While many eyes may be on the golfers at The Hills over the weekend, the golfers' eyes have been on Queenstown this week, rave reviews ranging from ''I would live here'' to ''it's got to be my favourite place in the world''.
During the practice day of the 2013 NZ PGA Pro-Am at Sir Michael Hill's private course on Wednesday, those at the press conference were left in no doubt about how Queenstown was being viewed.
Enigmatic commentator Sir Ian Botham, of the United Kingdom, was a hit with the media, announcing the sandflies which attacked him in Taupo likely died of alcohol poisoning and proudly stating he knew the name of every winery on State Highway 6 at Gibbston, before pronouncing Amisfield Winery's pinot noir ''one of the greats''.
While Hale Irwin had some difficulty earlier this week - waking at 2.30am after forgetting to change the clock on his iPhone to New Zealand time - and his golfing schedule meant he had not had time to do any sightseeing, his decision to play in the Pro-Am boiled down to a ''great package'', helped by his history with Sir Bob Charles.
Unfortunately Irwin's son, Steve, who had planned to make the trip to Queenstown with him, had been unable to come.
''For me, that's the greatest disappointment.
''My son has never been here before. It would have been great to make the journey down with him ... Everything I've experienced has been wonderful [and] having been here and experienced it before ...I wanted my son to appreciate that.
''To see what it's like to be on the left side of the road, for him to experience that and for me to be here with him ... The whole thing, it was a great package.''
Irwin said his son had planned to play in the Pro-Am and ''get a feel'' for international golf, before spending time next week fishing. However, ''some business came up'' and disrupted the plans.
For Japanese professional Toshinori Muto, his first Queenstown experience came after fellow golfer Brendan Jones dangled the carrot.
Speaking through an interpreter on Wednesday, Muto (34) said the views at The Hills was completely foreign to Japanese-based golfers.
Jones had promised a challenging course with picturesque views during a period when golf tournaments were few and far between in Muto's home country.
When asked if Queenstown and The Hills had lived up to Jones' description, Muto broke into a huge grin and nodded enthusiastically.
Australian professional Jake Higginbottom, who gave up his amateur status straight after last year's New Zealand Open win at Clearwater, Christchurch, was experiencing the resort for the second time - describing it as ''fantastic''.
''It's such a great place - great views and mountains.
For Michael Hendry Queenstown and The Hills had only good memories, after his win at last year's NZ PGA Pro-Am. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Hendry said it was ''good to be back''.
''It's got to be my favourite place in the world ... It's a beautiful part of the world.
''And the golf course is in pretty good nick too.''
Today the professionals will play again at The Hills, the amateurs playing a seeding round at Millbrook Resort to determine which professionals they will be paired with over the weekend.
See tomorrow's ODT for pairings after the amateur tournament.
