Captain of the successful European team in the 2006 Ryder Cup, Ian Woosnam has more than a soft spot for his home country – he’s our enthusiastic ‘Ambassador of Welsh Golf’ and can’t wait for 2010.
‘It’s a massive, massive tournament, and it goes to a billion homes. I’m talking, of course, about the Ryder Cup, which comes to Wales in 2010. And about time too.
‘I know Wales – and Welsh golf – like the back of my hand. We have some of the best, friendliest courses in the world. I have a special feeling for Aberdovey, the magnificent links course on Cardigan Bay. Part of the attraction has always been its great condition throughout the winter so I could keep my hand in. It’s a magic place and I return there whenever I can. In fact, I still keep a caravan behind the first tee.
‘My home course of Llanymynech is another favourite, even though three of its 18 holes are in England! As a youngster I worked on the family farm, and only when I’d finished my tasks was I allowed to play golf. Those years of farm work gave me strength and may be responsible for my reputation as a long hitter. It certainly came in handy at Llanymynech and elsewhere.
‘The view from the 12th tee at Llanymynech is one of the most magnificent you’ll see anywhere. Other favourites include the links at Royal St David’s, where you play in the shadow of Harlech Castle, and Royal Porthcawl overlooking Swansea Bay.
‘I can personally recommend many more courses: Prestatyn, Maesdu, North Wales and Conwy along the North Wales coast, Nefyn on the Llŷn Peninsula, and Ashburnham down south. In the south-east, I won two tour events at St Pierre and I have very close ties with the Ryder Cup 2010 venue at Celtic Manor.
’My connection with Terry Matthews’s masterpiece goes back to the early 1990s. I was attached to the club as touring professional for seven years and it has been great to watch the complex grow. The Twenty Ten course is a world-class venue that will set the seal on Wales’s arrival as a major magnet for golf tourists.
