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Arrowtown’s The Hills course has lost golf’s New Zealand Open but could pick up the country’s other major tournament.
The Professional Golf Association of NZ and The Hills are looking at staging the prestigious NZPGA Championship at mega-jeweller Sir Michael Hill’s private course.
Former NZ Football boss Michael Glading has been appointed to conduct a feasibility study.
Glading will complete his study by November so a decision can be made by the end of the year. It’s understood the study will canvass the financial feasibility of the event.
“It’s early days yet but we are delighted to be working with The Hills on options for the future of the PGA Championship,” PGA president Geoff Smart says.
“The NZPGA Championship was first held in 1920 and has a proud history. In recent times, we’ve had seven championships at Christchurch’s Clearwater, 2004-2010, including Kiwi Steven Alker’s famous victory in 2009 when the event was co-sanctioned with the US Nationwide Tour,” he says.
“The PGA is certainly keen to re-establish the tournament and this study is the first step.”
The championship, which wasn’t held last summer, also took a 17-year break between 1988-2004 due to sponsorship problems.
It would be a case of course-swapping if The Hills does eventually host the next PGA Championship.
The Hills staged the past three NZ Opens but this year controversially lost the tournament to Clearwater, which will host the next three Opens.
The PGA Championship has been won by four of golf’s big names – Australian Kel Nagle, who won it a record six times, Kiwi legend Sir Bob Charles, who won three, and Australian Peter Thomson and Englishman Tony Jacklin with one win each.
Other winners include Australian Bob Tuohy, the NZ Open’s current promoter, and Queenstowner Greg Turner.
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