A second ballot has opened for The 2010 Ryder Cup, offering spectators the opportunity to buy Practice Day Tickets for next year’s contest at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales, in addition to applying for Match Day Tickets.
Europe and the United States will meet in the 38th edition of the biennial match from 1-3 October 2010, and fans can give themselves the chance to see the players preparing on The Twenty Ten Course by booking Practice Day Tickets now through the Official Ryder Cup Website, www.rydercup.com/tickets
Meanwhile, anyone wishing to secure admission to experience the atmosphere of golf’s greatest team event in the company of friends or colleagues can do so now by purchasing Official Ryder Cup Hospitality packages for tables of ten or chalets of 30 or 50 people. Details of those packages can be purchased via www.rydercuphospitality.com
Practice Day Tickets for Tuesday (28 September) and Wednesday (29 September) cost £30 each – on these two days there is also a special concession for Under 16’s with tickets priced at £15 – and for Thursday when the Opening Ceremony takes place, the price is £40 (concessions £20).
The first Ticket Ballot for golf’s most enthralling and enduring contest closed on 31 July but Ryder Cup Europe has, for the first time, withheld a tranche of tickets at all levels to facilitate spectators unable to make an earlier commitment, by providing a second opportunity to apply for tickets. This will not close until Spring 2010 and those unsuccessful in the first ballot will be given the chance for automatic entry into the second ballot or to buy Practice Day Tickets.
Season Ticket options range from £140 to £430
Richard Hills, the European Ryder Cup Director, said: “In the past, tickets for The Ryder Cup would have been sold out a year or more before the event. Now spectators can apply later and still have the chance through the second ballot to buy tickets for the match at The Celtic Manor Resort.
“We recognise that we cannot fully meet demand but we believe that with two ballots we have significantly increased our aim to ensure that the maximum number of tickets get into the public’s hands. We have also opened the Practice Day Tickets for immediate sale so that if anyone wishes to visit The 2010 Ryder Cup they have the opportunity to do so. The practice days provide a fantastic experience – you will see the players in action, you can walk The Twenty Ten Course, you can take in the electric atmosphere and you can visit the Tented Village.”
Ryder Cup Europe’s second formal offer for a match destined to deliver one of the greatest weeks in the sporting history of Wales takes in Match Day Tickets for Friday (1 October) and Saturday (2 October) at £100 and for Sunday (3 October at £130.
There are several Season Ticket options ranging from £140 to £430 and spectators opting for a six day International Pavilion Ticket – costing £950 – will have access to an upgraded facility with a sports bar theme containing seating, television and food and drink purchase points.
There is a half price concession throughout the week including the International Pavilion – a ‘premium’ ticket being offered to the public for the first time – for the disabled, and if he or she requires a carer then that ticket can also be purchased at half price.
Maximum four tickets per Match Day
Successful candidates from the second public ticket ballot will be determined, as was the case in the first ballot, through a computerised random lottery draw to take place in the Spring of 2010. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the result by email.
A limit of eight tickets per household is being applied to the purchase of Practice Day Tickets although Ryder Cup Europe will work with golf clubs and societies to ensure, wherever possible, large group numbers can be accommodated especially when this includes juniors. There will be a maximum of four tickets for any Match Day for each household.
Ryder Cup Hospitality offer guests the opportunity to purchase tables of ten at The Conwy Club Restaurant overlooking the 17th green or exclusive private suites for 30 to 50 people overlooking the 16th fairway and green. Hospitality is sold as a four day package (Thursday-Sunday) but it is also available on both the Tuesday and Wednesday practice days in The Conwy Club.
For those wishing to make enquires about hospitality packages then they should visit www.rydercuphospitality.com or contact the Ryder Cup Hospitality Team on +44 (0) 1344 840 483.
In addition, the all-inclusiveTravel and Accommodation Packages can be purchased exclusively from Ryder Cup Travel Services (www.rcts.co.uk).
Photo ID
Spectators will be encouraged to car-share with the price of a “Transportation Pass” being charged per vehicle, not per person. The price will be £20 per vehicle per day which enables all occupants to use the complimentary shuttle service between the Park and Ride locations and The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort.
To further enhance the spectator experience all public tickets will require Photo ID. This is being organised by ‘See Tickets’ and implemented to expedite spectator entry and exit which will operate around the East and West Park and Ride locations and to minimise disruption by any secondary market.
Ryder Cup Wales www.rydercupwales2010.com