Magazine: The Hills Home Of the New Zealand Open Part 2
By Parkland Press in Golf on 2nd Jul 2008 6:00
The New Zealand Open came to Queenstown for the first time in its long and distinguished history. Parkland and Toro are proud to be associated
with The Hills – the home of the tournament for the next 3 years - Part 2
One invaluable natural resource that will ensure The Hills is always lush and in pristine condition is the water course that flows freely from the mountains behind Arrowtown. It has allowed the designers to create creeks, ponds and water hazards galore and ensure that every tree on the property is irrigated.
By the time nine holes had been constructed (starting with No 6), Hill was concerned the project cost was spiralling out of control. Using Kiwi
do-it-yourself ingenuity he went and bought a front-end loader, 24- and 18-ton diggers, a truck, some tractors and cultivators, and hired a massive earth scraper, plus a D8 bulldozer that was used to shape the fairways. He appointed Ian Douglas as Operations Manager and changed the modus operandi.
The construction project lasted four and a half years and it was Douglas who kept the troops motivated through the long, monotonous days as deer farm metamorphosed into world-class golf course. Darby takes the credit for designing the holes, several of which are destined to rate among New Zealand’s greatest golf holes the moment the course is opened. However, there were times when he was overseas and, as Hill puts it, “executive decisions had to be made” regarding the course’s configuration. Whenever that happened, those making the decisions adhered to the basic philosophy of ensuring the course always blended in with the flow of the land. “We have been blessed with naturally undulating land,” says Hill, “ and we’ve built the course around it.”
Only one hole didn’t measure up. Hill the perfectionist didn’t hesitate. “It wasn’t working so we ripped it up and started again. Now I can proudly boast there is not a weak hole on the course.” As the project drawed to a close Michael praised to his band of workers, some of whom pulled out the deer fences four and half years ago when the property was nothing but sprawling farmland. Roger Fleck has spent four years on a digger helping to sculpt the course. “He was brought on board to be the workshop engineer but he got on the digger and never got off,” says Hill. “He probably knows the course better than anyone.”
Others who merit a special mention are greenkeeper Ryan Topper, second-in-charge Ashley Cameron and assistant greenkeepers Shane Taylor, Guy
Vinsen, Craig McFarlane, Regan Marfell and Nathan Lindsay. They were bound by confidentiality during construction, not allowed to take photos or talk about happenings outside work hours, although Marfell did reveal to local newspaper Mountain Scene that the course was pretty special. “Most courses have two or three memorable holes,” he proudly declared. “At The Hills there are probably a dozen that are special.”
Professionals Tataurangi, Turner and John Griffin (who is now The Hill’s resident pro, with Hill declaring himself his worst pupil) provided valuable technical input for Darby in the designing of the course. One essential requirement they stressed, says Hill, was that for the course to be of true international championship standard it had to be long, because most topranking pros are driving the ball at least 300 metres.
The landscaping was completed with the introduction of 50,000 red and silver tussock plants from Central Otago, most of them painstakingly planted by Hill, Christine and the family. If Hill wanted confirmation he had created something special, it came after Bob Tuohy, the boss of Tuohy Associates Ltd, the Australian company appointed to market the New Zealand open, had played three holes. “Australians are slow to praise anything to do with New Zealand,” hill says, “but after three holes Bob was absolutely fizzing.” Such a stunning course would not have been complete without a clubhouse to match, and Auckland architect Andrew Patterson has done hill (not to mention Arrowtown and New Zealand Golf) proud.
Patterson’s creation almost defi es description. It is an exceptional architectural achievement moulded perfectly into the landscape. Somehow, he has got 200 tons of concrete to float. And somehow he has blended fairway and clubhouse into such absolute harmony that the undulating velvety turf extends through from the fairway, over the trundler shed and on to the roof of the clubhouse. Yes, grass flourishes on the clubhouse roof! not only that, but if a wayward approach to the 18th green should land on the clubhouse roof, the competitor is obliged to play his next shot from there.
The building is constructed of Grc (glass reinforced concrete), a new product that is strong and light and can be moulded into complex shapes. A New Zealand first is the use of frameless double-glazed glass walls to take maximum advantage of the views. Hill is beside himself with joy at what Patterson has created. “When players and spectators visit here, I want them go away saying, ‘Wow, wait till you see the clubhouse!’”
It won’t be just the clubhouse itself that blows their socks off. The massive glass windows in the lounge afford breathtaking views of the Remarkables and Coronet Peak. “When the open is played at the end of November,” says Hill, “There will still be snow on the mountain tops. We are, after all, 1200ft above sea level. You get amazingly different moods and colours here. Visitors will be gobsmacked.”
Creating a golf course (that stretches to more than 6500 metres) in your backyard is one thing. Having the national body allocate its precious open, an event of sufficient status to be co-sanctioned with the Australasian PGA and the European tour, to the course is quite another.
So how did Hill pull off this amazing coup, one that is surely unparalleled in New Zealand sport? “To be honest, I’m not sure,” he admits. “I didn’t approach New Zealand Golf, they came to me. I’ve heard that sir Bob Charles was so impressed after he played here that he went to them singing the course’s praises. But, honestly, I haven’t had that confirmed. I’m just thrilled that after all our efforts we’ve created a course worthy of the open.”
Hill said that on more than one occasion during the construction of the course he asked himself, “Why the hell am I doing this?” and what answer did he give himself? “Well, I considered I was in so deep, I just had to keep going! the encouragement of great golfers like Sir Bob certainly helped. and my
philosophy through life has been that if you knuckle down and put the energy into a project, something great can happen.”
Who came up with the name The Hills? Hill’s wife Christine can take the credit for that. “It probably seems obvious now,” he says, “but it wasn’t easy. We considered all sorts of names before Christine crystallised matters for us. The logo was designed by our daughter-in-law Monika, who like her husband Mark, is very artistic.”
Even before it is completed, it is apparent the hills is going to become a national treasure, a course that will rate among the finest, not just in New Zealand but in the world. Hill believes bringing the open to the Queenstown region – it is 22 years since the South Island hosted the event – will be the catalyst for a surge in golf tourism. Queenstown is already internationally recognised as a ski retreat and he is positive it will rate even higher as a golf destination.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to market Queenstown to the world during the open when millions of golf fans will be able to watch 21 hours of live action.One thing I intend to do is market our fantastic region to the world. We’ll make it so appealing, everyone will want to come.” Yes, golf, skiing and music – three attractions to lure visitors to Queenstown. oh, did we mention hill is passionate about music as well, in particular the violin? he was once a budding concert violinist and he has created the Michael Hill World Violin competition, a major international event for emerging violinists that is staged in Queenstown each Queen’s Birthday weekend.
No wonder the man was awarded the country’s top honour, the Distinguished companion of New Zealand order of merit, in 2001.
A Parkland Extra
High achievers
Michael and Christine Hill are immensely proud of the jewellery business they have developed and the golf course they have created. They can also be mightily proud of their two talented children.
Emma, who has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an MBA, is a board member of the Michael Hill Jewellers chain. She spent four years in Canada where she oversaw the opening of 16 new stores.
Mark, who studied graphic design at the Queensland College of Art in Brisbane, is a gifted photographer and sculptor whose works not only feature in Wanaka, Queenstown and Arrowtown but along the fairways of The Hills course. Particularly striking is the five-metre tall weta (constructed from stainless steel and corten steel) that lurks beside the pine trees bordering the first fairway.
Enhancing the sixth fairway is the Dragonfly Lake, featuring striking dragonfly sculptures, some of Mark’s earliest works.
Mark, who taught himself to weld and has developed a unique style, staged a successful exhibition of giant welded steel insects in 2001. He is currently working on a piece of sculpture for Queenstown Airport.
Emma’s Canadian-born husband Doug Jacques oversees the family’s non-retail assets while Mark’s wife Monika, who is of Polish descent, is also artistic and designed the new golf course’s logo.
Parkland is the exclusive New Zealand agent for a range of internationally proven brands like Toro, TyCrop, Traxmaster, Pope, Otterbine, Motorola and Irrinet. We work proudly with a broad range customers including New Zealand’s world ranking golf courses and sportsfields, local government, landscapers and even the DIY enthusiast. For more information on what’s happening at Parkland go to www.parkland.co.nz
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 "New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell, Michael Hill and The Hills’ club pro John Griffi n cast appreciative eyes across the new course")
do-it-yourself ingenuity he went and bought a front-end loader, 24- and 18-ton diggers, a truck, some tractors and cultivators, and hired a massive earth scraper, plus a D8 bulldozer that was used to shape the fairways. He appointed Ian Douglas as Operations Manager and changed the modus operandi.
 "dragonfl y sculptures by Mark Hill appear to be skimming across the lake that borders the sixth fairway")
Vinsen, Craig McFarlane, Regan Marfell and Nathan Lindsay. They were bound by confidentiality during construction, not allowed to take photos or talk about happenings outside work hours, although Marfell did reveal to local newspaper Mountain Scene that the course was pretty special. “Most courses have two or three memorable holes,” he proudly declared. “At The Hills there are probably a dozen that are special.”
 "The Hills")
The building is constructed of Grc (glass reinforced concrete), a new product that is strong and light and can be moulded into complex shapes. A New Zealand first is the use of frameless double-glazed glass walls to take maximum advantage of the views. Hill is beside himself with joy at what Patterson has created. “When players and spectators visit here, I want them go away saying, ‘Wow, wait till you see the clubhouse!’”
 "The Hills Course")
philosophy through life has been that if you knuckle down and put the energy into a project, something great can happen.”
 "Mark Hill alongside his weta sculpture on The Hills’ first fairway")
High achievers
