Prime Minister to tee off from new Coronet Nine

Prime Minister John Key will be given the chance to show off his golfing prowess when he officially opens the new Coronet Nine golf course at Millbrook Resort on Sunday 31 January.

Acting in his capacity as Tourism Minister as well as PM, Mr Key will play on the spectacular Coronet Nine as it winds over rolling hills, between streams and wetlands, all set to some of the world’s most breathtaking backdrops.

The Turner Macpherson designed new nine is part of Millbrook’s overall plan to offer 27 holes comprising three interchangeable ‘nines’.

Millbrook Sales and Marketing Director Kim Carpenter said the new course was an extension of Millbrook’s already world-class offering and he was delighted that Mr Key was to officially open it.

“The Coronet Nine is an exciting new addition and will help to reinforce Millbrook’s reputation as one of the leading golf resort destinations in Australasia,” he said.

“With the recent additions and improvements at Millbrook and new courses in and around Wakatipu, Queenstown now can rightfully claim to be an exciting, varied and spectacular golfing destination.”

The Coronet Nine flows through a majestic landscape that is also home to a new resort homes development.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that the synergies between golf, recreation, hotel and residential development at Millbrook are maximized,” said Mr Carpenter. “By late 2010, Millbrook will be home to a 27-hole golf course surrounded by the world class amenities of the resort and terrific new neighbourhoods.”

Golf course designer and former New Zealand touring professional Greg Turner said the course layout was new to Millbrook, designed with careful consideration to the natural landscapes.

“The natural contours of the land for golf course construction are brilliant,” he said. “The exceptional surrounding landscape means that nothing within the course itself needed to be contrived, and we firmly believe this new Nine takes golf at Millbrook to a whole new level.

“We’re also delighted that the owners’ vision involved significant habitat enhancement of the lower holes. By reverting Mill Stream to its original course and adding extensive wetland corridors, we're already seeing the return of fish and birdlife to the area.

“When you add the traditional farming background of Millbrook and its rich gold mining history, you have a truly special environment in which to recreate.”

Mr Key will officially tee off on the Coronet Nine at 10.00am.

The third and final new and improved ‘nine’, to be known as the Arrow Nine, is set for completion by late 2010. The Remarkables Nine, Coronet Nine and Arrow Nine will serve to create three differing 18-hole combinations, where any two out of the three 'nines' can be played together.