1.     Entry

• 1.1. Participation in the New Zealand Pro Am Championship is subject to the terms and conditions below.
• 1.2. Your entry will be secured upon payment of the initial deposit invoice from Millbrook Tournaments Limited (hereinafter referred to as MTL) and all entrants are subject to these terms and conditions.
• 1.3. Due date for payment of invoices are as follows:
  • 1.3.1. Initial deposit by 1 May 2023 – 25% of total package
  • 1.3.2. Balance by 1 December 2023
• 1.4. Amateur players who notify the Tournament Director of their withdrawal from the tournament will be subject to the following cancellation fees:
  • 1.4.1. Before 1 December 2023 – if after paying your deposit your circumstances change the committee agree to refund monies paid or transferred to the 2025 event should that be your preference.
  • 1.4.2. After 1 December but before 10 February 2024 a cancellation fee of $2,500 + GST will apply;
  • 1.4.3. After 11 February 2024 no refund will apply.
  • 1.4.4. Payment by credit card incurs a 2% surcharge.

2.    Size of Field

• 2.1. The intended size of the amateur field in the New Zealand Open will be a maximum of 156 entries.
• 2.2. The Organising Committee has discretion to alter the final number of the amateur field.

3.    Format

• 3.1.   The New Zealand Pro-Am Championship will be played at Millbrook Resort from 29 February – 3 March 2024.
• 3.2.  The New Zealand Pro-Am Championship within the New Zealand Open will be played as a two ball best-ball nett stroke tournament with each professional paired with an Amateur as a Pro-Am team.
• 3.3.  For rounds one and two the field will be split equally across both courses at Millbrook Resort playing one round on each course.
• 3.4.  Participants that have a morning (or afternoon) tee time at one of the Remarkables or Coronet course at Millbrook Resort for round one will then have an afternoon (or morning) tee time at the Remarkables or Coronet course Millbrook Resort for round two.
• 3.5.  Rounds one and two will be played in fours comprising two separate Pro-Am teams.
• 3.6.  After the second round there will be a cut and the top 40 Pro-Am teams will progress to play in round three at Millbrook Resort. In the event of a tie a count-back as per clause 19 below will apply.
• 3.7.  After the third round there will be a final cut and the top 10 Pro-Am teams will progress to play in round four at Millbrook Resort. In the event of a tie a count- back as per clause 19 below will apply.
• 3.8.  The draw for rounds three and four will be subject to the professional draw and at the entire discretion of the Organising Committee.
• 3.9.  All Amateurs who miss the 36 hole cut (and who elect to play in this event prior to February 29th) will be given a choice regarding play on Saturday March 2nd:
  • 3.9.1. a one day New Zealand Open Challenge Teams Event at The Hills Golf Course on Saturday 2^nd March 2024. Each team will comprise four amateurs and one professional; or
  • 3.9.2. you (and a friend) play the 9-hole “Farm” course at The Hills at your leisure anytime between 9:30am and midday on Saturday March 2^nd; or alternatively:
  • 3.9.3. take up a voucher for a round at The Hills (valid 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2024) to play a complimentary 18 holes of golf at The Hills, along with a guest (who will be charged member guest rates).

4.    Formation of Pro-Am Teams

• 4.1.   A professional who has fulfilled entry criteria into the New Zealand Open may write to the Organising Committee to request a specific amateur partner. The Organising Committee retains the right however to make all final allocations.
• 4.2.  The Organising Committee will be solely responsible for the formation of Pro-Am teams.

5.    Withdrawal of Professional During the Tournament

• 5.1.   In the instance of a professional withdrawing from the tournament after commencement of play during days one and two of the event for any reason, the Organising Committee will use its best endeavours to find a replacement professional, who will act as a substitute for the pro-am team score.

6.    Withdrawal of Amateur During the Tournament

• 6.1.   If an amateur withdraws from the tournament after commencement of play there will be no refund as per cancellation clause 1.4.3.

7.     Handicaps

• 7.1.   All New Zealand and Australian amateur competitors must have a registered handicap and a New Zealand or Australian golf identification number.
• 7.2.  All other International participants must provide written handicap verification of their handicap as at 31 January 2024 from their respective National Amateur Body. Amateurs with membership of more than one National Amateur Body must play off the lowest handicap of all jurisdictions.
• 7.3.  Amateur competitors will be allocated a course handicap to apply over all three courses (The Remarkables and Coronet Courses at Millbrook Resort, and the Hills) by the Organising Committee. That allocation will take into account the following criteria:
• 7.3.1. the player’s current official handicap index as at January 31, 2024
• 7.3.2. the player’s lowest handicap index over the previous 18 months of play; and
• 7.3.3. the player’s previous performance in the Pro-Am section of the New Zealand Open (2019/20/23).
• 7.4.  The allocation of final course handicaps will be solely at the discretion of the Organising Committee, and no further correspondence will be entered into.
• 7.5.  There will be a maximum course handicap of 18 at Millbrook Resort and The Hills.
• 7.6.  Males and females playing in the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship with a course handicap higher than 18 are eligible to play at the discretion of the Organising Committee, but in no instance will a player play on a final course handicap above 18.
• 7.7.   The Organising Committee has the right to request supplementary handicap verification information at their discretion to establish entry handicaps for participants.
• 7.8.  The Organising Committee reserves the right to adjust handicaps at the conclusion of any round during the tournament.
• 7.9.  Note that due to our computerised scoring system women amateur players will need to apply the same stroke index to each hole as the men. We recognise that in some cases women players may be disadvantaged; we will therefore analyse the difference and ensure that where appropriate, women players are compensated for this, when allocating a handicap index for the tournament.

8.    Tees

• 8.1.   Each participant shall play from designated tees as set out by the Tournament Committee. Professionals will play from the Championship Tees with Amateurs playing from the Club tees. There will be separate tees for men and women.

9.     Distance Measuring Devices

• 9.1. Distance Measuring Devices are permitted to be used by amateur players during both the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship and the New Zealand Open Challenge, under the following strict rules:
• 9.1.1. Amateur players are NOT allowed to use a measuring device that adjusts for slope or wind; and
• 9.1.2. Amateur players must NOT share any distance information with a Professional during the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship, because if you do, the Professional faces major penalties.

10.  Caddies

• 10.1. Caddies are compulsory for professionals and amateurs. Caddy etiquette and payment is the sole responsibility of the amateur engaging them.
• 10.2. Where required, the tournament will assist in procuring the services of a caddy for you.
• 10.3. Caddy bibs must be worn at all times during play.
• 10.4. Caddies must not wear spike sole shoes.

11.   Pace of Play

• 11.1.  A pace of play policy will be strictly enforced at the tournament. The PGA Tour of Australasia have the right to penalize Pro-Am teams by means of stroke penalties in the event of slow play (following a formal warning).

12.  Practice Rounds

• 12.1. Each amateur may (subject to available tee times) play one practice round per day at each course at Millbrook Resort during 26 – 28 February 2024. Tee times are to be pre booked via the online practice round booking form, maintained by our Player Services Manager, Lis Carroll, and will be available in early 2024 to all players.
• 12.2.  Note that both courses at Millbrook Resort \ will be entirely closed from 5.15pm on Wednesday 28 February 2024.
• 12.3.  All players will practice in fours.

13.  Practice Facilities

• 13.1. Amateurs wishing to practice are welcome to use the driving range facilities at Millbrook Resort.

14.  Governing Body and Rules

• 14.1. The tournament will be played under the auspices of the PGA of Australasia in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews and in accordance with the local rules approved by the Organising Committee.

15.  Tournament Opening Event

• 15.1. The tournament opening will be held in the Champions Lounge on Tuesday 27 February 2024. All amateur and professional players are encouraged to attend.

16.  Accommodation

• 16.1. Amateur players may elect to organise their own accommodation and purchase the entry package that excludes accommodation. Amateur players who elect to purchase the entry package that includes accommodation are entitled to six nights accommodation at the Millbrook Resort Queenstown. Please note if Millbrook Resort is at full capacity another 4 star + hotel in Queenstown will be included instead. Additional accommodation (for nights immediately before and after the event) can be booked directly via the Player Services manager, Lis Carroll.

17.   Cancellation and Refunds

• 17.1. In the event of tournament disruption by weather or other circumstances the tournament may be shortened to 54 or 36 holes. In any event, the first 36 holes of the tournament will constitute the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship.
• 17.2. In the event that play is cancelled or materially postponed on either Thursday or Friday and the second round of play has not been completed then the New Zealand Open Challenge at The Hills, will be cancelled.
• 17.3.  There will be no refunds for amateur participants, provided 36 holes of play are completed.
• 17.4.  In the unlikely circumstances that the entire tournament is cancelled or 36 holes are not completed a minimal partial refund may be considered for the amateur participants, subject to circumstances at the time.
• 17.5.  In the event that one or more days of scheduled play are cancelled, the Tournament Committee reserve the right to extend play through to a reserve day on Monday 4 March 2024.

18.  Amateur Status

• 18.1.   Amateur entrants in the New Zealand Pro-Am acknowledge that they comply with the Rules of Amateur Status.

19.  Tie

• 19.1. In the event of a tie for any final place in the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship the standard countback rules as set by the tournament committee will be applied to determine final positions. These are in line with 19.3 below, save that the fourth round scores will apply.
• 19.2. With respect to the 36 hole New Zealand Pro-Am Championship team cut the following countback will apply (in descending order) until such time as the results are certain:
  • 19.2.1. A team nett score based on the Pro-Am team score for the 18 holes that constitute the second round of the tournament (irrespective of which course that team played the second round at).
  • 19.2.2. A team nett score based on the Pro-Am team score for the 18 holes that constitute the first round of the tournament (irrespective of which course that team played the first round at).
  • 19.2.3. A team nett score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 10-18 for the second round (irrespective of which course that team played the second round at).
  • 19.2.4. A team nett score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 13-18 for the second round (irrespective of which course that team played the second round at).
  • 19.2.5. A team nett score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 16-18 for the second round (irrespective of which course that team played the second round at).
  • 19.2.6. The toss of a coin.
• 19.3 With respect to the 54 hole New Zealand Pro-Am Championship team cut the following countback will apply (in descending order):
  • 19.3.1. An aggregate score based on the Pro-Am team score for the 18 holes that constitute the third round of the tournament.
  • 19.3.2. An aggregate score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 10-18 for the 3rd round.
  • 19.3.3. An aggregate score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 13-18 for the 3rd round.
  • 19.3.4. An aggregate score based on the Pro-Am team score for a combination of holes 16-18 for the 3rd round.
  • 19.3.5. The toss of a coin.

20. Rights

• 20.1. The Organising Committee reserves the right to use films, photographs, images and similar references to competitors in practice and play for promotional purposes prior, during and after the tournament.