Christchurch to host BMW NZ Open

BY iseekgolf.com | 21 Feb 2011

The New Zealand Open, the country’s flagship golfing event, has a home in Christchurch for the next three years.

The event will be hosted at the Clearwater Golf Resort from 1 to 4 December in an exciting new partnership with BMW and the Christchurch City Council, to be known as the BMW New Zealand Open.

The tournament has secured a prime place in the golfing calendar, following the two major golf events across the Tasman – the Australian Open and Australian PGA – as well as the President’s Cup to be staged in Melbourne in November. As one of the last tournaments in 2011, the BMW New Zealand Open will form an extremely important component of the PGA Tour of Australasia’s all-important Order of Merit.

New Zealand Golf CEO Dean Murphy said that securing the new date alongside the biggest events in Australia was a crucial part of the jigsaw for the future success of the Open.

“The major tournaments in Australasia are prior to Christmas at present, so it was imperative to seek a new date in the same mix as the big events over the Tasman in terms of our exposure and ability to attract a strong field. That has been an intricate and lengthy negotiation,” said Mr Murphy.

“We considered the proposal based at Clearwater to be a package that was in the best interests of New Zealand Golf and our membership. We have enjoyed three excellent years in Queenstown at The Hills and look forward to returning there in the future. That said it has been a tradition over more than 100 years to host our flagship event around the country.”

The BMW New Zealand Open joins the Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open to be based in Christchurch with the events set to bring more than $20 million of new income into the region annually.

“We are delighted to be back in Christchurch at a proven venue and with a local council who are wonderful supporters of golf especially in these challenging times for this city and region,” said Mr Murphy.

“We are thrilled to have attracted the support of a major world brand in BMW as title sponsor and two significant partners in the Christchurch City Council and Clearwater which has ensured the financial certainty of the event.

“The Clearwater Golf Course is a world class venue with superior facilities. We have the support of Sir Bob Charles who lives on the course, and has been working tirelessly with his team of helpers to introduce several new features to further enhance the Clearwater experience from tee to green. “

Christchurch has rich history in hosting major golf events. Over the last 10 years it has hosted the Clearwater Classic twice, seven NZ PGA Championships and also the inaugural NZ Women’s Open, with the Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open held just outside the city.

On top of the direct economic benefit, the value of media exposure is estimated at $5.5 million and the reach of the international broadcast will exceed 120 million households, which is excellent exposure for Christchurch.

BMW, one of the sport’s major global partners, is set to increase that involvement as title sponsor of the New Zealand Open after three years as official vehicle supplier.

“BMW have long been associated with quality, high performance and efficiency and we are delighted to bring these valuable attributes to the New Zealand Open,” said Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand Ltd, Mark Gilbert.

“We see golf as an ideal environment through which to communicate with our customers and promote BMW’s key values such as precision, dynamism, sportsmanship and being the ultimate driving machine.”

BMW’s involvement includes the worldwide BMW Golf Cup International with a New Zealand final this week, the BMW Championship, Ryder Cup, BMW PGA Championship and BMW International Open, as well as the world’s largest tournament series for amateurs.

The New Zealand Open will be sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia, playing for a minimum purse of NZ$500,000 in 2011.