Peter Williams: Hills great course to watch fine line-up of players

After spending a couple of days at The Hills this week, you get the feeling there won't be that much disappointment from the fans that Sir Bob Charles and Danny Lee aren't playing over the weekend.

Because the New Zealand Open at Michael Hill's fine property near Arrowtown has very quickly become more than just a golf tournament.

I was staggered by the size of the galleries on Thursday and Friday but among the numerous friends and acquaintances I ran into this week, actually watching the tournament is just part of the reason for being there. Queenstown is now undisputed as the country's top golf destination.

So the New Zealand Open is a convenient excuse to have a holiday, play some of the good courses in the area, then go to watch the New Zealand Open.

It's been almost impossible to get a tee time at the Queenstown and Arrowtown golf clubs or the Millbrook and Jacks Point resort courses this week unless you'd made a booking.

Many people I knew were playing a different course each day before or after being at The Hills.

Even the little nine hole course by Queenstown Airport had a full carpark and players on every hole when I drove past late on Friday afternoon.

There've been other events too, like a street party in Arrowtown last night, to make the week of the New Zealand Open a fun golf and entertainment experience.

It's a far cry from the previous thinking that the New Zealand Open could only be played in the main centres, particularly Auckland, because that's where the sponsors' money is.

After the huge success of the first tournament at The Hills in late 2007, there was more than just a little scepticism that what happened back then could be repeated or improved upon.

Those who thought that co-sanctioning with the second tier Nationwide Tour instead of being part of the European Tour would produce a lower quality event have quickly had their fears dispelled.

I would have thought scoring was easier in the warmer and, from memory, calmer conditions of 2007 than this year but the 36 hole leader Steven Bowditch was 10 under par that time, the same as the 36 hole leaders this year.

The cut in 2007, which under European Tour rules was 70 players and ties, came at one over par after two rounds. This year, with Nationwide Tour regulations allowing just the top 60 and ties to make the weekend, the cut was one under par.

So using the bare scoring statistics, the standard of golf has been very similar.

And even though they have kept a low profile - both missed the cut - there have been a couple of players who were just one shot away from winning big championships.

Bob May lost a playoff to Tiger Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship, while Len Mattiace was beaten by Mike Weir at the 2003 Masters.

Despite the fate of Sir Bob and Danny Lee, and with Michael Campbell and Mark Brown unable to play, the great bonus has still been the performance of the New Zealanders. Steven Alker might be in the best form of his life, David Smail is a constant presence and Josh Geary is now making serious progress in his professional career.

Even Sir Bob and Danny had their moments. Both had seven birdies in the 36 holes they played, although they had rather too many double bogeys too.

The Hills is a great course at which to watch golf. There are plenty of elevated spots where you can see play on three or four holes.

There was a certain rawness about the property during the first tournament 16 months ago but the trees and grass have matured quite markedly. After where the tournament was at only three years ago, the bar for the Open has now been set very high.