First Minister of Wales celebrates new twin-suspension construction completing
$25 million investment in 2010 Ryder Cup venue
(NEWPORT, Wales) – The Celtic Manor Resort – host of golf’s 2010 Ryder Cup and premier luxury retreat less than two hours outside London – announces the grand opening of the $3 million Twenty Ten Bridge.
The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, cut the ribbon on the 130-yard cable bridge over the River Usk with Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of the Celtic Manor Resort, and Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director. It completes $25 million of capital improvements by the UK’s top resort in advance of hosting golf’s ultimate team championship, October 1-3.
The vast structure will aid transportation of players and spectators to the Ryder Cup practice ground. As with the construction of the Twenty Ten Course and its clubhouse, the new bridge was built by Welsh contractors, bringing further benefits to Wales’ economy.
“We are proud to open this wonderful new bridge as the final major piece of construction for this year’s Ryder Cup,” says Sir Terry Matthews. “We have invested a lot of time and resources in creating not only the Twenty Ten Course, the first golf course in history to be purpose built for staging the Ryder Cup, but also the surrounding infrastructure.”
The bridge was designed with close attention to the environmental and ecological sensitivities of the tidal River Usk. A six-and-one-half-yard exclusion zone on either side of the river bank protects otter holts and ensures the migrating patterns of salmon and shad fish are not affected.
“The Ryder Cup is a huge event for Wales and I congratulate Sir Terry Matthews and the team at the Celtic Manor Resort on completing the final piece of the infrastructure required on-site to host such a high-profile event, which will be a superb showcase for Wales,” says First Minister Jones.
In addition to the Ryder Cup practice ground, the bridge also links to a huge TV compound which will house the world’s sports broadcasters on the Caerleon side of the river. On the golf course side, a vast tented village of spectator attractions will occupy the existing Twenty Ten practice ground between the river and first tee.
Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, says: “The Celtic Manor Resort as host venue has continually demonstrated superb commitment, and we congratulate them for making this happen in such a timely fashion. Thank you to Sir Terry Matthews whose vision has led to the biennial contest being hosted in Wales for the first time.”
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
