Golf: Ryder Cup boost for Rhondda

Mar 7 2008

THE course where the Ryder Cup Wales bid was launched is in a different world to the top golfing glitz and glamour – but now it will get grassroots development thanks to the 2010 event.

The Rhondda golf club near Penrhys is in one of the most deprived areas of Wales with a high unemployment rate. It’s 33 miles from the Celtic Manor Resort, but a million miles from the luxurious surrounding and facilities of one of golf’s top venues.

Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones was on hand to help begin a new nine-hole starter course to encourage youngsters in the area to take up golf.

“The bid for the Ryder Cup was actually launched here so for us to get legacy funding thanks to 2010 shows it has gone full circle,” said Rhondda junior organiser Gareth Hughes.

“We are a million miles away from the glamour at the top end of the game, but this is grassroots stuff and we hope the juniors we are nurturing could play in the Ryder Cup one day.

“I know it is far-fetched, but I would love to see one of my juniors in the glamour of a Ryder Cup in 10 years.

“This is a deprived area, but people come here to the golf club, are part of the Rhondda community and can go on from that. It is important to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble.

“We have tried to get away from the stuffy image of golf. We have relaxed the dress code to a certain degree, under 12s do not have any fees.

“We want to see juniors develop and progress, we want to open up golf to the whole community.”

It is an initiative which is strongly backed by Jones as a symbol of what the Ryder Cup will do for Wales and for Welsh golf.

“It is a prestigious event in its own right, will bring a lot of people to Wales and put Wales on the world map, but we also have to remember that golf is a rapidly growing sport in Wales and provision of a facility like this will enable youngsters to move on,” he said.

“This is the other end of the scale from the stuffy image of golf, but in recent years golf has changed dramatically.

“I think it has been fantastic, golf is an excellent sport, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages youngsters to get involved.

“The Ryder Cup is extremely high on our radar with regular planning meetings. Until you are involved you do not realise what a massive event it is.

“It really is a mammoth operation, but we are now well into the planning phase.”