Golf: Hill asks public to help keep NZ Open at Arrowtown

Businessman Michael Hill wants the public's help to keep this year's New Zealand Golf Open at his private Arrowtown course.

He is seeking a $500,000 funding backstop - in effect underwriting - and launching a "Save Our Open" campaign on The Hills website.

Mr Hill has hosted the last three Opens but has been in limbo since the January event as New Zealand Golf ponders the future of the tournament.

The Christchurch City Council is understood to be seeking the event for the Clearwater course although NZ Golf chief executive Dean Murphy has previously emphasised no decision has been made as talks continue with the American-based Nationwide tour as a sanctioning partner.

Mr Murphy will be meeting Mr Hill on Monday, although The Hills general manager Sam Gent yesterday said there would not be not "new discussions".

"We've been talking to them [NZ Open officials] since November; we've just started to talk out loud because we want Queenstown people to know we're not [being idle]."

Ms Gent said there looked likely to be a shortfall of $500,000 if the Open was to align with the One Asia tour.

"The thing is ... the promoter has controlled all of the financials over the last three years.

"The only indication that we've had [about the next Open] from New Zealand Golf is everybody's been moving around the One Asia Tour. That would mean a shortfall of about half a million dollars."

It was "more about the intent" than physically having the money, she said.

"If we can go to New Zealand Golf and say we have an underwrite of $500,000 ... if they have a shortfall, they have the assurance there."

At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Queenstown yesterday, Mr Hill spoke to Queenstown businessman Eion Edgar and Winter Games chief executive Arthur Klap about event funding, revenue and community benefits of staging world-class events in the resort.