New Zealand – The loudest and rowdiest initiative in international golf is coming to the New Zealand Golf Open, with the birth of a “party hole” at The Hills course in Arrowtown.
Party holes, at which massive crowds congregate and yell balls on to the green, have proved a huge hit in recent years with punters and promoters, but some traditionalists object to them. Anyone familiar with the FBR Open in Arizona where the college kids cheer for good shots, yell for great shots, and boo bad shots. In fact, this golf hole gets over 20,000 spectators at one time.
“Every organiser in golf knows about that par 3 in Phoenix,” Mr Jacques said. “The crowd goes silent when the players hit you could hear a pin drop. Then, everyone’s yelling, `get in the hole’, and if it goes in the crowd goes wild.”
Back to the party hole in New Zealand, the Hills family board member Doug Jacques said the course’s 15th hole would be designated a party zone during the four-day tournament beginning on March 12.
