Millbrook might have hosting rights for the New Zealand Open for seven more years but the plan to return to a multi-course tournament has not altered.
Organisers last week revealed, at the same time an economic impact report was published, the Open was to stay at the Arrowtown resort until 2032.
However, tournament director Michael Glading has confirmed the vision remains to eventually expand the footprint of the tournament, along the lines of the years it was co-hosted by Millbrook and The Hills.
“Millbrook share our vision, which is getting to a three-course model,” Glading told the Otago Daily Times.
“Whether that three-course model is two at Millbrook and one somewhere else, or whether it’s three different courses … I think Millbrook are very open.
“Obviously their own resort is their No 1 priority, but they’ve also always had a ‘what’s best for Queenstown’ mentality.
“Millbrook will remain, if you like, the centre point. If we go to three courses, Millbrook will be the one that features the final round.
“Millbrook are a part of that decision-making process. They are very keen to keep growing, and ultimately, the next phase of growth is the third course.”
Glading and tournament chairman John Hart have talked previously about the tournament, which attracts a giant field of 156 professional golfers matched with 156 paying amateurs in the pro-am format, expanding across multiple courses to bring in even more commercial benefits and ease the stresses on tee-off times.
The assumption is Jack’s Point and eventually the new Hogans Gully development would be strong contenders, while plenty would be delighted if The Hills, set for significant redevelopment, came back on the schedule.
“We would love to have The Hills involved again, and I think they’ll be very open to it,” Glading said.
“They’re going to be doing some remodelling, and that’s going to take them out of action for certainly two to three years, I think, while they do that work.
“Once that’s done, the door’s very much open for that to happen. And we maintain a really strong and close relationship with The Hills, as we have all the way through.
“I think it’s indicative of Queenstown that people really want to work together.”
Glading was heartened by an economic impact report that showed the 2025 Open generated $12.3 million in net economic impact for New Zealand and over $23m in direct economic impact for the Queenstown region, and featured a 48% growth in attendance figures with 34,199 fans.
Sustainable, ongoing growth for the $2m tournament was important, and he felt it was hitting a sweet spot as an upper-end event on the Asian and Australasian tours.
Glading has been keeping a close eye on the release of other schedules as he starts work on building the professional field for 2026.
He will do some recruiting work on the Asian and Japan tours in November before heading to Australia.
The dream remains to get New Zealand star Ryan Fox back to his home Open but it is virtually impossible while he has top-line PGA Tour events to play in the February-March period.
Glading has been reflecting on the massive role the late Michael Hill had on the Queenstown Lakes area becoming the home of the New Zealand Open.
Hill helped rescue the open when The Hills hosted it for the first time in 2007, and later set the foundation for the shift to a pro-am format when he enlisted Glading to come up with a new tournament in the open’s absence.
“My general favourite memories are all around his sense of humour.
“I just loved his sense of humour. He had a very dry, witty sense of humour, which I always got to enjoy.
“On a more serious note, he also had a vision for Queenstown and for this tournament, and he always thought outside the square.
“Michael’s initial support, I guess, for what we’ve now established … I mean, it would never be what it is without his support, both financially and morally.”
It was early days but Glading said the New Zealand Open would be doing something to “tip our hat” to Hill at the tournament next year.
