Major golf coup at Millbrook

Media release from Millbrook Resort
12 January 2009

Major golf coup at Millbrook

Millbrook Country Club will conduct New Zealand's newest and richest Senior Golf Tournament on the challenging new Millbrook Golf Course in February 2010.

The Handa New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook will take place from 19-21 February 2010 with a record breaking NZ$150,000 total prize money on offer.

The event is a welcome addition to the Southern Senior Golf Swing that brings Australia and New Zealand's best senior golfers to the New Zealand mainland.

The tournament will complement the grand opening of the newly structured Millbrook Golf Course set to be launched in January 2010.

"We are thrilled to showcase the new Coronet Nine," said Director of Sales and Marketing Kim Carpenter. "We believe that that this new addition along with our recently added covered driving range, walking paths and the renovated Village Inn and Villas will help reinforce Millbrook's reputation as one of the leading resort destinations in Australasia.

"With the recent additions and improvements at Millbrook and new courses in and around the Wakatipu, Queenstown now can rightfully claim to be a golf destination that is exciting, varied and spectacular," he said.

The tournament will not only attract some of New Zealand and Australia's top senior professional golfers, but will give local amateurs a chance to match their game against the best with a unique Dunhill Links-style format to the tournament.

Amateur golfers will have a unique opportunity to play side by side with a skilled and experienced golf professional in an exciting 36-hole golf tournament, a format similar to the famous Dunhill Links at St Andrews in Scotland.

"Having played in a number of Dunhill Links events, I can vouch for the success of the format," said Coronet Nine designer Greg Turner. "I think this event at Millbrook has the potential to be the most sought after participant golf event in the country."

Millbrook's Membership Services Manager Brian Spicer said Millbrook was excited to offer amateurs the opportunity to play with some of the legends of the game in Australasia.

"The unique format and Millbrook's outstanding facilities and service will truly make a memorable experience."

PGA National Events Manager Jim Clelland said the PGA of New Zealand welcomed Millbrook to the Legends Tour.

"This new event looks likely to become the flagship tournament of the eight to be played in New Zealand in 2010. We are pleased to be involved in bringing a quality field of well-known professionals to a golf course of such renown. What a wonderful opportunity for the amateurs who enter the event."

Tournament sponsor and patron Dr Haruhisa Handa is delighted to be involved in the newest Senior Men's tournament in the Australasian region and is looking forward to enjoying Millbrook Golf Club in the beautiful environment of the Wakatipu.

Dr Haruhisa Handa is a successful Japanese businessman, an academic, an accomplished artist and philanthropist, who believes that golf is the ideal forum to bring together people of all ages, abilities and cultures globally.

Dr Handa and Millbrook Golf Club are the driving forces behind the continuing growth of Senior Men's golf in the region with the addition of New Zealand's richest Senior Golf tournament.

Dr Handa's sponsorship of the Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook will also complement his ongoing passion for Blind Golf, with funds being donated to New Zealand and Australian Blind Golf charities.

ENDS

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