Millbrook retained as primary venue

Millbrook will remain the primary venue when the New Zealand Open tees off in Arrowtown in March.

The par-71 resort course hosted the final two rounds of the tournament for the first time last year, and tournament director John Hart had indicated it was expected to continue alternating with the neighbouring par-72 The Hills this year.

However, an event spokesman confirmed Millbrook would again host the final two rounds this year, before The Hills holds the torch for next year’s 100th edition of the New Zealand Open.

The Hills will still be used this year as the field will alternate between the courses for the first two rounds (March 1 and 2), before the cut is made and the crunch rounds are played at Millbrook.

It is understood a new hosting deal will be struck after the 2019 tournament.

Whether or not it includes a third course is still very much up in air, but Hart last year indicated plans were in the pipeline to introduce Jack’s Point into the mix, making it a three-course tournament.

‘‘Ultimately, three courses would be a good model to have,’’ Hart said.

‘‘We’re not driving too quickly towards that, I think the two course model is working really well at the moment. But we’re in discussion with Jack’s Point about the future, but there’s nothing concrete there.’’

The Government last year committed $2.8 million to the New Zealand Open over the next three years.