Seve Ballesteros has given his stamp of approval to the North East of England as the host of next year’’s Seve Trophy. The five time Major Champion confirmed that The Wynyard Golf Club in Tees Valley will host of the 2005 event, pitting the best of Great Britain and Ireland’’s golfers against Continental Europe from September 22 to 25, 2005.
The four-day event - widely acknowledged as the breeding ground for Europe’’s Ryder Cup stars of tomorrow – will boast a stellar line up of golfing talent in the North East, including many of this year’’s European Ryder Cup heroes.
Ballesteros will captain the Continental European side while Scotland’’s Colin Montgomerie leads the Great Britain and Ireland team in defending the
trophy they won in Valencia last year.
The former Open and Masters Champion, said: “I'm looking forward to returning to England for the next Seve Trophy and giving golf fans in the North East the chance to see Europe's best golfers compete over four days on The Wynyard course."
The Wynyard Club Managing Director, Gary Munro, said: “Having Seve here is proof positive that the Tees Valley and The Wynyard Club have what it takes to stage this fantastic event. The response we have had from our membership and the public in general to the news that the Seve Trophy is being played here has been phenomenal.”
George O’’Grady, The European Tour Executive Director Designate, said: “We are delighted that the fourth edition of The Seve Trophy is returning to England where the inaugural contest was held in 2000 and are particularly pleased that the North East will be hosting the competition.
”We congratulate The Wynyard Club on becoming the host venue and look forward to working with them and their partners as well as tournament organisers Amen Corner and MediaPro.”
The Wynyard Club is investing £750,000 to extend its clubhouse facilities to cater for the event and to carry out some improvements to the course to refine it to fully challenge Europe’’s best.
One NorthEast led the region’’s bid to stage the trophy. Alan Clarke, Chief Executive, said: “Securing the Seve Trophy for the North East is a major coup and yet more evidence of the region’’s ability to stage world-class sporting events.
“Economists have forecast this event will create 100 new jobs in the Tees Valley and will generate £10m for the regional economy, as well as boosting the international profile of our region to millions of television viewers.”
Wynyard’’s successful bid was put together by The Wynyard Partnership – comprising Tees Valley Regeneration, The Wynyard Club, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Tees Valley Partnership.
Joe Docherty, Tees Valley Regeneration Chief Executive, said: “The Seve Trophy is a world-class event and will add hugely to the growing sense of confidence we are building in the Tees Valley.
“The tournament will massively raise the profile of the area, both nationally and internationally, and is a platform we fully intend to build upon.”
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council leader Councillor Bob Gibson said: “Hosting such a prestigious event sends out a very positive message about Stockton and the Tees Valley and it will give the local economy a further boost.
“The Seve Trophy will raise the area's profile and encourage others to come and enjoy the many good things we have to offer."
Alistair Arkley, Chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership, said: “Clinching this trophy is very important for our area and the rest of the North East, not simply in terms of the direct benefits but in the boost it gives both to our local sense of pride and confidence and in raising our image right across Europe.
“I’’m sure that there will be huge spin-offs for our tourism sector which already employs many thousands of people and is growing in strength and importance all the time.”
Securing the Seve Trophy is a major element of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative’’s £140m culture10 programme, supporting a range of international festivals and events to establish the North East as a world-class visitor destination.
Paul Collard, Creative Director for culture10 said: “The North East has a great sporting heritage as well as a reputation for being able to secure and host major world-class events.
“The Seve Trophy along with the Newcastle Gateshead Cup and 25th Great North Run are just a few of the major sporting events taking place in 2005 helping to create a decade of world-class sport across the region.”
