Millbrook renovations spectacular

Millbrook Resort never fails to impress.

It has done just that yet again at the 2021 World Travel Awards. This time it has won awards for Oceania’s leading hotel 2021 and New Zealand’s leading resort 2021.

Add to that, at the recent Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Millbrook won the 2021 employer of the year award. To cap it off the magnificent developments are there for all to see.

A recent detailed tour of the new $5-6 million developments at Millbrook Resort revealed the full extent of the transformation that has taken place.

This story was written a day after opening on December 23 when all that remained was some finishing work in the forecourt.

The on site construction manager Darin Paki Paki said: “Work started in March 2021 and involved the removal of the practice putting green and the first tee block. The new putting green of 980 square metres, new tee block and Remarkables first fairway changes were designed by Greg Turner.

“We have grown all the turf in our nursery so we could bring it in as required rather than grow it from seed which sped up the process.

``To cater for this we had to replace the irrigation system.”

There is a stormwater catchment area close to the new putting green which is grassed and when there is a big rain event it will hold the water then release it through the outlets.

Director of operations Brian Howie added: “This is really the central staging area for the two courses. With the new Coronet 18-hole course now being open, the distance from the village centre to it is much further than to the Remarkables' course.

``Therefore we ordered 30 new carts which brings our total fleet to 90. The new cart barns accommodate them all and there is a porters building as well.”

This building has been re-sited so that the view of the course is opened up. There is also a new members check-in area while the public check-in at the revamped pro shop which has a new deck.

Paki Paki said: “One of the key drivers was safety as the area gets very busy in the roundabout area with buses, cars, carts and pedestrians. The new layout caters for future growth.”

A feature of the changes are the various rock walls that give definition to areas and add to the Millbrook theme.

Along with these it tidies up the entrance and makes it easier for cars and reception check-in as well as for buses to navigate the forecourt area.

With the removal of the old cart shed, the road past the pro shop has been widened for a 25-metre tree-lined boulevard. As the trees grow and mature this will be seen as a masterstroke to soften the environment. A major revamp of the pro shop and the men’s and women’s changing rooms has been completed after the areas were totally gutted.

The putting green has been expanded to cater for more players with 36 holes now available. The new practice area will also be extended. Anyone who hasn’t been to Millbrook since the work began will surely be mightily impressed when they visit this year.

Brian Howie sees Millbrook continuing to evolve in its standard of excellence and improvements. The Remarkables' and Coronet courses were to have opened to members and the public by about now.

This writer played the new Coronet nine recently and my immediate reaction was “gobsmackingly beautiful”. Even better, very playable from the white tees for this less than average golfer. With the New Zealand Open being pushed back a month, Howie was hopeful we will see an international field in action in March.