KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Golf officials are coy about the size of the deficit on the Open championship ahead of a detailed review of the event.
And there is no guarantee that the Open will stay part of the European Tour beyond this year.
NZG chairman Phil Hassall said yesterday
that an intensive review of the Blue Chip-sponsored Open would start today. The first order of business is sure to be how to run the event to break even - or at the worst not cost the association a bomb each year.
Neither Hassall nor chief executive Larry Graham were willing to speculate on the size of the shortfall this year. Last year, when it was staged on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula layout for the first time, it lost about $459,000.
NZG had reserves of $2.6 million ahead of this year's Open. The kitty will be considerably smaller when the sums are finished in a few months.
This is the second year the Open has been a co-sanctioned event with the Australasian and European Tours.
Being part of the European circuit obliges NZG to stump up a considerable amount - prizemoney was $1.5 million both this year and last year.
Graham said the relationship with the European Tour had worked well. The arrangement was for a five-year term until 2009. But that was not absolute.
It was too early for him to comment on whether next year's Open would still be under the European umbrella.
"But we've been absolutely thrilled with our relations with the European Tour. They've been great partners - they are great partners," he added, correcting himself.
Graham was pleased with the attendance at the Open, confident it was up on last year, when it was held in February.
Despite the date being changed twice, affecting sponsorship prospects, he believed NZG had done a good job.
"We produced a great event, brought on a number of sponsors who've made a long-term commitment and we've brought home virtually all our leading players," Graham said. "It's a massive event to pull together and it's been a challenge at times."
Hassall said it was hoped a decision could be made early in the New Year on when and where the next Open would be. The door was not closed on other top-line courses running the event. Hassall favours moving the Open around, but knows there are two schools of thought.
"It's important we provide an opportunity for all the golf public to see the event, but there are logistical issues. Having it at the same venue each year means a huge amount of expertise is built up. There's merit both ways."
Speculation that Titirangi was in the running for next year bemused him. The course will have its centenary in 2008 and had applied to host that year's tournament.
Hassall said the new owner of Gulf Harbour, Blue Chip boss Mark Bryers, favoured moving the Open, despite his course being in the box seat. That would go into the review mix as will the thoughts of other sponsors, all of whom were on one-year deals, and leading players.
