And the man who owns the course, says the event will be bigger and better than last year, and a special prize will be up for grabs.
The European Tour calendar was released yesterday, with the New Zealand Open no longer on it, but New Zealand Golf chief executive Bill MacGowan said the Open was likely to announce a new agreement with the United States-based Nationwide tour by the end of the month.
MacGowan refused to confirm the dates of next year's tournament at the Hills course, near Arrowtown, but said March 12-15 would be a logical fit.
MacGowan said the loss of European Tour status had been well signalled and in reality it was too far to travel for European players at that time of year, and none of the top players would come.
The standard of play was high on the Nationwide Tour and players from Australia and New Zealand would be heavily involved.
He said there were a few minor details to sort out with the Nationwide Tour officials before announcing the contract, which would be for a four-year term.
He was 98% close to signing a contract.
He rejected the suggestion the field would be full of no-names.
"Can anyone name the Europeans from last year ? Had anyone heard of the winner beforehand?" MacGowan said.
He said the Europeans failed to fill their allocation last year, and no big names travelled south, as it was too hard to get players here.
Top 10 players were simply too expensive.
The Open, played for the first time at the Hills course owned by Michael Hill from November 29 to December 2 last year, had prize money of $1.5 million.
Hill said yesterday, the March date was far better as the golf course would look better, it was easier to keep things under control and the weather was more stable.
The Moonah Classic in Victoria was played on February 26 to March 3 and that was followed the next weekend by the New Zealand PGA at Clearwater, near Christchurch, so the Open on March 12-15 would conclude three weeks of exciting golf, which would attract a lot of attention in Australia and New Zealand, Hill said.
He planned to have a prize for the top performer in the three events.
Better players would come to the event.
Hill said the course had never looked better, with the Hills staff learning much from last year's first event at the course.
MacGowan said they were offered two dates by the European Tour, in December and January, but those dates did not suit because it was too close to Christmas and it would have been impossible to get enough accommodation in Queenstown.
Few players would have been interested in these dates.
The European Tour was only offering a one-year commitment while the Nationwide Tour was looking at a four-year deal.
The prize money could not match what was on offer elsewhere.
At the same time as the March 12-15 date, the European Tour will be involved in the World Golf Championship at Doral, Florida, which had a purse of $US8 million ($NZ12.3 million) this year.
MacGowan said crowds would still come to the Open.
He was in regular communication with Michael Campbell but could not confirm Campbell would be back for the tournament, where he missed the cut last year.
Last year's winner, Englishman Richard Finch had told the Otago Daily Times last year he would be keen to come back and defend his title, and MacGowan said he hoped Finch would return.
Tuohy Associates sales and marketing manager Mike Godinet said it was a help to get the Open on the Nationwide tour.
"We've had Camilo Villegas and Brandt Snedeker playing at Clearwater. And look what they've gone on to do," Godinet said.
"The standard of play will be a lot higher. Pound for pound there will be better players here."
No-one in the top 50 would come south, and that was just financial reality, he said.
Tuohy Associates market the tournament.
Godinet said the winner of the New Zealand Open next year would have to break a leg to not finish high enough in the Nationwide tour list to qualify for the United States PGA tour.
"So that means there are going to be some high quality players down here."
A longer contract with Nationwide brings continuity, and commercial advantages.
He said spectators did not really care who they saw play as long as the golf was good, and the event was run well.
