KEY POINTS:
Less than three years after criticising Gulf Harbour as a "terrible" course, Michael Campbell is now officially endorsing the country club layout, north of Auckland.
Campbell will display the Gulf Harbour livery on his bag at the Masters this week - and not Northland's Kauri Cliffs. He's the first to admit the irony of the deal after the broadside he aimed at the course in 2004, when it first hosted the Open.
"Maybe I shot from the hip a little bit. The bigger picture is that Mark Bryers [Gulf Harbour's new owner] and I have wonderful visions for New Zealand golf. It's more than just me being associated with the course. It's about the development of the game through grass roots, developing practice facilities, getting coaches and making Gulf Harbour the home of New Zealand golf."
The plan is for a Michael Campbell Golf Academy there, and he will also oversee a redesign ready for the New Zealand Open in 2009. The venue for this year's Open, in November, has yet to be confirmed but Campbell is an ambassador for the tournament.
