Millbrook Golf Course No Walk In The Park

Millbrook Golf Course No Walk In The Park

'Strategic bunkering' is the name of the game at Queenstown's five-star Millbrook resort, where an extensive golf course modification programme is designed to make life just that little more interesting for players.

The introduction of twenty-eight new bunkers, the remodeling of another seventeen and the removal of sixteen existing traps (all in the opening 14 holes) make for a real makeover of the Bob Charles-designed 18-hole championship course.

The bunker upgrades, stage one of a $250,000 golf course modification, comes off the back of significant resort investment including a $10 million villa interiors refurbishment, the recent refurbishment of the Hole In One café, the establishment of a new world class driving range facility, and work starting on a half billion dollar, 200-plus home housing development and additional nine-hole golf course.

The bunker upgrades will make for interesting times for the influx of golfers and visitors expected for the New Zealand Golf Open in November.

But golf course designer and former New Zealand golf professional Greg Turner, whose company Turner Macpherson Golf Design is designing the changes, said the new-look course was no walk in the park.

"Traditionally the course has almost entirely been a test of execution alone, but now we're building in another more strategic element," said Mr Turner.

"New Zealand golf courses in general, and Millbrook's no different, have tended to have bunkers located away from the desired line of play. They haven't created any real strategic dilemmas, and as a result the only way to make to course challenging for the better player has been to narrow fairways and grow long rough, which can be pretty daunting for the average resort golfer.

"By moving the bunkering to more central locations, we're reducing the need for the treacherous rough that has become synonymous with the course, especially in spring and early summer."

Mr Turner said this would make life interesting when those familiar with the course returned in spring.

"On some holes what was the optimum position from the tee will have changed, and it will take a little time for the benefits of the significantly wider fairways to become apparent," he said.

"But I think it won't take long for the canny players to realize they have a new string to their bow - that the course is now not simply a test of execution but also a tactical challenge."

Aside from their placement, the new and modified bunkers have other, more aesthetic appeal.

"They're now filled with pale golden sand from Oamaru, which looks a lot more attractive as well as providing greater consistency and control for golfers because of the structure of the sand," Mr Turner said.

Mr Turner said the new bunkers had all been constructed and will be in play once turf is re-established in spring. Work is scheduled to start on the second stage widening of fairways with the advent of spring grass growth.

"Widening of fairways and reduction of the long rough will be a rolling programme, well underway by the time of the Open," he said.

The new bunkers will be well bedded in before the start of the New Zealand Golf Open from November 29 to December 2. Millbrook is the Official Hotel of the New Zealand Open and the Open's pre-qualifying tournament will be played on the re-vamped Millbrook course on Tuesday November 27.

ENDS

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