While about 4000 athletes took on six different events in the Motatapu on Saturday, more than 300 golfers slowly made their way around Millbrook Resort during the New Zealand Open, which finished yesterday.
Golf tournament director Michael Glading said he was taken aback by the huge crowds at Millbrook over the past four days, either soaking in the atmosphere from the "Village Green", overlooking the 18th hole, or following golfers over the expansive course.
Because the Open was a free event, Mr Glading said they did not get exact crowd numbers, but they would do an estimate, based on car parking.
"We haven’t done that exercise yet, but I must say, the crowd numbers have been fantastic."
He was also full of praise for Millbrook course superintendent James O’Malley, who had done "a phenomenal job".
"The presentation of the golf course, and, of course, the resort, has been fantastic.
"One of our mission statements is to show off New Zealand and, in particular, Queenstown, and I think this tournament [has done that]."
He said feedback from the golfers had been "really good", but acknowledged the number one issue over the tournament was slow play.
"We did say at the start of the week, we had a very, very full field, and that does tend to slow play down.
"That’s something, perhaps, we’ll address in the future, but that aside, I think that’s probably been the only issue."
Mr Glading also confirmed the 103rd NZ Open, again at Millbrook, would be played from February 29 to March 3 next year.
