The Wales Bid committee was out in force on 10th August when they welcomed the Ryder Cup Board to The Celtic Manor Resort to assess the venue’s suitability to stage the 2009 Ryder Cup.
Chairman of the Wales Bid, Tony Lewis, was joined by First Minister for Wales, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan; Celtic Manor proprietor, Sir Terry Matthews; Chairman of the Sports Council for Wales, Gareth Davies; Chairman of the WDA, Sir David Rowe-Beddoe; Chairman of the Wales Tourist Board, Philip Evans; Managing Director of Newport County Borough Council, Chris Freegard and Welsh Golfing Union representative, Andy Morgan.
“Today we have presented our vision to the Ryder Cup Board,” said Tony Lewis. “It’s an ambitious vision which will benefit every level of golf in Wales. Thanks to the bid process, we have started the ball rolling and already we are gaining momentum. The full realisation of our vision for golf is now in the hands of the Ryder Cup Board.”
Should the Ryder Cup be played at Celtic Manor in 2009, then well over 50,000 spectators will be able to view the golf matches while sitting on the natural ‘amphitheatre’ banks that will run along side the closing holes of the course. The Bid Committee believes that no other venue in the world offers this scale of uninterrupted viewing.
Other features of the proposed new infrastructure at The Celtic Manor Resort include the re-modelled golf course (previously announced) and a new clubhouse designed with a Ryder Cup in mind. Each team will have separate, purpose built accommodation for their players, caddies and official parties. In addition, security, physiotherapy, tournament officials and Ryder Cup administration have all been planned for.
Ease of flow for spectators has been an important consideration in planning the new course, with ample space for tens of thousands of people to follow each of the matches. The new layout will have only one hole that requires a spectator crossing. The media centre will be positioned behind the 18th green which will allow journalists, while they work, to see the golf on the closing holes.
Although these changes to The Celtic Manor Resort have been designed with the 2009 Ryder Cup match in mind, they are changes that will be made whether Wales win or lose the bid. Work will start on the course in October 2001 with the intention of playing the 2004 Wales Open on the new layout.
Wales Ryder Cup 2009 www.walesrydercup2009.org