Golfing facilities enhanced at Millbrook West course

26th March 2008

Millbrook West is to add a $150,000 covered driving range to its world-class golfing facilities at five-star Millbrook Resort.

One of only two covered driving ranges in the region, the new Driving Range building will be constructed using local stone and original features recovered from a nearby disused woolshed that formerly belonged to Mt Soho Station.

With six individual covered hitting bays enclosed by recycled sheep catching pens, the driving range will also house two small pavilions; one dedicated to dispensing and ball washing operations, the other a coaching clinic classroom. The facility will compliment the existing open air practice areas.

“The covered facility means we can significantly extend the use of our new driving range, which opened last November in time for the influx of golfers to the region for the New Zealand Golf Open,” said Millbrook Golf Director Brian Spicer.

“It will enable us to keep golfers sheltered from the blazing heat of summers and showers on wet days, and we also plan to install heaters into the bays, extending use of the driving range facility into the winter months.”

Millbrook Property and Development Manager Ben O’Malley said the resort could have built a brand new building, but when the opportunity arose to save the old woolshed the timing could not have been better.

“We were brainstorming the look and feel of the proposed driving range with our landscape architect, and the continuation of the historic agricultural buildings theme at Millbrook was important,” he said.

Mt Soho Station has a historic connection with Millbrook, as part of the land that is now Millbrook was previously owned by the station owners who used it as holding paddocks before shearing time.

Players will enter the Covered Driving Range through a large recycled sliding door and walk along a rear corridor made from the recycled 'board'. Other recycled timbers will be used, alongside recovered galvanised corrugated iron.

As part of an ongoing commitment to supporting the local community, Millbrook will be making a $4,000 donation to the Arrowtown Rugby Club to de-construct the woolshed over the weekend of March 29 and 30 and transport it to Millbrook.

The Gatehouse Driving Range will be officially opened over Labour Weekend in October. To coincide with opening, Millbrook will launch a tutoring scheme in which golf pros will run clinics for amateur players, complete with video swing analysis.

“A covered driving range is the ideal facility for mentoring and tutoring other players,” said Mr Spicer.

“We’ve wanted to offer this service for quite some time, so having a professional-standard facility makes this possible,” said Mr Spicer.

Christchurch-based Suburban Estates, the organisation that owns the site on which the woolshed currently sits, has embraced the idea of keeping local history alive by donating the shed on the site of its proposed Linksgate subdivision.

“We’re extremely grateful to Suburban Estates for sharing our vision to reflect our 150-year farming history, continuing our commitment to the restoration or placement of authentic regional buildings around the Millbrook grounds,” said Mr O’Malley.

The covered driving range will compliment the half billion dollar residential and golf course development currently being constructed at Millbrook West. The 91-hectare piece of land, located to the west of the existing five-star Millbrook Resort, will ultimately comprise an a new nine-hole golf course, designed by New Zealand golf legend Greg Turner, and 200 home sites.

ENDS

Photo captions: 1) Millbrook driving range, 2) Coaching at Millbrook

For further media information or high-resolution images please contact:

Ben O’Malley

Property and Development Manager

021 397 608 or Ben.O’Malley@millbrook.co.nz

Sarah Stacey

Marketing Manager

021 614 372 or sarah.stacey@millbrook.co.nz

More about Millbrook

Set in a natural, alpine amphitheatre against a backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges on the outskirts of world-renowned tourism destination Queenstown, Millbrook was formerly a wheat farm with a 150-year history. It’s retained many heritage features including the original Millhouse, rustic buildings and a majestic avenue of trees.

Now it’s the perfect place to relax in a tranquil setting, indulge in premium spa treatments, enjoy five-star dining, a health and fitness centre, swimming pool, outdoor spa pools, tennis courts and easy biking and walking trails.

Nearby Queenstown’s attractions include a wide range of activities, wineries, easy access to five ski areas, great nightlife and award-winning restaurants and bars.

Over the years, growing numbers of international buyers have invested in Millbrook’s ‘dream’ lifestyle, especially Australians who enjoy easy access flights, great value skiing, a relaxing retreat and adrenalin-fuelled adventures.

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