Time capsule buried by Long Blacks golfers at Papamoa Golden Sands helps create sporting history

A team of New Zealand representative golfers has buried a time capsule in Papamoa to commemorate milestones reached.

The capsule was buried at a bar in Papamoa east yesterday to celebrate the first anniversary of the New Zealand Long Blacks' first North Island versus South Island championship event.

The Long Blacks is a newly formed national representative team made up of 12 long drive golfers, International Golf Associate New Zealand director Olna Ford said.

"These guys are the fastest, longest hitters in golf. They set up at the tee box with eight balls and smash them out in three minutes," Ford said. "It's kind of like the Twenty20 of golf."

The reason for bringing the team's time capsule to Papamoa's Golden Sands area was to commemorate the original place where the national team held their first major event. It also helped seal the beginnings of the sport in New Zealand for something to look back upon in years to come.

The event's location - originally a strip of land - was chosen by Long Blacks sponsor Trident Homes. However, it was now home to housing so the team buried the capsule at Pap House instead.

"That's where we went to celebrate afterwards last year," Ford said.

Ford said the capsule contained photographs, lanyards, "and all sorts of things from the different events we've gone to".

The team is made up of 12 athletes who can compete individually or as part of the team. The team has already competed on the international stage with competitions in the United States and Australia.

"It's a dynamic sport. It's very entertaining and there's usually music and food happening nearby. It's definitely different. You will hear more and more about it." Ford said.

Ford was joined by Long Blacks' Gareth Campbell and Paul West at the burying of the time capsule.

Campbell said it was the Papamoa competition last year which helped create the team.

West said that despite his first passion being cricket, he had always been able to hit a golf ball a long way.