New Zealand Golf yesterday announced the 2010 Open would be played in summer, from January 28 to 31, instead of early spring.
The tournament was played in late March this year, having been moved from early December when it was first played at The Hills in 2007.
The Arrowtown course struck a nasty patch of weather in March and golfers and fans alike shivered through the first two days of the tournament.
NZG and promoters Tuohy Associates have gone back to a traditional summer date to get better weather and attract holidaymakers.
The tournament will still be a co-sanctioned event between the Australasian and Nationwide tours.
"January should be a lot warmer and there's more daylight, so it's better for us all round," Douglas said yesterday.
"The change of dates obviously affects the amount of lead-in time to prepare for the tournament but we're very comfortable with that.
"We don't have much say in it but we're more than happy.
"We're ready any time."
Douglas said the March dates did not present a huge problem but the rough weather had been disappointing this year.
The course would not play vastly differently in January compared with March, he said.
Dunedin professional Mahal Pearce, who won the Open in 2003, is pleased with the shift to January.
"It's a good move.
"The course will be just as good but obviously the weather in January should be a whole lot better," he said.
"I think a few of the American guys were a bit shell-shocked at how cold it was this year."
For the first time this year, the Open was linked with the New Zealand PGA and the Moonah Classic, in Australia, as part of the Nationwide Tour, the PGA Tour's second-tier circuit.
The New Zealand PGA, at Clearwater, has lost its naming sponsor and will not be played as part of the "down under swing", though it is likely it will be played at some stage for a small purse.
The Open and Moonah Classic tournaments will again offer prize money of $US600,000 ($NZ960,000).
They have shifted spots, with the Open to be played in January and the Moonah Classic to follow a week later.
The tournaments should still attract some of the top Nationwide Tour players, as well as leading Australian regulars such as Craig Parry and Peter O'Malley and most of the top New Zealanders.
New Zealand Open promoter Bob Tuohy said the earlier date was a better fit for the tournament.
"It's a great chance for fans to watch this country's premier golf championship and a January date means we will certainly attract more spectators and enhance our volunteer base," Tuohy said.
Tickets for the 2010 New Zealand Open go on sale on August 31.
