First New Zealand Open held at The Hills

The New Zealand Open is New Zealand's richest sporting event with prize money on offer of $1,500,000NZD. The event is co-sanctioned by The PGA European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

The event was won by Englishman Richard Finch walking away with the $270,000 winner's cheque after shooting a par round of 72 to win the title by three shots.

We must all thank Michael Hill and the organising committee which included Bob Touhy and Geoff Saunders for putting on such a great event at his suburb golf course.

Everybody that attended had a great time and the weather played its part. Over 33,000 people attended the event. Not so long ago the hierarchy at New Zealand Golf said the New Zealand Open would never again be held in the South Island. For its immediate future it looks like its home is Queenstown or to be exact Arrowtown and Michael Hills backyard.

On the course.

The course was in suburb condition and from players comments a joy to play once the tee at the 16th was moved to a more playable position. Next year the suggestion is to move the tee so the hole has the creek to the right and the bank to the left and the players hitting straight up the length of the green instead of across it. 
The spectators found the course easy to walk around and the 500 plus volunteers kept everything in order.  
One of the great holes was the par 5, 17th which the spectators could not get that close to the green on. One lady trying to climb a bank to get closer to the hole damaged her leg. The scream was heard on the 17th green as the players were putting.  
The other small thing that could be improved was that the spectators on the 18th green could not see the players teeing off.  
The tented village was fantastic with everything a golf fan needed.

If there is any down side it’s the amount of times TV commentators and interviewers go on about how great New Zealand is. We all know it’s great, let’s not show our own insecurities about New Zealand by continually asking players and visitors about what they think of the country. They are not going to say “hate the place” Let’s talk to players about their golf and leave all the positive comments to the overseas press.

The event concluded with a prize giving on the 18th green with a pipe band walking down the 18th fairway and a flyover by 2 WWII Kitty hawk fighters.

It is well worth a trip to the Queenstown area. Make a golfing trip of it.