Celtic Manor - The Twenty Ten Course

The Twenty Ten Course at The Celtic Manor Resort has been specifically designed to stage the Ryder Cup in 2010. Opened in July 2007 the course combines nine spectacular new holes designed by European Golf Design with nine holes from the original Wentwood Hills golf course which have been remodelled. The new course measures 7493 yards from the back tees with a par of 71.

The whole course is played along the floor of the Usk Valley affording wonderful views in all directions along the valley and towards Caerleon. Water comes into play on nine holes creating some exciting risk and reward opportunities, an important component of the design given the Ryder Cup's matchplay format. Many of the holes have been designed to provide different options for the golfer both from the tee and the fairway and a variety of tees have also been constructed to allow flexibility in the way the holes can be set up. The last three holes have been cut into the lower slopes of the valley and will provide a challenging and dramatic conclusion, particularly at the 18th where players must decide whether to carry a pond in front of the green with their second shot or lay up and leave a tricky pitch from a downhill lie, over water to a raised green.

The design brief was to create a golf course that was not only capable of challenging the world's greatest players but could also deal with the particular requirements of hosting a Ryder Cup. To facilitate this there was close coordination between the designers and the European Tour Staging Department to ensure that all the elements needed to stage a major sports event are catered for, including creating areas for tented villages, building dedicated platforms for hospitality units, incorporating space for all the media and television requirements, providing good spectator viewing points and ensuring practical and safe public access.

A vast flat area for hospitality platforms has been constructed running virtually the entire length of the final three holes. The slopes below these platforms offer superb spectator viewing, not only of these holes, but across the whole of the golf course.

Because of its setting within the Usk Valley the site is particularly sensitive and a tremendous amount of work was done to reduce the impact of the scheme on the environment. Detailed surveys of the ecology of the site were carried out and as a result various elements such as planting corridors and protection buffer zones were included within the landscape design. By using careful management regimes the aim is to encourage greater bio-diversity within the golf course, especially when compared to the existing farmland, which has a relatively low ecological and landscape value. Particular emphasis has been placed on increasing habitat creation by incorporating a variety of vegetation types, as well as streams, wetlands and planted areas.

In addition to its ecological importance the whole district around Caerleon has an important archaeological heritage and an archaeological survey was therefore on-going throughout the construction works. A number of important roman finds were made and, where necessary, the golf course design was adapted to ensure there was no destruction of sites of historical value.

Sep 2008 : Celtic Manor - The Range

May 2008 : Twenty Ten Course - Press Release

Apr 2008 : Ryder Cup course unveiled

Jun 2008 : Eat Golf, Issue 6 - Celtic Manor