The task of delivering on the public sector commitments in the successful Ryder Cup Wales bid and helping to ensure Wales obtains maximum economic, tourism and golf development benefits from hosting the Ryder Cup in 2010 has been vested in a new company.
Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Limited is a partnership between the public and private sector which brings together the Welsh Development Agency, Wales Tourist Board, Sports Council for Wales, Newport City Council, Newport Urban Regeneration Company, Welsh Golf, in association with The Celtic Manor Resort, which is hosting the event in seven years time.
Ryder Cup 2010 looks set to have a substantial economic impact on Wales, not only with the immediate effect of the event itself but also through raising Wales’ profile both internationally and as a tourist destination and developing golf as a sport in Wales and attracting inward investment. Last year’s Ryder Cup event at The Belfry brought an estimated £50 million to the West Midlands from accommodation and entertainment alone. It is hoped that the Ryder Cup 2010 at The Celtic Manor Resort can improve on this figure in seven years time.
Golf Development Wales is a partnership between The Welsh Golfing Union, Welsh Ladies Golf Union, Sports Council for Wales and the Golf Foundation that aims to improve golf facilities in Wales and make golf accessible to everyone in the country. Golf Development Wales has made significant improvements in its first year including:
Over 50 primary schools are now delivering Tri-Golf sessions – a mini version of golf and golf-related games designed for primary schools to encourage more junior golfers.
25 secondary schools are running “Girls First” golf projects to encourage more young women to take up the game
10 Junior Leader courses are now run in Wales to encourage junior golfers to become supervisors for beginners
23 Tri-Golf Activator courses are run across Wales to encourage uptake of this new ‘mini golf’ game
12 disability golf projects are also underway to provide the disabled with new sporting opportunities
Six New Opportunities projects are currently running
43 Sportlot Community Chest projects involving golf are now running, compared with 14 last year
53% increase in the number of Golf Foundation Merit Award schemes running. The scheme offers a structured coaching system for children