GOLF: Litmus test on a blind course | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

ANENDRA SINGH

There are no such things as failed experiments - only experiments with different results.

That's what Hawke's Bay men's representative golf coach Brian Doyle is thinking today as his men tee-off against Auckland at Akarana Golf Club in the city of sails.

His experiment in today's Auck-Hawk Trophy challenge will follow a hypothesis and method before Doyle (pictured right) draws logical conclusions in naming the final line-up for the Lion Foundation Interprovincial Tournament in Timaru next month.

"We will have a little experiment, that's all. We will be giving responsibilities to each player in regard to charting our course," said the PGA professional, who announced last month that he will step down as Hawke's Bay senior men's coach following the Interprovincials.

"From there we will discuss, hole by hole, what we have learned from the play," said Doyle, before jetting off with the team yesterday for Auckland.

Like good experiments, a control in the method in their last dress rehearsal should cut a clearer picture of where the six-men team will be for the premier amateur regional teams' tournament in the country.

The litmus test for Hawke's Bay is that bar the reserve player, Nick Gillespie, who will be playing today as the sixth player, no one in the team has played at Akarana club.

"In one of our meetings, Nick was invited to share some of his experiences at Akarana. We're going there a bit blind but by tomorrow afternoon (yesterday's practice round) we'll be charting the course," Doyle explained.

Gillespie, who recently moved to Hastings Golf Club from Wanganui to learn the trade from professional Ross Morpeth, described the Akarana course as nice but with three tricky par 3 holes treacherously beckoning the tin-cup brigade with a manmade lake as a backdrop.

"The wind can swirl in that area so club choice will be crucial," said Gillespie, 18, somewhat prophetically before it blew a gale in Auckland on Thursday night.

He has also cautioned teammates Nick Radonich, Sam Hucker, Bruce Middlemiss, Stuart Duff and Darryn Turley about the slick greens with their "undulations and tiers".

"They can run through pretty fast so you need to be careful in placing a putt," said Gillespie, who played there three years in the New Zealand Under-19 Championship, finishing in fifth place but winning the under-17 title.

Bay, who are Auck-Hawk Trophy defending champions, last year exposed the frailties in the big city slickers who had an average age of 18.

Hawke's Bay, with an average age of 35, claimed the silverware for the first time in the three-year competition with an overall 8.5-6.5 win.

However, the final singles match coming down to the wire with a 3.5-2.5 victory to former Bay No.1 Doug Holloway over Leighton James and No.2 Turley halving with Fraser Wilkins.

Undefeated Holloway, who turned professional early this year, was playing his last tournament as an amateur in the province.

The Auck-Hawk Trophy competition was first played for in 2003 on a home-and-away basis. Undefeated Bay are having a bumper season.