resulting in the first ever World Corporate Challenge in 1997."

The tournament is for teams of four, all amateurs with maximum handicaps of 24 for men and 30 for women. At least one of the foursome must be an employee of the host country.

"I would have preferred a longer lead-in time for the Challenge," said Kane. "And had originally intended starting next year. However, I have been asked if I would put together a qualifying tournament in time thus enabling a Bermuda team to join 22 other countries at the famed Half Moon Resort in late May."

New Zealand will be defending the title they won last year in Spain and will be joined by, among others, Australia, India, Malaysia, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Bermuda corporate team will be flown to Montego Bay and accommodated at the Half Moon Resort, which has a Robert Trent Jones golf course ranked among the top courses in the world.

The final will take place over two days with players playing off three-quarter handicaps, with three of the four best Stableford scores counting on each hole.

The qualifying tournament will be on the same basis but over just one round.

Full details on the World Corporate Golf Challenge have been mailed to numerous companies in Bermuda and further information can be obtained by emailing jkanecastlewood.bm