Golfing pundits would have to look back more than three decades to see Otago men's golf with the wealth of talent on show this year.
Otago won the Freyberg (now Toro) titles in 1973, 1978 and 1982 and had countless seconds and third placings during the ''golden decade''.
Otago made the semifinals at North Shore last year and this year there are at least a dozen serious contenders for the five-man team which will compete in the Toro interprovincial in Hamilton in December.
Brent McEwan, Nick Borren, Jamie Anstiss, Mark Brooks and Sean Masters are all members of the 2014 quintet and are all trialling this year.
Add to this last year's reserve, Kayne Wardell, and Brandon Hodgson, who missed out narrowly last year and the heat will be on the players during the trial series.
But the biggest gain is the return of Duncan Croudis from his college scholarship at Iowa State University and the pressure will be really be on the incumbents.
Chris Snow (St Clair) is a dogged match player who could make a return to the team, while Daniel Elder and Ryan Bellamy could be in the mix.
Add to this a strong junior contingent, led by Cromwell's Inia Logan, who carded an impressive 59 at Roxburgh earlier this year, while Conor Jamison and Cody McMullan are leading under-19 golfers.
The first trial will be over 36 holes at Roxburgh today but this event is not expected to attract a top field.
Otago No 1 Brent McEwan marries Shannon Lobb in Dunedin today and many of the top golfers will attend the wedding.
The trial series will begin in earnest on August 31 at Chisholm Park.
The following weekend, there are 36 holes at Wanaka on Saturday and 36 holes at Cromwell on Sunday.
The fifth trial will be over 72 holes in Queenstown on September 13-14 and the trials will conclude with 72 holes at North Otago the following weekend.
With a plethora of information, the selectors will name 10 players to compete against Aorangi and Southland in the triangular at Cromwell on October 4 and 5.
Other events to follow in October are at Arrowtown, the Otago pennant final and the Otago matchplay championships at Balmacewen during Labour weekend.
The team will be whittled down to eight players for the South Island interprovincial at Russley during the first weekend in November.
The six best strokeplay exponents will then compete in the SBS Invitational in Invercargill in mid November and the final five and reserve for the Toro event will be named in Invercargill that evening.
With so many contenders and a lengthy trial series, good form and commitment will be required this year.
The women who wish to make their interprovincial team will also have to commit themselves to a number of events.
