Call me a hopeless optimist (most don't) but I am actually quite excited about the prospects of this big new golf tournament at The Hills.
Covering two New Zealand Opens at the spectacular course near Arrowtown was an unexpected pleasure, and I was genuinely sad (and a little angry) when the Open was taken to flat, soul-less Clearwater.
Some heavy hitters are backing the revived New Zealand PGA and associated pro-am at The Hills: owner Michael Hill, former New Zealand Football boss Michael Glading, former professional Greg Turner and former All Black coach and Warriors guru John Hart.
That, and a five-year deal, should provide some assurance this tournament is going to have some bite.
If the PGA can eventually link with the OneAsia Tour, it will take it to another level.
And once again, we wait and hope for Sir Michael himself to make a big splash by bringing out one or more of the top players in the world.
Don't scoff - it can be done. When Julian Robertson wanted a glamour event for his Cape Kidnappers course, he invented the Kiwi Challenge and flew in Anthony Kim, Adam Scott, Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker.
• ... in 2012
The idea of celebrities and amateurs playing in an associated PGA pro-am also has merit, as long as they recruit, you know, actual celebrities.
With that in mind, here are six celebrities we want to see at The Hills, and six "celebrities" we don't.
The good.-
1. Samuel L Jackson: The coolest man alive, and a starter for any celebrity golf tournament.
2. Alice Cooper: The made-up rock star loves his golf.
3. Justin Timberlake: Already hosts his own golf tournament.
4. Michael Jordan: The greatest basketballer of all time would shoot 68 during the day, then host a poker tournament in the clubhouse.
5. Russell Crowe: Ask Steve Williams to caddie, and watch the sparks fly by the third hole.
6. Kim Kardashian: Sir Michael already knows her.
The bad.-
1. Any Shortland St actor: Even if they are on the A-list of New Zealand's extremely thin celebrity landscape.
2. Jason Gunn: Not even if Thingee was carrying his bag.
3. Paul Henry: Ugh.
4. Any other Kardashian: Though Khloe would bring the Lakers.
5. Lindsay Lohan: Her night out in Queenstown would put Mike Tindall's to shame.
6. Nicky Watson: She's a bit last century.
• Welcome back, Tiger
He will never regain some of the fans he lost when he was exposed as an arrogant, adulterous fool.
But, from a pure sports perspective (if such a thing exists), there was something tremendously exciting about watching Tiger Woods get his first win in two years on Monday.
Fine, it was a funny little tournament with a very small field. But Tiger got the win. And he held his nerve with key putts on the final two holes to do it.
Golf needs Tiger back. Fingers crossed for a big 2012.
• The new Goldie?
Michael Collins. A nice, uncomplicated name. A bit like Jeff Wilson, you might say.
It would be extremely unfair to burden the rising star of Otago sport with comparisons to one of the province's all-time greats.
But there is clearly something special about the Collins boy.
His swashbuckling, back-to-back centuries at the Gillette Cup made waves in the cricket community, as much as his form for the Otago Boys' First XV and his signing with the Otago union excited rugby fans.
From all accounts, he's a fine young man with a good head on his shoulders, too.
Now we wait to see how his career unfolds. The days of the two-sport star are nearly done (with the exception of versatile women like Suzie Bates), and eventually Collins will be advised to focus on one code.
Rugby offers a broader range of opportunities, including Highlanders and All Black jerseys and seemingly limitless overseas vacancies, and Collins has committed to Otago rugby for the next three years.
But twenty/20 has changed the face of cricket to the extent there can be no automatic assumption that rugby is the better pick. Perhaps the Big Bash will eventually appeal more than the Super 15, or the Chennai Super Kings will promise more than the Otago Razorbacks.
• Uncertain times
If you were sitting on a pile of personal wealth, would you invest in:
(a) South Canterbury Finance;
(b) The Act New Zealand party;
(c) A bet on Sonny Bill Williams becoming heavyweight champion of the world;
(d) A Super rugby franchise;
(e) None of the above.
I am simultaneously intrigued and bewildered by the New Zealand Rugby Union's plan to "partially privatise" the Super franchises.
Perhaps it could work. Perhaps there are plenty of bored millionaires out there eager for the ego trip of running a sports team. Perhaps the NZRU is being very smart to loosen the apron strings a little.
But I simply can't see how this scheme is going to provide lasting appeal. Is there any point in investing in a sports team when you will probably make no money, and you will have limited control?
As for the Highlanders, they continue to march to the beat of their own drum. Do they have a group of wealthy southern businessmen willing to prop them up? Or are they simply going to be jumping into bed with the new stadium? Interesting times.
• Heartland hero
A great Otago cricket stalwart is nearing a milestone.
No, it's not Craig Cumming, though his effort of raising 100 one-day caps for the Volts is worthy of high praise.
North Otago batsman Duncan Drew is just 56 runs away from becoming the third man to score 2000 runs for his province.
Bob Wilson (2775) and Norm McKenzie (2205) are at No 1 and No 2 in the list, according to statistics on the magnificent North Otago cricket website (noca.co.nz).
Duncan and I go way back - we were at Waitaki Boys' together, and I'm sure I passed my vast cricket knowledge on to him.
