MOVE TO START A NEW ZEALAND
WOMEN'S OPEN IN EARLY 2009

New Zealand Golf, buoyed by its successful staging of the New Zealand Open Championship in Queenstown this year, is keen to develop a women's equivalent.
NZG has established a working party to investigate the feasibility of a New Zealand Women's Open, which could be staged in early 2009 (which would be during their summer season).
Their decision follows their ultra-successful move to stage the New Zealand Open in Queenstown.
The men's event at The Hills three weeks ago returned record gate takings in excess of $250,000, considerably more than recorded returns when the event was staged at Gulf Harbour.
There was an impressive total paid attendance of 34,000.
NZG chief executive Bill MacGowan said lessons learned from the staging of this year's New Zealand Open will provide excellent data to determine the feasibility of a women's version.
"We believe we now fully understand what is required to stage a successful tournament at this level," MacGowan said.
"We know that there is real interest out there for a New Zealand Women's Open. We have had approaches from potential sponsors and also a number of golf courses have expressed interest.
"We have recognised this and indeed funds have been set aside from the old Womens Golf NZ organisation at the time of the amalgamation for such an event.
"We have included this as part of our new strategic plan and if we can tick all the right boxes, then we have an opportunity to stage an event as early as the summer of 2009. A key is also finding a suitable date."