Ryder Cup tickets secured for Welsh clubs and charity
Golf in Wales is due to get a welcome boost next year when The 2010 Ryder Cup, becomes a reality, and Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd., has negotiated unprecedented access to coveted tickets to the event for the benefit of golf clubs throughout Wales and for Tenovus, Wales’ cancer charity.
For the first time ever, an allocation of tickets will be made available to every golf club affiliated to the Golf Union of Wales which will allow them, for example, to use the much sought after tickets to raise funds to develop their facilities or engage with members and reward them for their support. This is the first time that benefits of this scale have been available to clubs of the region and will ensure that all of the host nation’s golf clubs benefit.
For each golf club affiliated to the Golf Union of Wales there is the opportunity to enjoy two complimentary daily tickets to the event (Thursday through Sunday) giving every Welsh golf club the opportunity of supporting golf development and golf-related initiatives in Wales.
1000 practice day tickets have also been secured and these tickets will largely be distributed to support golf at grassroots level giving children across Wales entry to the biggest event in world golf.
These tickets include an allocation to Tenovus, which has been the official charity of Ryder Cup Wales since the very beginning. Clubs who work with Tenovus over the coming 18 months, perhaps by participating in the Tenovus Challenge in October, will be able to earn an additional two tickets per day by supporting Welsh golf and by making a contribution to Tenovus.
Chief Executive of the Golf Union of Wales, Richard Dixon, said: “This is a wonderful chance for Golf Union member clubs to be able to fully embrace The Ryder Cup coming to Wales and help the development of the game in the process. We are grateful to Ryder Cup Europe and Ryder Cup Wales 2010 for the opportunity.”
The once in a lifetime opportunity to experience, first-hand, the excitement of the biennial contest will also be extended to youngsters across Wales with an interest in the game. All Welsh clubs that have achieved the Golf Development Wales-sponsored Junior Club Accreditation Scheme will get an allocation of tickets for one of the practice days of the tournament enabling them to take groups of junior golfers to support their golfing heroes playing Celtic Manor Resort’s Twenty Ten Course for the first time.
Director of Golf Development Wales, Hannah James, said: ”The Junior Golf Certificate aims to recognise and reward those clubs who are striving to increase the numbers of young people playing and enjoying golf. Linking Ryder Cup tickets to the scheme is a great way to reward those clubs in Wales investing in the future of their clubs and the game of golf and provides a exciting chance for juniors in these clubs to see the Ryder Cup players in action in their home country.”
Chairman of Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Ltd., John Jermine, said: “We are determined that this Ryder Cup will have strong Welsh themes throughout the week and the 2010 match will benefit everybody in the community as well as every golf club in Wales. From the very beginning we have sought to ensure that all levels of golf in Wales will benefit, especially youngsters and players new to the game, and we greatly appreciate the wonderful support of George O’Grady and his team at Ryder Cup Europe who have made it all possible. The support for Tenovus and the battle against cancer is a real bonus.”
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Ryder Cup Europe is delighted to support the Golf Union of Wales and Tenovus in the lead-up to The 2010 Ryder Cup. This initiative will not only raise awareness of the important work performed by Tenovus in the fight against cancer but it will also provide Welsh Golf Club members, many of them youngsters, with the opportunity to view the match.”