Bay of Plenty can boast in having the biggest men's pennant competition in the country and this year the season culminates with finals day at Rotorua's Arikikapakapa course on Sunday.
With five finals to be played, each grade has special significance that brings a real edge and no doubt high drama along the way - all for the honour of taking a black flag back to their clubhouses.
Championship Mount Maunganui v Tauranga
The two powerhouses in recent years face off again with Tauranga keen to revenge last year's loss to the Mount. Tauranga have been unbeaten all year and will rely on former NZ Amateur champion Eddie Burgess and No1 Masters player, Blair Murdock, to lead them home. Tauranga will face a stern challenge at the top of the order against the in form Hayden Beard and Bailey Smith, with last year's Bay No1, Brad Kendall, at three.
It is the lower ranked players who may make the difference for Tauranga but they don't have a good foursomes record, and if they fail to gain at least parity in this format they may well see the Mount hoisting the trophy and Championship Pennant again.
Senior A Whakatane v Lake View
Whakatane were relegated at the end of the 2012 season and are keen to get back into the Championship division. Their No1 player is the diminutive 14-year-old Henry Spring. They will be hoping to have all their top players available to fend off the challenge of Lake View, who are lead out by former Bay junior, Houston Te Puni. Whoever wins this battle will earn the right to play Otumoetai in a promotion/relegation match to earn the right to join the big league in 2014.
Senior B Tauranga v Wairakei Tui
After not fielding a team for several years, Wairakei were welcomed back into the competition thus year and have been well lead by former masters representative, Tom Slaven. This is basically Tauranga's third team but it is a mixture of experience and talented youngsters. Players in the Senior A grade will have special interest in this outcome for if Wairakei Tui win and get promoted, the fabulous Wairakei course will be hosting their division next year.
Intermediate Tauranga v Opotiki
This is arguably the most competitive division of all with players ranging up from a minimum handicap of 9.5. These two teams have featured prominently in fighting out for the regional pennant in recent years and although Springfield took the overall title last year, the coastal round robin winners were clearly ahead of their central adversaries in the semifinals played last weekend. The Tauranga team have four of their five players right on the minimum handicap to give them massive depth.