Hills Golf Course

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The private course built by jeweller Michael Hill will host the Open for the next three years in a deal that will be music to the ears of the sport's stakeholders.

 

After losing almost $1.2 million in two years, and four days after revealing a $695,472 loss on the 2006 edition of the Open, New Zealand Golf has handed over the financial risk or reward of the event to Australian promoter Tuohy Associates NZ. European and Australasian co-sanctioning will be retained, but already the balance sheet looks brighter for what will be New Zealand's 100th national open.

 

Hill has generously waved the six-figure venue fee that had been attached to Gulf Harbour and Bob Tuohy has already predicted this year's event will break even.

 

But while there can be no doubt the first South Island Open since 1985 has the potential to restore the tournament's tarnished image, and NZG's balance sheet, there will be some uncertainty about the venue.

 

Hill is the sole member of his private Arrowtown course and aside from his close friends and a small group of New Zealand's top players, few have played the course.

 

Recently completed after five years in the making, it will have no track record come November, but Turner, a former European PGA professional, said any concerns were unfounded.

 

"I went and had a hit with Michael (Hill) a few weeks ago and I can tell you it's a true championship course. It's going to be a real test," he said yesterday. "It's difficult, there's lots of water, lots of tussock and undulating greens."

 

Turner said it would provide the players with a unique challenge and believed it would draw good crowds despite being outside Auckland for the first time since 2002.

 

"I can't think of anything like it in New Zealand. It's unusual. It's a lot of rock out crops and tussock grass. I think it will be a really good venue. I think a lot of people will come. The Queenstown area is rising right now, but also I think people will come from Invercargill and Dunedin and possibly from Christchurch as well."

 

Hill said there had been enough feedback to allay any fears the course would not meet PGA standards.

 

"All the top New Zealand players have had a crack. Phil Tataurangi was first and he gave a lot of advice, then Greg Turner in the early stages too."

 

Their main advice had been to lengthen the course to combat technology, but they had been more than happy with the layout, he said.

 

"One hole is over 600 yards all up hill into the wind, so it will be quite a challenge."

 

Hill said it was a "thinking man's course" with many holes providing players with two options.

 

"You can go over the bunker, which is harder, but you get a kick down the hill. Several holes are split in two where you can go for the green over waterways or vile swamps, or go around the fairway, which is longer, but more conservative."

 

He had no plans to host any other tournaments on the course and believed the "curiosity value" created by keeping it closed to the public would enhance the appeal of the Open.

 

The 2007 tournament will be held from 29 November to 2 December, following the co-sanctioned MasterCard Masters in Melbourne with Kiwi No1 Michael Campbell the official tournament ambassador.

 

It will be up to Campbell, Tuohy and Hill to leverage Queenstown's tourist appeal to both players and the pubic alike. If successful, New Zealand's premier golf tournament could again become a jewel in the country's sporting crown.

 

[text courtesy The Dominion Post]

 

NOTE: You are not permitted to use this image for any purposes without contacting me first.

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