£2million Celtic Manor bridge unveiled

Sir Terry Matthews, Carwyn Jones and Richard Hills

Ryder Cup venue nears completion with unveiling of new landmark

A new £2million bridge, which will transport players and spectators to the Celtic Manor practice ground during this year’s Ryder Cup, has been officially opened.

Carwyn Jones, The First Minister of Wales, cut the ribbon on the 120-metre long, cable stayed bridge over the River Usk, with Sir Terry Matthews, chairman of the Celtic Manor Resort, and Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup director also in attendance.

As the resort edges completion, Matthews said: “We are proud to open this wonderful new bridge as the final major piece of construction for this year’s Ryder Cup.

“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.”

As well as the Ryder Cup practice ground, the bridge also links to a huge TV compound housing 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 the first tee.

Richard Hills, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said: “The installation of the bridge is a vital component of The 2010 Ryder Cup, facilitating ease of access to both sides of the River Usk. The bridge will also be able to carry emergency vehicles and with this opening another part of the infrastructure required to host The 2010 Ryder Cup is officially in place.

“The Celtic Manor Resort as host venue has continually demonstrated superb commitment and we congratulate them for making this happen in such good time and thank Sir Terry Matthews whose vision has led to the biennial contest being hosted in Wales for the first time.”

The Ryder Cup will be staged at Celtic Manor between September 27- October 3, 2010, when Europe will attempt to recapture the trans-Atlantic trophy they lost to their American opponents at Valhalla in 2008.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor