Golf: TV needs pushing NZ Open back to Auckland

By Graham Skellern

The Grange and Remuera golf clubs in Auckland have entered the frame to stage the next New Zealand Open as the organisers mull over the cost of sending the tournament south to Paraparaumu Beach.

A draft Australasian tour schedule for 1999-2000 has New Zealand's biggest professional tournament pencilled in for January 20-23 (Wellington's Anniversary weekend) at Paraparaumu, which has hosted the event seven times.

But it is understood the increased costs, particularly concerning television coverage, of staging the $500,000 event at Paraparaumu have caused the organisers to review their options.

TV One has told the New Zealand Golf Association and their promoters, International Management Group , that there would be additional complications and a significant cost difference if the 2000 Open was held in the Wellington region.

TV One begins filming the America's Cup live on January 2 - the start of the challenger semifinals - and 18 camera operators are required. The golf also requires up to 18 camera operators.

There is no America's Cup racing during the proposed timing of the Open, but the television resources would be fully stretched if the golf was held outside Auckland.

A TV One spokesman said: "We would have to fly into Wellington a team of 30 and accommodate them. It's logistically easier and cheaper to televise the tournament in Auckland."

The Paraparaumu club, which last hosted the Open in 1996 (it was won by Michael Long), is hoping to stage the tournament to coincide with its 50th jubilee celebrations.

Club officials last met the tournament organisers on April 29 and apparently signed a heads of agreement satisfactory to both parties.

"We are sitting in limbo," said the club captain, Terry Killalea. "It's a bit frustrating. We know it's still six months out but every week now is pretty useful for us in attracting our own sponsorship and organising the event."

The proposed new date, away from the early December slot, is also ideal for Paraparaumu as it falls on a holiday weekend. The January timing should also attract a strong field, with the golfers returning to competitive play following the Christmas break and gearing up for the first European Tour event, the Heineken Classic at Perth, a week later.

One of the New Zealand Open organisers, Paul Gleeson, of IMG, said yesterday that they were still reviewing a couple of venues and were looking at either Wellington or Auckland.

He indicated that costs had become a factor and that the Grange and Remuera - which have previously staged the event - had put their hands up. He said the organisers were particularly anxious to confirm the playing dates from Australia.

The Australasian Tour officials have also pencilled in the reborn New Zealand PGA Championship at Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula from March 2-5 next year, another favourable date.

The proposed $1 million event is the penultimate tournament before the season-ending Tour Championship in Canberra (March 9-12) and the golfers will then be chasing valuable order of merit points.