Ford gets my vote for not trumpeting Trump

“One person’s opinion is not all that relevant in the overall scheme of things.”

When there are two people on site with the credentials to assess a golf course, and one of them has self-censored himself to evade the inevitable backlash from a largely ill-informed Southern golfing public, the other’s opinion becomes EXTREMELY RELEVANT.

John Huggan has always contended that New Zealand’s terrain is so suitable for golf that it demands a higher standard of architecture and construction to do it justice. That is, in my opinion, a commendable stance.

What personal axe could he possibly have to grind in this country? He is consistent: He has criticized established courses like Paraparaumu and praised newer courses like Cape Kidnappers. He has made the effort to see far more New Zealand courses than any visiting journalist would have an obligation to and has brought national attention to hidden gems like Chisholm Links and Oreti Sands.

Call me crazy, but I don’t believe John Huggan of The Scotsman and Golf Digest can be quite so easily painted as a contrarian or an eccentric.

Welcome back Hux if indeed you have been anywhere.

I hope you are not referring to me when you make this comment. “When there are two people on site with the credentials to assess a golf course, and one of them has self-censored himself to evade the inevitable backlash from a largely ill-informed Southern golfing public, the other’s opinion becomes EXTREMELY RELEVANT.” If not who are you referring to?

If you are suggesting for a moment that I self censor myself then you are way off the mark. I think if you hear my reports and read my stuff on a regular basis then you will know I am more than prepared to say what I think. Maybe I have misread you comment.

I am generally a fan of John Huggan’s work and he tends to say things as he sees them. That does not mean to say they are always as they are but given his background his opinion does have value.

I will say however that many others whose opinions I also value had many complimentary things to say of the golf course.

I think personally think that while the Hills Golf Club does need tweaking on maybe three or four holes, as a tournament venue it was great and will become better in time when those adjustments are made. It is without doubt one of the most spectator friendly golf courses I have seen. In one spot behind the 10th tee it is possible to view 13 holes from the one position and many did just that.

It is often the case on golf courses around the world that the staging of a tournament exposes the strengths and weaknesses of a particular course and this course has had that benefit even before opening. Hopefully those involved will take on board the suggestions being made and the layout will be even stronger next year.

I have no axe to grind here as I am not a friend of Darby’s or any other New Zealand designer for that matter but I am prepared to see both sides of the merits of the Hills Golf Club.

I think it would be also fair to say that an extended winter in the Queenstown area prevented the greens being prepared in a manner in which they could provide a surface which would accept the sort of shot values the designer had in mind. That will change in the next twelve months one would imagine as the greens mature further and there is the opportunity for a longer preparation.

No, sorry Bruce, the other individual I had in mind was Greg Turner (shift from the Gold Coast mate and I’ll include you next time!). Every time Greg said “incredible vista” and “spectator friendly” I took it as code for “I would have done better, but I can’t say it on TV”. That’s not a criticism; he did the only thing he could have, especially given his experience at the 2002 Open. Huggan had no such restraints, and I suspect called it straight while others around him were swooning over Michael Hill.

This is why I found it so irritating to hear Brendan Telfer and Peter Williams trying to marginalise Huggan on Thursday. You expect that from Peter, but Brendan actually had John on-air at the 2005 tournament and got an outstanding interview (this was in response to John’s criticism of Gulf Harbour which, last time I looked, wasn’t one of Darby’s!).

Most of us are aware that a golf course in Arrowtown is going to have picturesque views, and hell, the TPC at Avenel is a great spectator golf course. One would also expect a $12M venue to be well conditioned. No, the important aspects remain routing, hole design, construction and whether the course advances the field in that particular country. Huggan is like the guy in the art appreciation shows on the BBC, noting all the landmark works. In their day Arikikapakapa and Titirangi were significant. Paraparaumu was significant. Wairakei deserves a mention too and then of course there is the current benchmark—Cape Kidnappers. In comparison, ‘The Hills’ appears to be just a really clumsy step backwards and if it is I’m relieved to know John Huggan is there voicing the minority opinion—often the most relevant of all.