The £500,000 Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open will be staged at Royal St David‘s, Harlech, from 4th-6th July. The impressive field includes Bob Charles, Eamonn Darcy, 2001 champion Denis Durnian, defending champion Seiji Ebihara, Bill Longmuir, Carl Mason, Manuel Pinero, Christy O‘Connor Jnr, Des Smyth and 2002 Senior British Open champion, Noboru Sugai.
This year’s event marks the third time the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open has been staged at Royal St David‘s. David Morkill, secretary, said, “The club is delighted to act as host once again to the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and warmly welcomes the players and the Tour back for a third year.
“The event acts as an excellent boost to the local economy – from hotels, which were fully booked for some distance around – to local suppliers and the golf club itself. Green fee receipts last year were greatly ahead of those for 2001 and it’s already looking very promising for 2003.”
Rob Holt, Ryder Cup Wales 2010 manager, reported that the situation at Royal St David’s was being mirrored throughout the country. “The general trend of golf visitors to Wales is up, very much as a result of the Summer of Golf tournaments and the publicity that they‘re giving to the sport in Wales,” he said.
“The Seniors Open, on a magnificent links course featuring Harlech Castle as part of its spectacular backdrop, is becoming one of the mainstays of this calendar, and the 2002 event attracted huge worldwide television audiences.
“With the tournament increasing in stature each year, we‘re confident it will help Wales consolidate its position as Britain’s fastest growing golf tourism destination.”
Andy Stubbs, managing director of the Seniors Tour, confirmed that the Seniors Tour players and officials were looking forward to returning to Royal St David’s for a third time.
“It is going to be great to be back at Royal St David‘s,” Stubbs said. “In just two years, the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open has developed into one of the most eagerly awaited events on our schedule. Through talking to the players, I know how much they enjoy the golf course and also the local hospitality. It is one of those places they look forward to visiting right from the start of the year.”
Royal St David’s www.royalstdavids.co.uk
The European Tour www.europeantour.com