So who's on board? A respected elder statesman of the sport from the US Seniors' tour? The latest tearaway from the PGA Tour of Australasia of which the Open is now affiliated?
Nope, it's the well-meaning reality TV host Phil Keoghan and Master Chef judge Josh Emett, who just happens to own two restaurants in that neck of the woods. They will be adjusting their golf slacks on the green alongside American dancer Cris Judd, best known as Jennifer Lopez's ex-beau.
To this, we can throw in names on the playing card including former test cricketers Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Mark Richardson along with rugby's Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtens, Andy Haden and Nick Farr-Jones. Also polishing up their white balls are former All Blacks coach John Hart and netballer Julie Coney.
Great. Wonderful. Now, I'm assuming there will also be some golfers there next month, too?
Not to be too forthright but these gentlemen and lady have been off circumventing the globe many times over in their different sporting and entertainment professions, and doing it full-time.
So how are their particulars in the "Sport of Kings" any different from my own father, who, when he wasn't fostering our youth as a primary school principal, was faithfully playing the game for more than 30 years with his Greenacres Golf Club in Nelson?
I got $50 right now that says my old man could take Phil Keoghan on the back nine at Queenstown.
There is a minimum purse of $850,000 for this year's Open, and I know the money is just about too tight to mention - NZG posted a loss of $533,542 in 2012 even before the announced delay in hosting the tournament for another year.
But surely you can pay a small fee to get a bunch of smart guys into a room to find a way to market this tournament on the quality of the strokeplay and ability of the contenders? Better that, than coming to watch "that guy I remember from TV", especially if his putting goes to hell.
Since four-time national amateur champion Arthur Duncan finished with a card of 159 after 36 holes at the Napier Golf Club in 1907, the NZ Open has been this country's pre-eminent golfing tournament.
Aussie Jake Higginbottom made history in 2012 when he became the first amateur to end the reign of the pros since Harry Berwick in 1956.
There's also the little matter that a Kiwi has not claimed the title in a decade, since Mahal Pearce shot a 278 (-10) in 2003. Can another local assume the mantle this year?
These are rich sporting stories that deserve to remain at the forefront, because anything else is just sideshow - even if that sideshow is on the E Network at 7.30pm.
