Ryder Cup Golf – World’s Largest Golf Tournament Comes to Wales
Can you believe it but the one of the world’s largest sporting events is coming to Wales – The Ryder Cup 2010. It’s the third most watched televised sporting event in the global sporting calendar after the Football World Cup and the Olympics – it’s that big.I can already hear the shouts from the Americans “get in the hole!” and this massive global golf phenomenon doesn’t start until 1st October 2010. The event itself starts with the 3 practise days on 28th, 29th and 30th September with the tournamemnt itself running from 1st October to 3rd October.
What is the Ryder Cup 2010
What is it that makes this “the” Golf tournament. Firstly it’s a team based golf competition between the USA and Europe with no financial reward for the players and plenty of Trans-Atlantic rivalry. It only takes place once every two years. Lets get technical for a minute – The players play to what’s called Match play Rules. They play a mix of singles, foursomes and fourballs. Points are awarded for each hole won. The captain, usually a veteran golfer, selects the team. Twelve players are selected for the team.
Why is the Ryder Cup 2010 Coming to Wales?
Well why not? Wales has been described as golf’s best kept secret and this year it will be very much discovered by millions of golf enthusiasts and although it’s taken 83 years to arrive in Wales we don’t mind it’s worth waiting for. Wales is no bigger than Massachusetts (makes a change to be comparing the size of the Wales to some other geographic part of the world it’s usually the other way around) yet it has over 200 golf courses. It’s more than just the number and quality of the courses which makes Wales special but also the warmth of the welcome and hospitality shown.
The Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor is also the first of it’s kind as it has been designed specifically to host the Ryder Cup 2010. Wales also has a rich golf legacy and quirky history:-
- In September 1898 Dr.Frank Stableford unveiled his Stableford scoring system at Glamorganshire Golf Club, Penarth
- Wales has the third oldest golf union in the world established in 1895.
- West Monmouthshire Golf Club has the highest golf course in Great Britain
- The clubhouse at The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club is the former workshop and gargage wgere the first Rolls-Royce engines were built
- Tenby is Wales’ oldest established golf club founded in 1888.
- Nefyn and District Golf Club has been compared with playing on the deck of an aircraft carrier – you can see the sea from every tee on the course
Ryder Cup History
Following an exhibition match between the USA and Great Britain in 1926 at Wentworth, Samuel Ryder told British golf player George Duncan that he would support a regular competition between the two nations. He then commissioned Mappin and Webb to create a solid gold trophy for £250. The GB team was expanded to include Ireland in 1973 and Europe in 1979.
Related Links
If you are interested in finding out more about the Ryder Cup Wales 2010, booking tickets or hospitality packages then here are some links to related websites:-
www.rydercupwales2010.com
www.rydercup.com
www.golfasitshoudlbe.com
www.europeantour.com
www.celtic-manor.com
www.rydercuphospitality.com
www.rcts.co.uk
Golf with Call of the Wild
If you are visiting Wales then why not combine a golf session at one of our fantatsic local golf courses as part of an activity weekend.
NB – Top photo courtesy of Visit Wales