Last four are musts

SELECTION is often a contentious business. Choosing between equally-matched players, sometimes purely on a hunch, is a hazard of being a team manager, as is managing to convince the unlucky individual you were right to leave him/her out.

Two sets of selectors I will be keeping my eye on in coming days and weeks, involve seniors golf and our Commonwealth Games team.

First the golf.

Guernsey have a quite horrendous record in the annual seniors match for the over-55s - age not handicaps.

It culminated in 2004 when Guernsey were just half a point away from a 15-0 whitewash on home ground. You could say there is room for improvement.

Jersey, blessed with very good senior golfers, again start hot favourites for this year's Garenne-sponsored clash at Grouville.

What interests me is not only how many of the beaten 2004 team get the nod for Jersey, but how many who lined up for this week's GGU island seniors championship are involved?

Just two of last year's team bothered to enter this week's competition which comprised two rounds of strokeplay qualifying and the top four entering the matchplay knockout stages.

It has been suggested that some may have been put off by the thought of having to play 36 holes in one day, should they be lucky enough to reach the final.

Or is it, as I tend to think, another case of players, cosy in the thought of almost certain selection for Jersey, not wanting to go and play on another course not of their liking.

As an outsider, I would like to think that all four semi-finalists in this week's strokeplay championship, get picked regardless of their handicaps. By doing that it will help the GGU bring all elements of island golf together and boosting this particular competition.

The Commonwealths is an altogether more prestigious and elite competition and not only are resident islanders battling for places in our team, but 'Guerns' in the UK and far away places.

I would hope that when the selectors sit down to make their final decision they take into account commitment to Guernsey sport, not merely ability and eligibility.