Easy transport option for NZ Open at The Hills and Millbrook

January 31 2014

Easy transport option for NZ Open at The Hills and Millbrook

Spectators heading to the NZ Open Championship at The Hills and Millbrook in Queenstown next month are encouraged to take advantage of the easy and convenient bus service to and from the course.

Transfers to and from The Hills will once again be provided by ski area operator NZSki, sister company to one of the tournament’s major sponsors, Milford Track Guided Walk.

NZSki Transport Manager Etienne Raubenheimer said the service proved popular last year as locals and visitors alike used the service to get to and from the event and take part in all the action.

The four-day tournament runs at both The Hills and Millbrook Resort on Thursday and Friday February 27 and 28 and The Hills only on Saturday and Sunday March 1 and 2.

“The first buses will pick up at the Station Building in Queenstown at 9am and run every other hour until the last bus at 3pm. Additional later departures are available for those wanting to attend the Thursday night Street Party in Arrowtown and the Open Sounds concert on Saturday at The Hills.”

“They will also pick up at Frankton Bus Stop on the way out and back, and the frequency will ramp up to hourly departures on Saturday and Sunday,” said Mr Raubenheimer.

The NZ Open, which returns to Queenstown this year, features a fantastic line-up of professional and amateur golfers including Rocco Mediate, Japan’s Toshinori Muto, Brendan Jones and defending champion Michael Hendry.

Adding a dash of glamour and sports rivalry to the field, a number of well-known celebrities will play alongside the pros including former cricketers Stephen Fleming, Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Mark Richardson and rugby greats Jeff Wilson, Justin Marshall and Nick Farr-Jones and Andrew Mehrtens.

Also joining the field is ell-known American dancer, choreographer and model Cris Judd, Australian rugby great Wendell Sailor and well-loved Kiwi TV stars Phil Keoghan and Josh Emett.

A highlight of this year’s event, apart from the exceptional golf, is Open Sounds, an open air concert to be held on Saturday night after play finishes.

To enable people to attend the family-friendly concert and make the most of the increased entertainment this year, buses will run until the concert finishes, with the last bus returning to Queenstown at 9.30pm.

Mr Raubenheimer said while there was extensive parking available at The Hills, if people wanted to attend the concert and make the most of the “fantastic” hospitality options available, the bus transport was “the way to go”.

“A trip each way from Queenstown to The Hills has remained at just $6, and with the frequency of the service it makes sense to catch the bus on any day of the tournament and avoid having to worry about driving.”

For those who wish to drive, extensive car parking is also available at The Hills for either $10 a day or $20 for a season pass for the whole four days of the tournament.

More information on the NZ Open bus service:-
Queenstown/Frankton to The Hills and Millbrook

• Queenstown pick up - The Station Building bus stop on Duke Street
• Frankton pick up – The Frankton Bus Shelter on Kawarau Road
• Drop off – Inside the main gate at The Hills
• Cost is $6 each way and is a cash-only service

Follow the NZ Open
• www.nzopen.co.nz
• Facebook: New Zealand Open
• @nzopengolf
• #NZOpen

NZ Open
• A minimum professional field of 132 players will play the first two rounds alternately at The Hills and Millbrook before the second round cut of 60 + ties
• The NZ Open Champion will be the leading player after 72 holes of stroke play

NZ Pro-Am Championship
• The NZ Pro-Am Championship will run concurrently to the main tournament
• A minimum of 132 amateurs will partner with a professional and play in a best-ball format
• The top 35 pro-am teams will progress to round 3 at The Hills and the top 10 pro-am teams will progress to play in the final round.

ENDS

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