Acting as a spring board for economic development in Wales, preparations for The 2010 Ryder Cup are having some surprising spin-offs – not least in the area of new research being undertaken by research scientists in Wales.
That’s because grass seed producer and supplier, Lincoln-based British Seed Houses Ltd (BSH), is working with the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) in Aberystwyth to ensure that the grass now being grown on the new courses at The Celtic Manor Resort, where the event will be played in 2010, is of top quality and will provide leading players with the best playing surfaces.
The Welsh link is further enhanced by the grass cultivars and seeds that are being bred by IGER, a world-wide centre of excellence originally founded as part of, and about to return to the University of Wales at Aberystwyth. Working in conjunction with BSH, the Institute has bred the grasses used in the construction of the new Ryder Cup and Montgomerie courses which will both open at The Celtic Manor Resort this July. IGER will also continue to breed grasses for ongoing maintenance work on the courses as well as the existing Roman Road layout.
“BSH are the only British seed supplier using grasses bred exclusively in the UK” said amenity sales director at BSH, Simon Taylor. “We have a long-standing relationship with IGER and are happy to be fulfilling our commitment to a Welsh course with the assistance of Welsh research capability. Grasses we use have to go through an in-depth selection and grading process and, understandably, the technical requirements placed on us by The Celtic Manor Resort are exacting. Generally, we are looking at developing grasses that are hard-wearing, can tolerate a variety of climatic conditions and that will prosper with minimal inputs. Its all about UK grasses for UK conditions.”
Construction work on the new courses at The Celtic Manor Resort has now been completed and greenkeepers there say they are pleased to be using a product developed in Wales as they oversee the final bedding in of the courses:
Jim McKenzie, director of golf courses and estates management at The Celtic Manor Resort, said, “We are proud to have Welsh-bred ryegrasses on our golf courses. Some of the seed on the Ryder Cup course were only sown in the autumn and it is indicative of the quality of the grasses bred by IGER that they will be ready for play before July.
“They are some of the toughest wearing and most drought tolerant and disease resistant grasses around, which is very good news environmentally as it means we don’t have to use as much water, fungicide or herbicide in their maintenance. We have visited IGER on a number of occasions and the team there is always willing to meet our requirements.”
Chief executive of Ryder Cup Wales, Rob Holt, said, “Hopefully other clubs and courses around the world will hear about the work being done at The Celtic Manor Resort which will lead to more opportunities for IGER.
“When Wales bid for The Ryder Cup, we did assert that the benefits to the region would go far beyond the week of the event itself. It was clear from the beginning that Welsh businesses stood to benefit directly from preparations for The Ryder Cup and there is no reason why research establishments here should not also feel the effect. We are fortunate to have a world-leading research facility of this type right here in Wales and it is reassuring to know that we have their expertise on board as we approach 2010.”
British Seed Houses www.bshamenity.com
Ryder Cup Wales www.rydercupwales2010.com