The England’s Golf Coast campaign is supporting the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) in staging the 2004 Curtis Cup match at Formby on 12th and 13th June. England’s Golf Coast is the result of the Boroughs of Sefton, Wirral, Fylde and Lancashire teaming up with the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and The Mersey Partnership (TMP) to make the region the most significant golfing destination in the UK.
Formby is one of seven championship venues in Southport and Wirral, with 27 further courses within half an hour’s drive and another 160 within one hour’s drive.
This year’s Curtis Cup could be one of the most intriguing contests for many years, with the eight-strong U.S. team having no player older than 22. And in being selected for the match, 14-year-old Hawaii based Michelle Wie became the youngest ever player to be picked for the Curtis Cup. The GB&I team will be announced on Monday 19th April.
“We are delighted to be working in tandem with the Northwest Development Agency and The Mersey Partnership and anticipate mutual benefits to result from the relationship,” said Andy Salmon, chief executive officer of the LGU. “England’s northwest boasts so many wonderful golf courses with excellent facilities that we have become very familiar with the area. “They are backing our campaign in the lead-in to the contest and with their support, particularly in the Northwest, we are expecting a high level of demand for tickets.”
A large attendance is expected and to avoid disappointment spectators are advised to purchase tickets in advance. These cost £15 for each of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June with a season ticket priced at £28 and can be ordered by calling the credit card hotline on 0870 366 6541.
Peter Mearns, NWDA director of marketing, said, “England’s northwest is home to some of the UK’s most stunning golf courses, complimented by our cosmopolitan city centres and the natural beauty of the coastline. The staging of the Curtis Cup in Formby is a great opportunity to showcase this and the NWDA is proud to support this renowned competition that will further promote England’s northwest as a leading golfing destination.”
Roy Morris, chairman of The Mersey Partnership added, “Supporting the Curtis Cup is a marvellous opportunity for us to put our message across that England’s northwest is not just one of the finest golfing locations in the UK, but the whole of Europe.”
The England’s Golf Coast campaign is set to make the northwest one of Europe’s biggest golfing hotspots, ranking it alongside areas such as St Andrews, Spain’s Costa Del Sol and the Algarve in Portugal.
England’s Golf Coast www.englandsgolfcoast.com
Northwest Development Agency www.nwda.co.uk