Celtic Manor, which was hailed as hosting the ‘greatest ever’ Ryder Cup in October, picked up its latest award from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) in Valencia last week.
The award for Europe’s Golf Resort of the Year 2011 was voted for by IAGTO’s 345 members – golf tour operators from no fewer than 51 different countries – and recognises the excellence of the service and facilities at the five-star resort in South Wales.
Celtic Manor Chief Executive Dylan Matthews said: “This is a great honour for The Celtic Manor Resort and it is wonderful to be recognised in this way by the world’s golf travel specialists.
“It is very pleasing that in a year when we hosted one of the world’s biggest golf tournaments, we also more than matched the expectations of the tour operators who bring so many golfers to our resort and its three championship golf courses.
“While the Ryder Cup was obviously a big focus for us in 2010, we have remained committed to providing a fantastic, five-star experience to all our visiting golfers, not just the world’s best players. We will maintain that dedication to quality as we look forward to welcoming even more visitors as Europe’s Golf Resort of the Year in 2011.”
In winning the award, Celtic Manor joins illustrious company including Open Championship venue Turnberry, Portugal’s San Lorenzo and Ireland’s Carton House and Doonbeg.
Golf tour operators cast their votes on criteria which included customer satisfaction, quality of golf courses and accommodation, value for money, accessibility to tee times and quality of service.
IAGTO Chief Executive Peter Walton said: “Winning this award is recognition of the hard work and effort that Celtic Manor has gone to in developing relations with golf tour operators around the world and the positive reaction that operators have received from their clients who have stayed there and enjoyed the golf experience. Hosting of the Ryder Cup has also driven new enquiries for Wales and for Celtic Manor to IAGTO member operators.”
Set in 1,400 acres of wooded parkland in the scenic Usk Valley, The Celtic Manor Resort boasts two luxurious spas and health clubs, tennis courts, shooting, fishing and the choice of no fewer than six restaurants, as well as its three championship courses.
Ideally located on the M4 motorway just over two hours from London, the resort was also voted the UK’s Top Conference Hotel for the fourth year in a row this autumn by Conference & Incentive Travel magazine.
It was universally praised for providing a spectacular stage for The 2010 Ryder Cup which was described as the “greatest ever witnessed on either side of the Atlantic” by PGA Chairman Phil Weaver during the closing ceremony.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson described the Twenty Ten Course as “a wonderful golf course” and a “great venue for matchplay” while European Captain Colin Montgomerie called the facilities “seven-star”.
As well as The Twenty Ten, which was purpose built for the Ryder Cup, golfers can choose between two other championship courses – Roman Road, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr and host to The Celtic Manor Wales Open from 2005 to 2007, and The Montgomerie, laid out by the Ryder Cup Captain.
The Resort is also home to a state-of-the-art Golf Academy which was appointed the Wales National Centre of Excellence in 2009 when a new all-weather short game practice area and indoor putting green was added to the covered driving range and teaching studios.
With some exceptional value stay and play packages, The Celtic Manor Resort is able to tailor bespoke golfing trips for individuals and groups. Celebrated links courses like Royal Porthcawl, Southerndown and Pennard are all within easy reach for an extended stay in Wales.
The Celtic Manor Resort www.celtic-manor.com