Media Release from Millbrook
November 6 2007
Celebration Of Championship Golf Over The Past 100 Years
The golf clubs used by New Zealand legend Sir Bob Charles when he won the British Golf Open in 1963 will be a major
highlight of an exhibition to be held at Queenstown’s Millbrook resort later this month.
The Millhouse Conference Centre (to be renamed ‘The 19th’ for the week) will be the setting for a celebration of 100
years of NZ golf and the New Zealand Golf Open when it hosts an exhibition entitled ‘1907-2007 The Long Drive To The
Hills’.
Photographs of golfers and courses dating back more than 100 years, a McEwan Long-Nosed putter from 1870 and a first
edition complete works of 24 prints of ‘Crombie’ golfers will be among other highlights for golfers and historians,
according to Allan McKay, head professional at the Queenstown Golf Club at Kelvin Heights.
Mr McKay has been collecting golf memorabilia for 25 years and this will be the first time much of his collection has
been on show.
Mr McKay said the items donated by Sir Bob, with their connection to the Royal Lytham & St Anne’s golf course in Liverpool and Sir Bob’s historic win, would be the “showstopper”.
As well as Sir Bob’s golf clubs, the Open Championship Claret Jug that he was presented with as winner of the British
Open will also be on show. “That’s the golf equivalent of having a Fabergé egg on display,” said Mr McKay.
Other fascinating items include a 120-year-old image of golfers and a caddy in front of Dunedin’s Mornington Hotel, rare
and collectable books, prints from 1870 to 1930 and turn-of-the-century ceramics. The exhibition will be held from 24
November to December 2 from 11am to 6pm daily with entry by gold coin donation.
Five-star Millbrook Resort has been announced as the official hotel of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open Golf
Championship, being held at The Hills Course between 29 November and 2 December 2007 in Arrowtown.
Guests will be able to access in-house golf privileges such as golf at $70 per round and accommodation during this time
is at a premium. Reservations can be made by calling +64 3 441 7000 or by email to reservations@millbrook.co.nz Further
information is available on www.millbrook.co.nz
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