Bermuda business executives have been offered a rare chance to play alongside some of the world's top golfers at Mid Ocean Club in the Pro-Am event which will precede this month's Merrill Lynch Shoot-Out.

But the invitation comes at a cost -- believed to be in the region of $17,500.

Local companies willing to fork out that kind of cash will be invited to field three of their golf-playing executives or clients in a foursome that should include one of the 10 PGA Tour stars who will contest this year's Shoot-out final.

The field for the $600,000 September 26 event, being hosted by Mid Ocean for the second successive year, includes such notables as current US Open champion Corey Pavin, this year's Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, and leading money winners Payne Stewart, Curtis Strange and Craig Stadler, all of them past winners of one of golf's majors. Rounding out the field are Scott Hoch, Peter Jacobsen, Brett Ogle, Woody Austin and Kenny Perry.

Played the day before the Shoot-out, the Pro-Am last year was restricted to only those who received a direct invitation from Merrill Lynch.

But Mid Ocean's Michael Dunkley, who serves as local coordinator for the event, confirmed yesterday that a number of places had been opened up this year for Bermuda players.

"Merrill Lynch made the decision this year that they wouldn't use all of the Pro-Am spots, and they've given Mid Ocean the opportunity to use some of them,'' said Dunkley.

"Right now we're looking at between four and eight companies who could take part. We've had a number of businesses approach us. But it's a low key thing.

Businesses are doing it to entertain clients, things like that. There won't be much promotion or advertising.'' Asked about the Pro-Am entry fee, Dunkley declined to comment.

But he said: "Obviously when you're talking about these kind of players, it's not going to be cheap. I think it's a great investment for what they're getting.

"We did a lot of research on what happens on the PGA Tour and with regular pro-ams, and our price is very good compared to the rest of them.

"Mid Ocean isn't making anything out of this. We're just covering the price of holding the Pro-Am. The rest of the money will be donated to charity.'' Brian Walford of XL Insurance, one of the Bermuda companies to have already accepted an invitation, agreed the tournament represented a worthwhile investment.

"We can entertain a couple of our most significant clients and also fit in some business on the day,'' he explained.

Of the fee, he said: "I certainly think it's comparable to what's being asked for similar events held in the US. We look on it as an investment.'' Meanwhile, preparation for the Shoot-out, won last year by Pavin who returns with five others who competed in 1994, continues with little change in the format or organisation.

American TV network ABC will again be on hand to record the event after which it will be aired on November 5 (2.30-4.30 p.m. Bermuda time).

And Dunkley admitted there had been discussion to improve the rapport between TV crew and the gallery following some complaints last year that network staff were at times over-officious and rude in their handling of spectators during coverage.

"We've made some changes with marshals as regards crowd control...ABC's ability to work with the crowd, that kind of thing.

"But those are the only things we've been cognizant about changing. Overall, I think things went quite well last year. We didn't see a need for any major changes.'' As for the Mid Ocean course, neither Hurricane Felix nor Hurricane Luis which swept by 200 miles to the west of the Island on the weekend, managed to inflict any serious damage.

However, "a helping hand from Mother Nature'' between now and the tournament would help bring the course back to its absolute best, said Dunkley.

"The greens and tees are in great shape, but it would be nice to get some rain to moisten the fairways a little bit.

"Right now we're concentrating on manicuring the edges of traps and things like that.''