2
T
his year marks the
10th time in the past
12 years that the New
Zealand Open has
been held in Queens-
town, and tournament chairman
John Hart says its long-term future
here is looking rosy.
Hart and his team have been
guiding the tournament for eight
years. Reflecting on last year’s
100th Open, he is happy to say the
event is “ticking plenty of boxes”
as one of the world’s pre-eminent
Pro-Am tournaments.
Hart says introducing the format
where amateurs pay to play along-
side professionals was the shot in
the arm the event needed finan-
cially and in player appeal.
“Year after year the profession-
als say they love the format, the
presentation of the event and its
stunning location,” he says.
“This year we’ve increased the
total prize purse to $1.45 million,
a big step up from the $450k when
we first became involved.
“Seeing this steadily grow
is great news, in line with
one of our early goals of
making the tournament
financially sustainable in
the long-term.
“We’re also delighted
this year to open the gates,
with free entry to two of New
Zealand’s finest courses: Millbrook
Resort and The Hills. Removing
the cost of ticketing allows locals
and visitors from far and wide to
support the best golfers from NewZealand, Australia, the US, Japan
and Asia. The professionals love to
see large crowds on course and it
really adds another dimension.
“The professional field is the
strongest we have ever had, and
that, coupled with amateurs from
all around the world and some
high-profile ambassadors, will
make for a fantastic week.”
Hart is keen to pay tribute to
Millbrook Resort founder Eiichi
Ishii, who died last year. “It’s thanks
in part to his long-term commit-
ment to the Open, and Millbrook’s
co-hosting and underwriting ofthe tournament, that
we’re here today. He
loved to see some of the
world’s top players on course
and particularly encouraged New
Zealand-Japanese relations, golf
and tourism, for which he was
awarded a New Zealand Order of
Merit.”Having
amateurs pay
to play with
professionals
was the shot
in the arm the
event needed.
The presentation
following the 100th
NZ Open at The
Hills course near
Queenstown. Right,
Millbrook founder
Eiichi Ishii with
then-Governor
General Sir Jerry
Mateparae. Inset,
John Hart.Australian Zach
Murray clutches
the Brodie Breeze
Challenge Cup after
winning the 2019
New Zealand Open.“This year
we’ve
increased
the total
prize purse
to $1.45
million,
a big step
up from
the $450k
when
we first
became
involved.”