Like Christmas with kids, the Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championships are almost immediately circled on Island golfers' kitchen calendars.

And not just because the tournament brings them, as well as a handful of overseas competitors, together in a five-day tournament to tee off the new season.

Throw in five days of play at prestigious Mid Ocean Club, meaningful competition and the rare public spotlight, it's little wonder most golfers start polishing their putters shortly after tossing away their Christmas trees.

"It's a super tournament, it really is,'' says Tim Carr, who, as defending champion, gets an automatic berth in the 32-man championship flight when play begins tomorrow.

The 31 other positions -- out of 56 entries -- will be decided today in an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round.

"It's always nice to play a week at Mid Ocean,'' adds Mark Dupuy, who lost to Carr in last year's memorable 19-hole final. "I'm looking forward to it.'' This year's tournament adds something new to the fold with the addition of the ladies championship, which previously ran separately but was cancelled altogether last year because of a lack of entries.

"It's just a question of timing above everything else,'' said Bermuda Golf Association secretary Tom Smith. He hopes the idea of bringing the two together -- the ladies tournament ends on Friday -- will help because "it's too good a tournament to lose.'' One of the apparent benefits is having a husband and wife visit the Island to compete. For instance, Reggie Parker (formerly Hawes), who won the 1989-1991 women's titles, returns and will be joined by her husband, Lawrence Parker, who will compete on the men's side.

She is one of two previous winners eyeing the women's crown: Lisa Griffin-McGill, who won in 1992, 1993 and 1995 and was runner-up to Judithanne Astwood in 1996 is also returning. Astwood turned pro last year and is no longer eligible.

Carr and Dupuy, who won last year's Bermuda strokeplay championship at Port Royal, are two of the men's favourites, along with Bill Pitt and Henry Ascento, who teamed up to represent Bermuda last fall at the Simon Bolivar international tournament in Venezuela.

But a returning champion could throw the form chart out the window. Dick Horne, the South Carolina native who won the tournament in 1984 though 1986, is competing for the first time in a decade.

Carr and Dupuy both admit they've been trying to get some practice in anticipation of the tournament.

For Dupuy, this has been especially difficult, what with the addition of a new-born daughter to the family. Still, he's managed to squeeze in some lessons from Riddell's Bay pro Darren Swan and remains confident about the status of his swing.

"I played (on Sunday) and my game is fitting in pretty good,'' he said. "I feel like I can give anybody a good game.'' Carr might hold a slight advantage because he got in a round at Mid Ocean on Sunday, his first time on the exclusive Tucker's Town track since last year's victory.

"Any local knowledge of a course can be invaluable,'' he acknowledged.

His game, too, is in good condition although Carr isn't sure if this can translate into another win.

"I'm just going to do the same thing I did last year: Go out, play my game and hope that it's good enough to make it into the final.'' The bad news for all golfers -- and organisers -- is the ominous weather forecast, which calls for high winds and showers over the next couple of days.

TIM CARR -- defeated Mark Dupuy in last year's final.