Twenty Ten named top modern golf course in Wales; among 20 best in Great Britain and Ireland
(NEWPORT, Wales) – The Celtic Manor Resort – host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London – announces its Twenty Ten Course has been named the top modern design in Wales by Golfweek.
The Twenty Ten ranked No. 19 among all Great Britain and Ireland courses built since 1960. It placed higher than the previous two European hosts of the Ryder Cup: The K Club (No. 30) and The Belfry (not ranked). The Twenty Ten also tops Gleneagles (No. 38), 2014 host of the Ryder Cup.
“We’re honored Golfweek has rated the Twenty Ten Wales’ top modern course,” says Dylan Matthews, Chief Executive of Celtic Manor. “Golfers from around the world need to experience Celtic Manor and preview the challenges that lay ahead this Fall for golf’s brightest stars.”
Celtic Manor, the top rated resort in the UK, was founded in 1980 by Welshman Sir Terry Matthews, the Ottawa, Canada-based entrepreneur and Wales’ first billionaire. In 2001, the Ryder Cup Committee made an historic announcement naming Celtic Manor host of the 2010 Ryder Cup – Wales’ first. The Twenty Ten is the only course ever built specifically to host golf’s most prestigious team event, opening for play in July 2007. Celtic Manor invested $26 million to develop the course, clubhouse (which opened in Autumn 2007) and surrounding infrastructure like a pristine Ryder Cup practice ground for the game’s elite (as well as resort visitors) to hone their skills.
As the Twenty Ten was designed solely with the Ryder Cup in mind, spectators will have excellent vantage points from which to watch the action unfold. Three large viewing platforms were constructed for hospitality above the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, respectively. Galleries will also gather on the huge natural mounds and hillsides to view not only the drama of the closing holes, but early-round action as it plays across the floor of the idyllic Usk Valley.
Ian Woosnam, 2006 European Ryder Cup captain says of the Twenty Ten: “What you need for The Ryder Cup is drama and they’ve done a great job with the design of the Twenty Ten Course. There’s water, driveable par-4s and the finishing stretch is fantastic. You will stand on the 18th fairway, thinking ‘Shall I, or shan’t I, go for it?'”
“The Twenty Ten is a very fair course,” says Corey Pavin, 2010 US Ryder Cup captain. “Everything is in front of and you and there are no tricks to this golf course. What you see is what you get out here. All of the holes coming in, especially the 14th, 15th and 18th, are going to be pretty key holes.”
“The Ryder Cup will showcase the Twenty Ten Course as golf’s ultimate risk / reward layout,” says Matthews. “We invite you to experience it for yourself, along with our other award-winning
amenities.”
For more information: www.celtic-manor.com and 44 (0) 1633 413 000.
About Celtic Manor Resort
Located less than two hours outside London, Celtic Manor Resort will host golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and is the UK’s foremost luxury retreat. Featuring 1,400-plus acres of panoramic parkland and wooded hills, it is recognized as the “Gateway to Wales.”
A popular destination among business and leisure travelers, golf-tour operators and corporate incentive agents, five-star Celtic Manor offers myriad amenities. These include three championship golf courses (the Twenty Ten, Roman Road and Montgomerie), two lavish hotels (the majestic, 330-room Resort Hotel and historic, 70-room Manor House), five savory restaurants, two tranquil spas and state-of-the-art health clubs, a golf academy and miles of hiking trails. A convention center, exhibition hall, array of well-appointed suites, meeting rooms and large ballrooms are also available to host groups up to 1,500 for conferences, weddings and other special events.
Celtic Manor is privately owned by founder Sir Terry Matthews, the Ottawa, Canada-based telecommunications entrepreneur who was born on the Celtic Manor site when the original Manor House was a maternity hospital.
Getting There: Celtic Manor is 45 minutes from Bristol International Airport (BRS) and Cardiff International Airport (CWL). Daily, non-stop flights are available from Newark, New Jersey (EWR) to Bristol on Continental; and daily, one-stop flights are from New York (JFK) to Cardiff on KLM via Amsterdam. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is a two-hour shuttle, with rail service from Paddington Station (London) to Newport, Wales also available.
Contact:
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
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sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
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David Wood
Buffalo Communications
703.635.0577
dwood@buffalocommunications.com
