The Wellington men's provincial golf season has begun with a win over Manawatu-Wanganui, ahead of a testing matchup with Auckland next month.
The team this year has appointed former pro Alastair Sidford as team manager, to build a strong programme with an eye to the future.
Sidford and long-standing team captain Jonno Cane joined Adam Cooper to discuss the upcoming season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
News talks, they'd be on the All Sport Breakfast and
as always every Saturday morning, we talk all things golf.
No Steve where this weekend to well deserved weekend off.
I believe he's catching some Ireland sunshine. But we're going
to talk provincial golf now and as we get closer
to summer, the Wellington provincial team, both the men's and
women's as well as the Masters grades are all ramping
up for preparations and obviously have a full summer of competing.
(00:24):
It actually started last weekend, so joining us to look
ahead to provincial golf for this summer. Alista Sidfit's been
appointed the new team manager of the Wellington Men's team.
A touring pro in the late nineties and two thousands
and are heavily involved in golf at a management and
player level at Bullcott's Farm and alongside him long serving
very experienced Wellington golfer involved in both the men's and
(00:47):
Masters teams, a leader of those teams as well. John o'caine.
Morning to both of you.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, thanks Allison, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Thanks Alistair. Firstly, let's talk your new role appointed on
the men's team manager, your role for the summer ahead
a first hit out last weekends. Yeah, pretty happy with
the way that went.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Firstly, Yeah, it was that was a tough day of
at Otechi Golf Club. Obviously a nice golf course to play.
Man wang On boys did really well to win seven
three and basically atrocious conditions with the course closing view
to really reign at the end the boys could even
put on the greens. But a good first hitout and
a good result for Willington.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, great to hear. And just overall, Elis, you're excited
to take on this role. I know you've been involved
in many levels of golf over many years, obviously a
former player and and you know heavily involved in Bullcott's
farm as well. But nice to have this role for
the upcoming summer.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, really exciting. You know, there's a great group of
guys now we're building a real good team culture. Obviously
John o'cain's a captain and he leads it really strongly.
So nice to work with the top level golfers and
obviously Matt Lane in my south can add quite a
bit of value to the team. Quite a few matches
coming up which are pretty exciting, and just building that
team culture and just all being out on the park together.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
John, I tell us how you negotiated those conditions last
week in both as you know, playing but also as
a leader trying to rally the team together.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Personally poorly, it was. It was pretty tough, but I
don't know that the like the actual weather was that difficult,
but what it did to the course made it, yeah,
pretty much nigh on impossible. So yeah, it was. It
was a challenge for us to get through. And I
think I'd mentioned that to the boys beforehand, that it
(02:30):
was like, look, we just take it as it comes.
If it's challenging, it's challenging. We just have to get
through it, you know, the sort of there's no point
in complaining about what's going to happen or who you're
playing or whatever. We've just got to do our own
thing and do what's what's right to allow us to
play at our best or with the best that we
(02:50):
have that day. So I think the boys that they
did a really good job of that. Yeah, obviously I
didn't get personally the result I wanted, but for the
team to win, that's all that the captain can ask
for anyway.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, for you, John O you've obviously been
involved at this point of a season for many years now,
winning as in winning nationals as you know, in the
men's space the master's space. What boxes do you kind
of want to tick for the first few hitouts of
the season.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Well, I think this year is probably a little bit
what has that feel so far of being a bit
of a rebuilding phase. We've got some guys who are
new to the sort of senior men's space, We've got
some guys who are coming back from having a couple
of years in the wilderness and stuff. So it's really
about building that, like ours to said, the team culture,
(03:39):
but also building the sort of the work effort and
the sort of the style of play and how we
want to portray ourselves early on, especially in the season,
but that we want to take that all the way
through the season. So let's be about yet getting the
guys to yet to buy into that and to continue
with sort of how they started that process throughout the
(04:03):
season and we'll see what results that brings us.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, and Elison, you talked at the start about the
team culture and that that's a real focus is for
you stepping into this role. Tell us what what your
plans are in that space, and you know just how
successful this team you hope is as a result of
some of the we're going to be doing.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, I mean just building the culture. To me is
obviously all being there for each other, not individually, and
just to turn some other stuff outside of golf. I mean,
these guys can all play golf and obviously golfs technique,
own base and also performance based, but just doing some
other things outside of that. Just for example, the other
(04:42):
the other night we had went to the pool room
in town and played a pool club champs. I've got
a couple of bowling nights coming up, talking to some
other athletes about other processes and stuff like that, and
just really just all being there for each other rather
than individually. So collectively at the end of the day,
you know, when we go on the paddock and there's
we're going to the team that we're obviously we're looking
(05:02):
for a team result rather than individual stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
John, how did you go in the pool? Did you
get a victory?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I wasn't able to tread them force me, so now
I didn't get a victory in another event there, So yeah,
looking forward to next time when I can participate and
hopefully be competitive and.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Then things ramping up obviously with Auckland in a few weeks.
That's always a big one, especially at this point of
the season. John, And how excited are you and what
do you know about what they might be offering for
this class in a few weekends.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think they will bring what they bring all the time,
which is a high level of competitiveness. Yeah, I'm always
looking forward to that that match. It's sort of traditionally
been more like the where your season two is like
it starts, because they're the like they've always been, sort
of our I guess arch nemesis and sort of like
the what you feel the cream and the croppers to
(05:53):
compete against. So I think, yeah, we all have to be,
you know, right at the sharp end of our game
that you know, but we we can only go there
with the attitude to do our process, to appare the
best we can and like ours to seat again be
there for each other, and you know, we'll add the
(06:15):
results up at the end and hopefully it goes our way,
but we'll yeah, we'll be doing everything we can to
be at the at the right end of our game.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, And Alister, given your history you've coached the age
group teams as well through the club and other bits
and pieces too. You know, how do we make sure
that the golf ecosystem in Wellington is sustainable for success
at these men's women's master's level, do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah? I mean it all starts down the bottom of
the juniors and obviously the Warrington squads and bringing them
through all that with the correct guidance and coaching and
obviously holders passing on some menfar as well. And just
then just obviously getting around all the junior tournaments to
build towards some representative level for Wellington and just obviously
there's a sort of a process and path to get
through to where these guys are now. So just got
(06:59):
to keep encouraging all those juniors at Golf's a fun
game and then obviously as you get better at it
comes a bit more competitive and just and just keep
making it fun for them really to keep the kids involved.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, and just finally, John, and how how inspirational is
it seeing Daniel Hillys journey continuing obviously a great top
twenty result at the Open last weekend, about to start
at the Olympics in Paris. Does that sort of trickle
down to generate some excitement and motivation at your level
of golf and end up up and down the grades.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Definitely does for me, you know, sort of having someone
who was a pretty close golfing mate. Obviously I don't
hear from him a lot now because he's got better
things to do. But yeah, to see someone who you've
you know, you've seen grow up and their game grow
do so well at the highest level. I don't think
he can do anything but motivates, you know, people in general,
(07:49):
or golfers in general. Obviously for me, it's you know,
just great to see someone doing well and you sort
of go, oh, I used to compete with that, you know,
quite regularly, so there's no reason I can't be playing
at that level and you're almost using him to sort
of measure where you're going and how you're how you're
getting there nowadays. But I think for you know, just
(08:12):
for the wider Wellington group and golfers in general, it's
great to see Kiwi's out there, you know, showing their
stuff on the on the bigger stage, and you know,
we sort of have a quiet chuckle when someone puts
five bucks on him to to take the British Open out,
but you're like, well, it was only eighteen places away
from doing it, so it makes it quite amazing really
(08:35):
to think that it was you know, that's actually that
close and he's doing that well.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, brilliant. And I still just wanted to finish the
slot by asking you about you know that the state
of the sport at the moment. We know golf had
some great surges and player numbers as a result of COVID.
It appears to still be thriving. You're obviously heavily involved
and bits and pieces at Bullcots Farm. Can you tell
us just you know, the middle of winter where things
sit with the sport locally in Wellington from your eyes
at the moment, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Um, numbers on the park just through the roof. We've
had the best journe in July since I don't know
how long, I mean even that you measure it by,
you know, sort of winter clothing sales, shoe sales are
all way down because obviously there's not Buddy et cetera.
You know, as a comparison to last year, just for
June at Bollcott Farm here we had twenty non cart
(09:22):
golf days this year We've had no non cart golf
days in June or July sup to today, so obviously
that's numbers on the on the on the course and
just the sport is just absolutely booming through Wellington with
numbers playing golf, juniors, learned to play, programs, ladies, means everything.
So golf is on a huge eie post COVID.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, yeah, wonderful to hear it, and it sounds like
you guys and the men's provincial space set up for
a great season ahead. It's been great to catch up
with both of you. Really appreciate your time and all
the best for the coming weeks and months ahead is
the season ramps up. Thanks for joining us, Yeah, see's
got there for more from news Talks, there'd be listen
live on air or online and keep our shows with
(10:03):
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
News talks, they'd be on the All Sport Breakfast and
as always every Saturday morning, we talk all things golf.
No Steve where this weekend to well deserved weekend off.
I believe he's catching some Ireland sunshine. But we're going
to talk provincial golf now and as we get closer
to summer, the Wellington provincial team, both the men's and
women's as well as the Masters grades are all ramping
up for preparations and obviously have a full summer of competing.
(00:24):
It actually started last weekend, so joining us to look
ahead to provincial golf for this summer. Alista Sidfit's been
appointed the new team manager of the Wellington Men's team.
A touring pro in the late nineties and two thousands
and are heavily involved in golf at a management and
player level at Bullcott's Farm and alongside him long serving
very experienced Wellington golfer involved in both the men's and
(00:47):
Masters teams, a leader of those teams as well. John o'caine.
Morning to both of you.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Yeah, thanks Allison, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Thanks Alistair. Firstly, let's talk your new role appointed on
the men's team manager, your role for the summer ahead
a first hit out last weekends. Yeah, pretty happy with
the way that went.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Firstly, Yeah, it was that was a tough day of
at Otechi Golf Club. Obviously a nice golf course to play.
Man wang On boys did really well to win seven
three and basically atrocious conditions with the course closing view
to really reign at the end the boys could even
put on the greens. But a good first hitout and
a good result for Willington.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, great to hear. And just overall, Elis, you're excited
to take on this role. I know you've been involved
in many levels of golf over many years, obviously a
former player and and you know heavily involved in Bullcott's
farm as well. But nice to have this role for
the upcoming summer.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, really exciting. You know, there's a great group of
guys now we're building a real good team culture. Obviously
John o'cain's a captain and he leads it really strongly.
So nice to work with the top level golfers and
obviously Matt Lane in my south can add quite a
bit of value to the team. Quite a few matches
coming up which are pretty exciting, and just building that
team culture and just all being out on the park together.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
John, I tell us how you negotiated those conditions last
week in both as you know, playing but also as
a leader trying to rally the team together.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Personally poorly, it was. It was pretty tough, but I
don't know that the like the actual weather was that difficult,
but what it did to the course made it, yeah,
pretty much nigh on impossible. So yeah, it was. It
was a challenge for us to get through. And I
think I'd mentioned that to the boys beforehand, that it
(02:30):
was like, look, we just take it as it comes.
If it's challenging, it's challenging. We just have to get
through it, you know, the sort of there's no point
in complaining about what's going to happen or who you're
playing or whatever. We've just got to do our own
thing and do what's what's right to allow us to
play at our best or with the best that we
(02:50):
have that day. So I think the boys that they
did a really good job of that. Yeah, obviously I
didn't get personally the result I wanted, but for the
team to win, that's all that the captain can ask
for anyway.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, for you, John O you've obviously been
involved at this point of a season for many years now,
winning as in winning nationals as you know, in the
men's space the master's space. What boxes do you kind
of want to tick for the first few hitouts of
the season.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Well, I think this year is probably a little bit
what has that feel so far of being a bit
of a rebuilding phase. We've got some guys who are
new to the sort of senior men's space, We've got
some guys who are coming back from having a couple
of years in the wilderness and stuff. So it's really
about building that, like ours to said, the team culture,
(03:39):
but also building the sort of the work effort and
the sort of the style of play and how we
want to portray ourselves early on, especially in the season,
but that we want to take that all the way
through the season. So let's be about yet getting the
guys to yet to buy into that and to continue
with sort of how they started that process throughout the
(04:03):
season and we'll see what results that brings us.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Yeah, and Elison, you talked at the start about the
team culture and that that's a real focus is for
you stepping into this role. Tell us what what your
plans are in that space, and you know just how
successful this team you hope is as a result of
some of the we're going to be doing.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, I mean just building the culture. To me is
obviously all being there for each other, not individually, and
just to turn some other stuff outside of golf. I mean,
these guys can all play golf and obviously golfs technique,
own base and also performance based, but just doing some
other things outside of that. Just for example, the other
(04:42):
the other night we had went to the pool room
in town and played a pool club champs. I've got
a couple of bowling nights coming up, talking to some
other athletes about other processes and stuff like that, and
just really just all being there for each other rather
than individually. So collectively at the end of the day,
you know, when we go on the paddock and there's
we're going to the team that we're obviously we're looking
(05:02):
for a team result rather than individual stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
John, how did you go in the pool? Did you
get a victory?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I wasn't able to tread them force me, so now
I didn't get a victory in another event there, So yeah,
looking forward to next time when I can participate and
hopefully be competitive and.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Then things ramping up obviously with Auckland in a few weeks.
That's always a big one, especially at this point of
the season. John, And how excited are you and what
do you know about what they might be offering for
this class in a few weekends.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think they will bring what they bring all the time,
which is a high level of competitiveness. Yeah, I'm always
looking forward to that that match. It's sort of traditionally
been more like the where your season two is like
it starts, because they're the like they've always been, sort
of our I guess arch nemesis and sort of like
the what you feel the cream and the croppers to
(05:53):
compete against. So I think, yeah, we all have to be,
you know, right at the sharp end of our game
that you know, but we we can only go there
with the attitude to do our process, to appare the
best we can and like ours to seat again be
there for each other, and you know, we'll add the
(06:15):
results up at the end and hopefully it goes our way,
but we'll yeah, we'll be doing everything we can to
be at the at the right end of our game.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, And Alister, given your history you've coached the age
group teams as well through the club and other bits
and pieces too. You know, how do we make sure
that the golf ecosystem in Wellington is sustainable for success
at these men's women's master's level, do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah? I mean it all starts down the bottom of
the juniors and obviously the Warrington squads and bringing them
through all that with the correct guidance and coaching and
obviously holders passing on some menfar as well. And just
then just obviously getting around all the junior tournaments to
build towards some representative level for Wellington and just obviously
there's a sort of a process and path to get
through to where these guys are now. So just got
(06:59):
to keep encouraging all those juniors at Golf's a fun
game and then obviously as you get better at it
comes a bit more competitive and just and just keep
making it fun for them really to keep the kids involved.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, and just finally, John, and how how inspirational is
it seeing Daniel Hillys journey continuing obviously a great top
twenty result at the Open last weekend, about to start
at the Olympics in Paris. Does that sort of trickle
down to generate some excitement and motivation at your level
of golf and end up up and down the grades.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Definitely does for me, you know, sort of having someone
who was a pretty close golfing mate. Obviously I don't
hear from him a lot now because he's got better
things to do. But yeah, to see someone who you've
you know, you've seen grow up and their game grow
do so well at the highest level. I don't think
he can do anything but motivates, you know, people in general,
(07:49):
or golfers in general. Obviously for me, it's you know,
just great to see someone doing well and you sort
of go, oh, I used to compete with that, you know,
quite regularly, so there's no reason I can't be playing
at that level and you're almost using him to sort
of measure where you're going and how you're how you're
getting there nowadays. But I think for you know, just
(08:12):
for the wider Wellington group and golfers in general, it's
great to see Kiwi's out there, you know, showing their
stuff on the on the bigger stage, and you know,
we sort of have a quiet chuckle when someone puts
five bucks on him to to take the British Open out,
but you're like, well, it was only eighteen places away
from doing it, so it makes it quite amazing really
(08:35):
to think that it was you know, that's actually that
close and he's doing that well.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, brilliant. And I still just wanted to finish the
slot by asking you about you know that the state
of the sport at the moment. We know golf had
some great surges and player numbers as a result of COVID.
It appears to still be thriving. You're obviously heavily involved
and bits and pieces at Bullcots Farm. Can you tell
us just you know, the middle of winter where things
sit with the sport locally in Wellington from your eyes
at the moment, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Um, numbers on the park just through the roof. We've
had the best journe in July since I don't know
how long, I mean even that you measure it by,
you know, sort of winter clothing sales, shoe sales are
all way down because obviously there's not Buddy et cetera.
You know, as a comparison to last year, just for
June at Bollcott Farm here we had twenty non cart
(09:22):
golf days this year We've had no non cart golf
days in June or July sup to today, so obviously
that's numbers on the on the on the course and
just the sport is just absolutely booming through Wellington with
numbers playing golf, juniors, learned to play, programs, ladies, means everything.
So golf is on a huge eie post COVID.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Yeah, yeah, wonderful to hear it, and it sounds like
you guys and the men's provincial space set up for
a great season ahead. It's been great to catch up
with both of you. Really appreciate your time and all
the best for the coming weeks and months ahead is
the season ramps up. Thanks for joining us, Yeah, see's
got there for more from news Talks, there'd be listen
live on air or online and keep our shows with
(10:03):
you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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