A keen golfer, and member of the Cromwell Golf Club, when the tournament first started at Sir Michael Hill’s private Arrowtown golf course, The Hills, Mr McDonald said he and five of his tennis mates decided to volunteer at "the party hole".
They had so much fun, they decided to keep coming back.
This year under clear blue skies, 152 professional golfers, each matched with an amateur, teed off in the 102nd Open on Thursday. Taking on two different 18-hole courses, tomorrow afternoon, one of those pros will lift the Brodie Breeze Trophy, and take home their share of the $1.7million purse.
While there is a sense of relief for tournament organisers, there is palpable joy among those watching to see the Open back in play, and "home".
"The next biggest club’s doing two holes, so it’s been a big job.
"It’s nothing you need to practise for ... it’s just on the day, the occasion, all the lovely staff here look after you, it’s really special."
A key focus, however, was ensuring the experience was enjoyable, he said.
"I’ve done a lot of things in my life — it’s not about money, it’s about people having fun.
"We’ve loved it, because we’ve introduced people to it and they’ve had fun and met a lot of people, and that’s what it’s all about."
The tournament itself also helps lift the Cromwell club’s profile — it is the only Central Otago club that is not privately owned that boasts a championship course and is used for a qualifying round.
This year, the round was won by 14-year-old Ryan Xie, from the Remuera Golf Club, who became the second-youngest player in the Open behind Jae An, who qualified as a 13-year-old in 2002.
Ryan’s six-under 66 was "one outside our long-standing course record", Mr McDonald said.
Reflecting on the past 10 tournaments, Mr McDonald said the highlight was when his name was drawn out of a hat to play in the Open, as an amateur, the following year, when he was partnered with Dongwoo Kang. While they ultimately missed the cut that year by three, Mr McDonald said it was an "amazing experience".
He was full of praise for tournament chairman John Hart who dreamed up the pro-am format all those years ago, for not only creating an incredible experience for the golfers, but ensuring the tournament became financially viable resulting from the amateurs’ entry fees — this year, the fee started at $12,500, excluding accommodation.
"For the people who are in business, it’s a prestigious thing to do, it lifts the profile, [and] I just love the communication and the connection between the pros and the amateurs," Mr McDonald said.
As for who he would like to see crowned the New Zealand Open champion tomorrow afternoon, Mr McDonald said it would be "brilliant" if that was Steve Alker.
"He’s flown under the radar — a lot of New Zealanders don’t realise how amazing he’s been on the senior circuit, it’s unbelievable, they never knew him and yet here he is, just peaking at 51."
The NZ Open continues at Millbrook until tomorrow — entry is free for spectators.
