Richard Caborn, the Sports Minister, made a special visit to Wales last week to monitor how the home of The 2010 Ryder Cup Matches is fulfilling its pledges to develop the game at all levels.
During his visit to The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Mr Caborn officially launched the 2002 Coca-Cola Junior Development Programme, organised by Celtic Manor Resort, which will see hundreds of youngsters taking part in coaching events and tournaments throughout the year.
Together with Welsh Sports Minister Jenny Randerson, he also launched the Wales Summer Festival of Golf, including The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, the Wales Seniors Open at Royal St David's GC and the Wales WPGA Championship of Europe, part of the Evian Ladies European Tour. The summer festival also includes the Amateur Championship to be played at Royal Porthcawl at Pyle and Kenfig.
Mr Caborn was on a fact-finding mission before meeting the national governing bodies of golf to discuss the future of the game for young people in Britain.
"I've heard a lot about the work going on in Wales and particularly at Celtic Manor Resort," he said. "The Government would like to see golf become a people's game, and we need to learn from programmes that are reaching out to juniors and introducing them to the sport."
Prior to the launch, Mr Caborn played Wentwood Hills, the venue of The 2010 Ryder Cup Matches, accompanied by Richard Hills, the European Ryder Cup Director, Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the Professional Golfers' Association, and Welshman Brian Huggett, the 1977 Ryder Cup Captain. He was also given a briefing by Andy Stanton, Tournament Chairman of The Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open, on changes to be made to the course specifically for The 38th Ryder Cup Matches.
Richard Hills said: "The Minister showed tremendous interest in The 2010 Ryder Cup Matches and obviously was cognisant of the plans to rearrange the postponed 34th Ryder Cup Matches to September 27-29, 2002, and reinforced his support on a number of logistical questions that are still to be answered."
Mr Caborn also congratulated the Wales Ryder Cup bid committee on winning the 2010 event. He said: "It's a fantastic achievement, good for Wales and good for golf. I want to see golf flourish in this country, and I'm sure you're going to deliver - not just for Wales, but for the whole of the UK as well.
"What I've seen will bring unique advantages to The Ryder Cup in a number of respects. The spectators will be able to see right down the valley and watch a full game of golf unfold; only one fairway will need a spectator crossing, so that will make security a lot easier; the course will look absolutely fantastic; and it's an asset that will be used many times before and after The Ryder Cup."
Mr Caborn also commented on how pleased he was to see pupils from Gaer Junior School, Newport, taking part in the development programme. He said: "Someone once said that golf is an old man's game - that's not the case anymore and the challenge is to attract more young people into the sport. Here you're showing that it's already happening."
Jenny Randerson, the Welsh Minister of Sport, said the Wales Summer Festival of Golf and Coca-Cola junior development programme, represented the full spectrum of the sport - male and female; professional and amateur; young and old, including the fast developing European Seniors Tour.
She explained: "We must build on this interest and maximise the golfing legacy of our bringing The Ryder Cup to Wales. Securing The Ryder Cup for Wales was a private - public sector partnership. Development of Golf in Wales requires a similar partnership. That is why I am so pleased to see the launch of The Celtic Manor Resort programme."
