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In a stunning development, the 2007 New Zealand Open could be played in the South Island for the first time since 1985, in Otago for the first time since 1979 and in Queenstown for the first time ever.
The Herald on Sunday has been told a brand-new course, The Hills, owned by jewellery magnate Michael Hill, is on a short list of four to host the co-sanctioned Australasian/European Tour event from November 29 to December 2.
A New Zealand Golf sub-committee and tournament promoter Bob Tuohy have been assessing venues since last year's Open at Gulf Harbour.
Nobody is prepared to say where the other three courses are but it's understood they include resort and club courses in and out of Auckland. Gulf Harbour is definitely off the list but it's possible the spectacular Cape Kidnappers and traditional venues such as the Auckland Golf Club at Middlemore and Paraparaumu Beach are being considered. A decision is likely within a month.
The Hills is by far the most intriguing. Literally across the road from the well-established Millbrook, The Hills has been an intensely private project.
Hill, a long time resident of the Queenstown-Arrowtown area, has been quietly developing it for some years. Like most of the golfing population, I've never set foot on the property although I have driven past slowly on a few occasions hoping to catch a peek of it. It's impossible to get much more than a fleeting glimpse from the outside but those who have been on site, either working or being shown around, assure me its design and construction are of the highest international quality.
The alpine setting would certainly be spectacular, with the nearby Remarkables and Coronet Peak providing a stunning backdrop.
But, as has been pointed out before, an Open venue must have more than a high-quality course. It needs car parking, public access, practice facilities, volunteers, as well as accommodation for players, officials and television crew.
In an area where tourism is the main industry, those issues can be comfortably dealt with. The cost of television production would be high because most of the crew would need to travel to the venue. That's an issue for any venue outside Auckland and may be mitigated by having a smaller and more efficient production.
Australian Tour players are apparently well aware of the possibility of The Hills being used for the New Zealand Open and, although few of them have actually seen the course, word has got around that it is a venue worth pursuing.
Hill wasn't prepared to comment this week but is known to be keen to host the event if arrangements can be finalised.
The New Zealand Open was last held in the South Island when Corey Pavin won in Christchurch in 1985. The most recent winner in Otago was Stewart Ginn at St Clair in Dunedin in 1979.
The Open has never before been to a tourist mecca but there's a real possibility some of the world's best golfers could follow international cricket's lead and enjoy the delights of Queenstown.
