Golf: Gulf Harbour aces Open again

The New Zealand Golf Open will return to Whangaparaoa's Gulf Harbour Country Club next year.

New Zealand Golf and Gulf Harbour have agreed to an annual review which could see the club host the $1.5 million tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Australasian Tours, until 2009.

New Zealand Golf chief executive Larry Graham believes this paves the way to establish a world-class tournament for New Zealand. His views were supported by New Zealand's leading player, Michael Campbell, who yesterday confirmed he will be a starter for next January's 2006 Open.

Campbell, who has climbed to 18th on the European rankings after five top-15 finishes in a row, said this year's Open at Gulf Harbour was the best and most professionally run he had attended.

"They've done a lot to the course and facilities for players, wives and the public were excellent. The total scene was a big jump up from any other New Zealand Open that I've attended," Campbell said on the eve of his participation in the US Open.

The Holden New Zealand Open enjoyed a successful debut as a co-sanctioned event with the European and Australasian Tours in February this year, with the Gulf Harbour course providing a key component.

"The pictures from [that] event beamed live and delayed worldwide to 120 million homes. That is the sort of exposure for our game and this country that money can't buy," Graham said. A longer-term agreement would allow the organisers and the club to invest in infrastructural services to further enhance the event.

"I know some people would like to see this tournament move around the country. This arrangement will hopefully give other venues a chance to review their own facilities in line with those at Gulf Harbour and to put their hand up for consideration at the next opportunity."

Graham said New Zealand Golf and the Australasian Tour had debriefed with all sponsors and already begun discussions with existing and potential sponsors for the 2006 event.

Next year's Open is scheduled for the slightly earlier date of January 26-29 January and he is confident of a stronger field, especially as the tournament leads into the $3 million co-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.