Yorkshire golf - YIDU review: Teesside juniors' success points to bright future

This optimistic outlook is heightened by their youngsters' success at Hessle in August, where they won the Yorkshire junior team championship.

“I think the highlight for me is that I have used some of the juniors, and people will note that the junior team won the 'big six', and that was a marvellous result for those six young men,” says Ient.

“Also, young Cameron Wallace (Seaton Carew) won the individual 36-hole trophy there, Jack Trewhitt (Castle Eden) won the 18-hole, so those lads really did us proud.

“The other youngster who I have really been pleased with, and we started using him last year with the seniors team, is Michael Hay, from Hunley Hall.

“He has played really well for us this year and even in the six-man championship at Halifax Bradley Hall, I picked a team that I hoped could all score in the 70s and Michael goes out in the first round and scores 68, two under par, the best score of the morning.

“He won the Yorkshire Under-16s at Driffield and he is performing very well.”

Teesside began well with a victory over Leeds, but in game two came up against a York side whose determination was fuelled by the tragic loss of captain Russ Chilton, who died suddenly in April.

“I think York had a 13th player following the sad passing of 'Chillo',” reflects Ient. “I had met Russ a couple of times; he was a larger than life character and I think we had some divine intervention in that match.”

Like all eight union captains, Ient's team selection invariably had to yield to the loss of players to other commitments, be that work, family or individual competitions.

“My main problem, which I know is echoed by some of the guys, is the availability of players you would want,” he says. “That is the key thing. Obviously they have, at times, other golfing commitments, or family or work commitments and that is understandable, but it is a frustration

“I have had the headache of trying to ring around the night before a match trying to get people. For the match against Bradford, for instance, I literally got the side sorted the night before - and we go out and have a good win.

“I stood there in the morning and thought, 'we might get a pounding here' and then they go out and win, and you think, 'I don't understand this'.”

While keen to give youth its head, Ient appreciates that his side's spine still needs to involve experienced players.

“I am not looking to write off the older ones, but it is looking, hopefully, that there is something coming down the pipeline,” he enthuses.

Teesside's player of the year was Brad Hildreth, of Billingham.

“We run, like, an individual order of merit, only using the singles results. I believe he got nine points out of a possible 12,” says Teesside's captain.

“Brad is usually third or fourth off and do you think, 'yes, I should get some points of him towards the top of the order'. He is a good foursomes player, too.

“I suppose Brad's greatest asset is that when he does hit the ball it goes a long way. It means when his foursomes partner gets to the ball, he hasn't got a long shot to the green.”

Ient marvels at the distances some of his young charges, in particular, can hit the ball off the tee.

“You think, 'I am probably twice the weight of you and twice the strength', but when you look at these young fellas and how far they hit it you go, 'how has he hit the ball that far down that fairway', and you just shake your head.

“Michael (Hay) has a two iron and I see how far he puts it down the fairway and sometimes you want to say to him - but I don't interfere – 'Michael, just leave your driver in the bag, just hit that thing because you are really comfy with that machine'.”

As for 2017, he acknowledges that defending champions Sheffield will undoubtedly start as favourites.

“They clearly have a bigger talent pool on which to draw,” says Ient. “That may sound like sour grapes, but it is not meant to be. It is just a fact and I think there is a lot of value in our union competing against them.

“Firstly, it might bring our people on and, secondly, you start to realise where you stand in the golfing world both individually and collectively.”

Look out for reviews and captains' thoughts on Halifax-Huddersfield and Harrogate unions - online on Saturday.