Celtic Manor Resort welcomes Colin Montgomerie as Ryder Cup captain
CELTIC MANOR, WALES, January 28, 2009 - The Celtic Manor Resort has welcomed the appointment of Colin Montgomerie as the European captain for The Ryder Cup when it comes to Wales for the first time in 2010. Montgomerie will spearhead Europe’s efforts to reclaim the trophy from the Americans next year.
Montgomerie has strong ties with Celtic Manor, having designed a course that bears his name at the five-star resort and acted as an ambassador for The Celtic Manor Wales Open, a leading event on The European Tour. The popular Scot also has previous experience of captaincy at Celtic Manor, having skippered the European team in the All*Star Cup, a celebrity version of The Ryder Cup.
Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort, said: We send our warmest congratulations to Colin Montgomerie on his appointment as Europe’s captain for The Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort. As the winner of eight Order of Merit titles on The European Tour, Colin Montgomerie’s achievements as a golfer have been exceptional. He has also made an enormous contribution to The Ryder Cup in his eight appearances as a player and has been recognised as an influential leader on the course during recent European victories. We are sure he will lead the European team as a non-playing captain in the same inspirational manner. Colin has long been a good friend and supporter of The Celtic Manor Resort where we are proud to have a course designed by such a distinguished golfing figure. He has always been a popular competitor at The Celtic Manor Wales Open and I am sure he will get a fantastic response from the Welsh crowds as captain. We look forward to seeing even more of him over the next 18 months as we make the final preparations for The Ryder Cup in 2010.
Having already designed The Montgomerie at Celtic Manor, the 45-year-old captain will now switch his attention to setting up The Twenty Ten Course for The Ryder Cup, in consultation with Celtic Manor’s Director of Golf Courses, Jim McKenzie. The Twenty Ten is the first course in history to be purpose built for The Ryder Cup and is currently being enjoyed by club members whose membership privileges also guarantee highly sought-after season tickets to The Ryder Cup and full playing rights on all three championship courses at Celtic Manor.
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About The Celtic Manor Resort: Host venue for The Ryder Cup in 2010, the five-star Celtic Manor Resort is set in more than 1,400 acres of panoramic parkland at the gateway to Wales. With two hotels – a 330-room luxury Resort Hotel and an historic 19th century Manor House with 70 rooms – two exceptional spas, two state-of-the-art health clubs, a shooting school, fishing, tennis courts, mountain biking, walking trails and five outstanding restaurants, The Celtic Manor Resort provides a complete experience for business, leisure and golf travellers. In 2005 and 2007 the Resort was voted the Number One Conference Hotel by readers of Conference and Incentive Travel Magazine. The Resort is the home of The Celtic Manor Wales Open, one of the premier events on The European Tour, and offers the challenge of three 18-hole championship golf courses, including the new Twenty Ten course, the first course in history to be designed and built specifically to host The Ryder Cup. For more information visit: www.celtic-manor.com