Tycroes opens grassroots legacy facility

Golf facilities in West Wales are set to benefit further following the opening today of the new and improved facility at Tycroes Golf Range which was awarded funding of over £70,000 from the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund towards total project costs of over £150,000.

The grassroots golf project at Tycroes has seen the development of the old facility to include the restoration and redesign of the existing nine-hole, par 3 course together with the installation of a high ball stop fence to enclose the existing driving range. In addition, the driving range will benefit from a new drainage system, new bay dividers and target nets at various points on the range together will new automated golf ball bay dispensers, new click 90 range balls and additional open bays.

The support, provided by the Welsh Assembly Government, forms part of the winning bid to host The 2010 Ryder Cup and aims to develop and increase the number of publicly accessible facilities throughout Wales to encourage new players to the game.

Rob Holt, Chief Executive of Ryder Cup Wales, who was present at the official opening, said: "The Ryder Cup is one of the most prestigious sporting events worldwide and, when it is held at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010, it will put Wales, and particularly golf in Wales, firmly in the international sporting spotlight.

“One of the objectives of the Legacy Fund is to provide the whole of Wales with a lasting legacy of improved golfing facilities long after 2010 to be enjoyed by future generations and this is one of 8 Legacy funded projects in West Wales with 6 currently in development and 2 that have already been completed and opened.”

With a variety of lengths and hazards, the upgraded nine-hole course is intended to offer an ideal introduction to beginners, novices and slightly more experienced golfers, looking to fine tune their game. The improvements to the driving range and the control building will also ensure a more useable and effective facility.

Carlo Luzzi, Tycroes Golf Range Manager, said: “I am delighted with the transformation of the facility which has seen the restoration of the nine-hole course and improvements to the driving range and I’d like to thank Ryder Cup Wales and the administrators of the project, Sports Council for Wales, who have made this possible. The newly upgraded facility will assist us in being able to attract new players to the game by enabling us to significantly improve our golf offering to include a wide range of programmes for young people via the good links that have already been established with local schools and Dragon Sport."

As part of the official opening, a group of local primary school children from Ysgol Tycroes joined golf professional Gary Pugh for a golf lesson during which they were able to pick up some coaching tips to consider for their future game.