Jewel in golf's crown

It is hard to put a price on loyalty. New Zealand Golf would do well to reflect on that as it considers the future of what has been, since 2007, the Michael Hill New Zealand Open.

As much as sporting aficionados might find the proliferation of sponsors' names attached to elite sporting events irritating, it is difficult to overestimate the role that the Arrowtown-based jewellery magnate has played in hosting the event three times in the past four years.

While there are a number of factors - predominantly to do with the timing and composition of various overseas tours - that may of necessity impact on the future of the tournament, its location is largely a matter of domestic concern.

In this it must be remembered that before Mr Hill entered the fray with his much-lauded The Hills course, its existence, following disastrous 2005-06 tournaments at Gulf Harbour, was looking decidedly shaky.

Without the intervention of the partnership between Mr Hill and promoter Bob Tuohy, it might not now exist.

And given the difficulty of attracting top golfing talent to these shores, continuity and the fact that it remains on the international calendar is a debt owed in Mr Hill's favour.

New Zealand Golf (NZG) made it clear during last week's tournament that a further Open at The Hills was not a foregone conclusion.

While there had been speculation that the flagship tournament might be reclaimed by The Grange in Auckland - and other names, such as Kauri Cliffs, Gulf Harbour, Millbrook and Jacks Point have at least fleetingly featured in conversations - the major challenge to Mr Hill is thought to come from American businessman Julian Robertson.

Mr Robertson is estimated to be worth $US2.2 billion and among his assets is the Cape Kidnappers course in Hawkes Bay, a links course 20km outside Napier.

Given the US billionaire's fortune and his track record in hosting high-profile events such as the Kiwi Challenge, a four-player $US2.6 million event televised in the United States, it is thought that he could have much to offer the Open - primarily a higher purse and the ability to attract one or two truly top-rank players.

For it is in this respect, if any, that the success of last weekend's tournament might be questioned.

The inaugural tournament at The Hills in 2007 attracted crowds of 32,000, which fell to 23,882 in 2009 - partly due to poor weather - and rose again marginally to 24,246 this year.

The novelty factor and the lack of headline players have probably contributed to these discrepancies, and the recession may have played its part, too.

But organisationally, the tournament can hardly be faulted and Mr Hill, who has made clear his intentions to run it again in 2011, NZG willing, can put forward a strong case.

Not least of the factors to be considered is the attraction of the location, the ease of international access through Queenstown's international airport, and the facilities provided by the resort itself.

And when the sun shines, as is its habit during Open weekend, there cannot be many more spectacular settings than The Hills, with its Remarkables backdrop.

Even so, Mr Hill has been appealing for funds to help retain the event, to New Zealand Tourism officials and the Queenstown business community.

He has undoubtedly done well out of the exposure, especially for his Michael Hill Watches brand, which is the main sponsor, but he has also spent a small fortune of his own funds (although he prefers not to disclose how much) on hosting the event.

While the Cape Kidnappers course is not without its own spectacular beauty, its distance from a noted centre and international airport should count against it, just as track record should favour The Hills.

The country's top professional tournament should be the jewel in the crown of New Zealand golf, and while the initial enterprise in 2007 was anticipated with a degree of healthy scepticism, the showman at the centre of it has proved again in 2010 that he has what it takes to run a successful contest.

In some respects at least he has made the event his own.

And, notwithstanding the fine tuning that is part and parcel of any major international tournament, even begrudging purists might have to agree that the "Michael Hill New Zealand Open" is beginning to have a certain ring to it.