"We've had misgivings about the timing [of the Southland tournament] for some years and have made our feelings known at national level ... selecting a one-off squad to take to Invercargill has little significance with where we should be heading in October [when the rep programme kicks in]," McAlpine said.
"In the old days, when this tournament was set up to tie in with oyster season, all managers seemed to want to do is ensure they came home with punnets of oysters. Our golf has moved on from there."
McAlpine said there was also a significant financial consideration, with the Invercargill trip costing $8000 for five players and a manager, whereas the Taupo camp was less than $2000 for eight players, a coach and manager.
"Two of our leading players, Landyn [Edwards] and Sam [Davis], are working and it would be costing them to take time off, going down Thursday and back Monday. Our kids never get to play Kinloch so it wasn't even a decision in their minds."
Bay of Plenty were last year chastised by tournament organisers for sending a development team to Invercargill, with its leading players at a squad training camp in Melbourne.
The decision this year to opt out completely has been met with anger and disappointment, with organising committee chairman Peter Sim questioning Bay's motives and the high cost of getting to the South Island, which he said was more perceived than reality.
North Harbour were also a no-show this weekend, saying critical absences meant they wouldn't be able to field a strong enough team to compete.
Sim, also on the board of Golf Southland, said New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy is flying to Invercargill to talk to organisers and ensure all 15 provinces were there next year.
"We're pretty gutted about it really. Last year Bay chose to send their third team with their best 12 players to Melbourne, and it's certainly not a financial consideration because I understand they're pretty well financially based. Poverty Bay are coming and they're not flush with money or players.
"We're a grade one New Zealand event, the tournament is run by NZ Golf and they're pretty pissed off as well I understand because it's a kick in the teeth for them too. We can't force people into it, and as keen as we are to get Bay and North Harbour back next year we're not bending over backwards to change [the timing or format] because they want it."
Sim said finding billets for players had got tougher, with some teams opting to stay in motels. They would consider changing the tournament from five to four-man teams, while NZ Golf could be asked to kick in more cash to subsidise teams' travel.
Bay of Plenty won the SBS Invitational in 2001, 2003 and 2006 but McAlpine said staying in their own province and training at two of New Zealand's best courses would serve a far greater purpose.
"Our strategic plan is to develop golf here in the Bay not to appease Southland and their tournament."
