The 2010 Ryder Cup between Europe and the United States is being staged on 1-3 October next year with Photo ID tickets introduced for the first time.
Richard Hills, The European Ryder Cup Director, said: “We need to make it clear to anyone intending to be at The 2010 Ryder Cup that they are strongly advised to purchase tickets through the official channel. Failure to comply with this warning could lead to fans being seriously overcharged for tickets which are simply not valid and unnecessary disappointment as those unwitting fans are turned away.
“We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from members of the public who have paid for Ryder Cup tickets and hospitality through unofficial sources. In all cases the sums involved have been far in excess of the face value of the tickets and it would appear that the seller is unable to absolutely guarantee entry into the event.”
As in previous years public tickets to The Ryder Cup are being awarded by a ballot system. Entry for the second ballot – deemed the fairest way to distribute tickets because of enormous demand – is now open and anyone interested in attending must apply through www.rydercup.com/tickets
Ryder Cup Europe is equally aware from previous matches of the threat posed by unauthorised organisations offering Ryder Cup Hospitality Packages for sale. In 2006 a number of companies contacted Ryder Cup Europe to enquire when their packages would be arriving only for them to be informed that they had purchased non-existent inventory.
Ryder Cup Europe have now been made aware of pirate hospitality agencies again offering illegal Ryder Cup packages and advises that the only companies officially appointed to service the contest are:
- Keith Prowse (Arun.Oram@keithprowse.co.uk)
- IMG Hospitality (Giles.Toosey@imgworld.com)
- Mike Burton Group (ian.dunn@mikeburton.com)
- CSL Hospitality (Ireland) (shane.clyne@cslassociates.ie)
- Ryder Cup Travel Services (john.parker@byrom.plc.uk)
Hills added: “There are imposters out there prepared to try and cheat not only individual purchasers but also companies. We want to protect all golf fans from being duped and we want to protect the good name that Wales has for hospitality. We urge everyone to check and double check before parting with their money as there appears to be an increasing number of operators seeking to sell hospitality packages through unauthorised and invalid channels.”
Ryder Cup Europe is making it abundantly clear that anyone wishing to secure admission to experience the atmosphere of golf’s greatest team event in the company of friends, colleagues and business contacts can do so now by purchasing Official Ryder Cup Hospitality Packages via www.rydercuphospitality.com