Golfers over 50 years of age follow the various competitions and the national body makes a concerted effort to accommodate as many players as they can through its itinerary.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has thrown a massive curve ball at the association, with this week's Poverty Bay-hosted event restricted to 80 men and 20 women.
Missing from that line-up are an enthusiastic bunch of Aucklanders who would have increased numbers to 140-plus.
Cancelling the national tournament was a possibility but the NZ association was determined to go ahead and its decision has been vindicated.
Praise from the visitors for the Bay course has been lavish, inspired by the opportunity to get out and about. Which is pretty much what vets golf is for the camper van contingent, a type Seddon describes as “uniquely different”.
Seddon and the association have a logistical challenge when it come to vets golf.
Their 4500 membership is a balancing act tournament-wise to the point of doubling up on the competition circuit due to the popularity of golf at this age group.
Not so for the nationals this week, which have involved a mixture of outsiders and locals. And not surprisingly, the locals are enjoying plenty of success.
One of Poverty Bay-East Coast's top players, Anaru Reedy, yesterday progressed to the final of the senior division.
The baby of the field at 50 years of age — the minimum age to be a vet is 50 — Electrinet Gisborne Park member Reedy beat Royal Wellington's Peter Rankin in their matchplay semifinal.
Rankin has an impressive pedigree as a former Wellington representative while Reedy was prominent on the Wellington rep scene before shifting to Gisborne.
“I don't know Peter but I know of him,” Reedy said of his 79-year-old opponent, who has an incredible record of having broken his age more than 395 times.
That, however, was a sidebar as Reedy started their semi with an eagle-3 on the par-5 first hole, banging his second shot to 12 feet away from the pin and slotting the putt.
Reedy was in cruise control at 5-up after 11 holes, including what he described as a “career hole” on the seventh, where he drove into trees on the right, then punched a “go-for-it” 4-iron through a gap and on to the green and sank his 12-footer for birdie.
Rankin showed his grit through par golf. He won the 12th, 14th and 16th holes but got into trouble on 17 and conceded defeat.
Reedy's opponent in this morning's final was 2016 champion Ron Sisson, of Omanu, who personified Steady Eddie in beating four-time NZ Vets champion Andrew Markman, of Mt Maunganui, 2 and 1.
Reedy was joined in the finals by several Gisborne vets.
Top qualifier Tene Goldsmith and Poverty Bay clubmate Richard Foon set up an all-Poverty Bay final of the senior reserve division.
Tene's younger brother Kit made the final of the intermediate division against Hawke's Bay's Peter Johnston.
In all-Gisborne intermediate reserve semifinals, Bill Simpson beat fellow Poverty Bay member Warwick Thompson 3 and 2 while Gisborne Park's Barry Cox thumped the Bay's Keith Daniels 6 and 5.
The junior final pitted Cambridge's Ray Skiffington against Shandon member Peter Holt.
Home course member Marg Colebourne retained her spot on the top of the women's leaderboard after a third-round 89-17-72.
Heading into today's fourth and final round, Colebourne was one ahead in the gross, had a nine-stroke advantage in the net and nine-point lead in the stableford.
