It is understood the PGA board will next week sign off on the tournament, which will feature a pro-am and be played from March 28 to April 1.
The purse is expected to be $500,000 and the field, while a step or two down from the three New Zealand Opens hosted at the exclusive club near Arrowtown, should still be reasonably strong.
The New Zealand PGA has been investigating the feasibility of holding a tournament that has slipped into obscurity at a venue that is keen to regain the spotlight after losing the rights to the Open.
Chief executive Duncan Simpson was wary of giving too much away when contacted for comment yesterday.
"We're progressing in the right direction at this stage, but there's a bit of work to do yet before we get over the line," Simpson said.
"We're meeting milestones we've set for ourselves. But it will be end of the month, I think, before we have a clear idea where we're going.
"There's a lot of work to be done but we're happy with where we're at."
Simpson confirmed the March 28-April 1 timeframe had been "squared away".
It is believed the Government will be a significant contributor to the purse, and Simpson confirmed the PGA had sought financial support from the top level.
"Yes, we have. Obviously that is quite key to the tournament."
Simpson has previously enthused about a possible pro-am format for the PGA Championship.
It would feature amateurs pre-qualifying to play with the 64 leading professionals over the last two rounds of the four-round championship.
The PGA hopes the tournament can thrive again and regain some status, possibly to the point where it could be considered for the OneAsia Tour.
If and when The Hills does become the new home of the PGA Championship, it will complete a South Island switch. The PGA used to be based at Clearwater, which has usurped The Hills as the host of the New Zealand Open.
