Wales’ pledge to make golf accessible to all has moved a step closer with Ryder Cup Wales earmarking more than £1.2 million to support new grassroots golfing facilities.
The financial boost is part of Ryder Cup Wales’ £2 million Legacy Fund. After inviting bids from across Wales, 15 projects have been short listed, varying from new pay and play pitch and putts, nine hole golf courses and other community golf facilities – all designed to attract more people – particularly youngsters and women – into the game.
Eight of the proposed schemes are in south Wales, two in the west, one in mid Wales and four in the north. The schemes are now being evaluated in more detail by Ryder Cup Wales in conjunction with Sports Council Wales and Golf Development Wales before the applicants are given the official go-ahead.
The Legacy Fund forms part of the winning 2010 bid and is supported by the golfing organisations behind the Ryder Cup in Europe – the European Tour and the Professional Golfers Association, as well as the men’s and women’s Welsh golfing unions.
The 2010 Ryder Cup will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport in September 2010. The successful bid to bring the event to Wales was put together by a public/private sector partnership involving Newport City Council, Newport Unlimited, Sports Council for Wales, Wales Tourist Board, the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh Golf Union and Welsh Ladies Golf Union. Ryder Cup Wales 2010 has been established to deliver on the public sector commitments in the bid, including the annual ‘Wales Summer of Golf’ events.
Ryder Cup Wales also co-ordinates activity to maximise the wider economic, golf tourism and golf development benefits of bringing the event to Wales, supporting the partner organisations listed above as appropriate.
Once the first wave of projects has been progressed, Ryder Cup Wales will invite organisations across Wales to submit ideas for a second round.
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