New Zealand Open to mark 100 years in Queenstown
The New Zealand Open will celebrate 100 years of existence at the new venue of The Hills Golf Club, near Queenstown in November.
The Hills GC is a new course located near Arrowtown and is owned by well-known New Zealand businessman Michael Hill. This will be the first time the event has been staged in the South Island since 1985.
The Open will remain as a co-sanctioned event with the Australasian PGA Tour and European Tour and will be held from 29 November to 2 December, following the co-sanctioned MasterCard Masters in Melbourne.
New Zealand Golf have also secured the active support of the 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell who will become the official New Zealand Open Ambassador.
‘I am really pleased with the plans that have been put in place for the New Zealand Open and the direction it is taking,’ Campbell said. ‘I said at last year’s Open that I wanted to help this event going forward.
‘So I have pledged my support to the New Zealand Open, firstly as a player and also as a proud New Zealander. I am going to be speaking with a number of players to encourage them to compete in the Open.
‘With the Remarkables as the backdrop to this course, there will be some wonderful television pictures beamed around the world,’ said Campbell who visited The Hills recently.
The Hills course has also received strong commendation from four-time New Zealand Open champion Sir Bob Charles.
‘In my opinion it’s in the top five in New Zealand,’ Sir Bob said. ‘They have done a wonderful job to put together a golf course on such natural surrounds.
I have a high opinion of the course and all who come to play there will really enjoy the experience. It’s not only a great test of golf for the players but it also has great viewing for spectators. It is a great venue for a New Zealand Open.’