Golf: Marquee event still up in air

Clearwater is one of the leading venue options for 2011. Photo / Supplied.

Will there be a New Zealand Open in 2011? As 2010 draws to a close, considerable uncertainty surrounds the flagship event for next year.

No venue or dates have been confirmed and some in the golf fraternity believe the tournament may not even be staged - something Golf NZ disputes.

The NZ Open has been held at the Hills course in Arrowtown since 2007 but club manager Samantha Gent says everything is still up in the air.

"Generally there are three schools of thought," says Gent. "One is that the Open will be at Clearwater [Christchurch], another that it will return here and a third that it will not happen at all."

Gent's main concern has been lack of communication with Golf New Zealand. Discussions started almost a year ago about 2011 and 2012 but they have not heard anything concrete for months.

"After all the progress that's been made, it would be a shame to let it die," says Gent. "It is a fantastic national event and needs to keep moving forward."

It is understood Golf NZ are leaning towards Clearwater, which has the facilities and accommodation nearby.

Christchurch City Council have apparently committed to it financially and the general perception is it would be easier to attract a naming rights sponsor there than at the Hills.

Into the mix comes Tourism New Zealand, which is believed to be prepared to commit a substantial sum, perhaps up to $1 million, but only if the tournament is held at the Hills, which has a spectacular setting.

Golf NZ chief executive Dean Murphy said yesterday there was "definitely an event planned for 2011" and rubbished suggestions sponsors have yet to confirm, preferring to look at the Rugby World Cup.

"There are no issues around commercial structure or sponsorship of the event," he said. "It has been a long process and we'd have liked to have things confirmed by now but negotiations are ongoing. The venue and the timing haven't been finalised for 2011 as yet. There is absolutely every possibility the event will stay where it is but we're also looking at a number of venues to change it to."

Golf NZ have struggled to attract significant clusters of top-ranked players despite moving the Open around the country and at different ends of the year.

If there is a 2011 Open, it will most likely be a co-sanctioned event on the Australian PGA tour, played from December 15-18 at Clearwater.

Royal Melbourne will host the President's Cup between November 14-20, the first time it has been staged outside the United States.