Open switch slices $4 million from Christchurch economy
The decision to move the New Zealand Open men’s golf tournament to Queenstown is predicted to cost Christchurch NZ$4 million in lost spending revenue.
The Christchurch city council subsidised the tournament with $450,000 a year, partially offsetting the blow.
The NZ Open will now be hosted by The Hills Golf Club and Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, still on the South Island.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism industry partnerships manager Caroline Blanchfield told NZ Golf Central that while she was disappointed at the city losing the Open, she understood it was “more a commercial decision rather than a reflection on the city”.
Christchurch still had the women’s tournament, she said.
“Sometimes you have to take it on the chin and move forward. We will just carry on and we think that there will be other tournaments that we can put our hand up to have.”
Ian Jarrett
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