Celebrities Sign On for Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame Golf Classic

Registration has begun for the 17th annual Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame Celebrity Golf Classic.

This year's event takes place Saturday, May 4 at the Oak Ridge Country Club in Feeding Hills, MA.

A pair of former National Football League players have already committed to participate for the first time in this year's event, as has a popular holdover from the last few years.

Headlining the field is Steve Nelson, a 14-year NFL veteran with the New England Patriots. He was an NFL All-Pro linebacker in 1980, played in three Pro Bowls and led the Patriots' defense into Super Bowl XX. He was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993.

Nelson said he plans to bring a Patriots jersey to be auctioned off at the tournament.

Also scheduled to appear is Barry Pearson, a former wide receiver who played five years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. Pearson was involved in the famous "Immaculate Reception" touchdown play in the 1972 AFC playoffs, one of the most famous moments in pro football history.

Actor Paul D'Amato is scheduled to return to the tournament for the third straight year. He appeared in the 1978 classic movie The Deer Hunter, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but is best known for his portrayal of sadistic hockey player Tim "Dr. Hook" McCracken in the 1977 Paul Newman movie Slap Shot.

More celebrities will be announced in the coming days.

Golfers interested in participating in this year's tournament can obtain a registration form by emailing Paul DaSilva (p.dasilva@cox.net).