St Pierre Announces Major Developments

The Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club has undergone a major transformation over the past year and has recently announced the completion of a number of projects designed to improve both the quality of its hotel and golf courses.\\r\\nBoth the resort’s Mathern and Old courses have undergone a £1.8 million remodel specifically designed to create two courses, which will play to a high standard all year round. The golf development is just part of a £7 million investment at the Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club that includes a complete refurbishment of bedrooms, restaurants & bars, meeting rooms, leisure club and spa.\\r\\nThe Mathern Course recently reopened with work having taken place throughout the summer of 2007, and the Old Course looks set to be fully open in June. Both courses feature new re-designed teeing areas, renovated, re-shaped and additional bunkers, a new automatic irrigation system on all greens, approaches and teeing areas, new pathways, landscaped area around the 1st tee, giving an impressive look upon arrival, and new bridges over waterways. The 7th hole on the Old Course has been completely redesigned from a par 4 to a dogleg par 5 - taking the course to over 7000 yards and creating a par of 72. The course will also feature two new greens when it reopens and there are plans to replace a further two greens a year over the next two years. All course design changes were undertaken by Ross McMurray of European Golf Design (EGD) and completed by Delta Golf. \\r\\nWill Hewitt, Director of Golf at Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club, commented:-\\r\\n “With its beautiful setting, St Pierre has always had a reputation for being one of the leading golf resorts in the UK and we feel that the extensive renovations will only serve to improve the quality of golf and accommodation that our guests demand.” \\r\\nThe Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club is one of the UK’s finest golf resorts and has proudly staged the Solheim Cup and numerous European Tour events. There are two championship courses at St Pierre; the challenging par 72 Old Course and the Mathern Course, which at 5,748 yards par 68 provides a gentler test. Both courses benefit from magnificent rolling countryside and offer a great experience for golfers of all abilities \\r\\nBeyond the fairways, the elegant 14th century country retreat has also undergone major renovations and boasts a wide range of first class facilities including: a blissful spa, tennis courts, fitness club, a pool and a whole host of outdoor activities. After their rounds guests can retreat to a luxuriously appointed room, featuring deluxe bedding and high-speed Internet access. The hotel has two restaurants, Morgans featuring the very best in International and traditional Welsh cuisine, and the Zest which offers a more casual setting featuring contemporary modern food. Set within 400 acres of rolling Welsh countryside, this idyllic resort lies within 50 miles of both Cardiff and Bristol Airports. Major motorways and rail networks are also nearby.\\r\\nFor more information on Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club please go to www.stpierregolf.com\\r\\n

An experience to savour 7:05pm Thu 26 Jun 08 Trudy Carradice visits Machynys Peninsula A recent invitation to play a fourball at Machynys Peninsula was too good a chance to miss and as soon as I mentioned it to three golfing friends they leapt at the chance to take on Wales' only Nicklaus designed course. Easily reached off the M4 we made an early start with expectation and excitement in our hearts. As we entered the long driveway leading to the course the sun was already up and the mist beginning to rise from the lakes. I knew that we had uncovered a seaside gem.

SWALEC sponsors Ryder Cup Wales Challenge at the Vale 7:02pm Thu 26 Jun 08 SWALEC will be the main sponsor for the prestigious Ryder Cup Wales Challenge Tour event, which will be held from 24-27 July on the Vale's stunning and testing Wales National Course.

‘Open Day’ at Cottrell Park 6:59pm Thu 26 Jun 08 Cottrell Park Golf Club recently held a very successful Open Day. Luckily, the weather on the day was wonderful and the course, as usual, was in pristine condition. Over 150 golfers entered the Shoot Your Joining Fee' competition and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Apart from the golf, the club organised a raffle where the lucky winners had a choice of excellent prizes. The first prize, nonetheless, was for one person to have the opportunity of the use of a "Super Car for a Week' - this, incidentally, was won by Mrs Diane Magner. Also attending on the day was Red Dragon Radio and American Golf who held club demonstration' sessions on the range.

Twenty Ten course unveiled to the world 6:58pm Thu 26 Jun 08 As every golfing enthusiast knows this year's Celtic Manor Wales Open was played over the new Twenty Ten course, the layout that has been created specifically to host the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Ryder Cup trophy at Machynys Peninsula 6:56pm Thu 26 Jun 08 Mark Reed, General Manager and Director of Coaching at Machynys, (pictured holding the trophy with PGA captain, Parnell Reilly and the Machynys golf team) had the honour of working at the infamous Ryder Cup venue, The Belfry from1994 - 2004 as Golf Operations Manager and Head Teaching Professional. Here in 2002 he experienced the Ryder Cup first hand. He commented: "It is an honour to have the Ryder Cup back at Machynys for a second time, especially in light of the initiative that this trip is supporting. The Ryder Cup is officially the third biggest sporting event in the world behind the football world cup and the Olympics so it is an honour to have such an event come to Wales in 2010".

Ladies European Tour returns to Machynys 6:55pm Thu 26 Jun 08 The ever popular S4C Wales Ladies Championship of Europe will, once again, return to the Nicklaus designed course at Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club.

The whirlwind tour of the Ryder Cup trophy 6:52pm Thu 26 Jun 08 A whistle-stop helicopter tour of the Ryder Cup trophy to over 100 Welsh golf clubs culminated in its arrival at the Celtic Manor Resort on the final day of the recent Wales Open. Met by Sir Terry Matthews and rugby legend Gareth Edwards, the arrival of the helicopter provided an interesting diversion from the battle on the course. The trophy was also present during the closing ceremony on the 18th green of the new Twenty Ten course.

Calling all golfing aficionados 6:49pm Thu 26 Jun 08 If any of our readers are interested in collecting golf memorabilia then Bonhams latest Golfing Sale' which is being held on the 14 July, in Chester, to coincide with the 2008 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club could be the place for you to visit. The sale has several interesting pieces, which mark the 100th anniversary of Tom Morris' death and the 150th anniversary of Samuel Ryder's death.

Annual Open Meeting at Langland Bay 6:44pm Thu 26 Jun 08 Martin Jones, the Immediate Past Captain of the Senior's is pleased to report on the club's Annual Seniors Open Event which was held on Monday 19 May. He explains that there were over 160 entrants representing twenty-four different clubs from across the South Wales area competing in this popular Stableford event. The weather was superb, with constant sunshine and warm temperatures, which helped not only with the success of the day, but the organizers and the competitors alike enjoyed themselves immensely. The course was in first class condition and the Senior section would like to express their thanks to the excellent work from the greenkeeping staff in preparing the course so magnificently. There were two categories and the results are as follows:- Category A (56 -64 yrs) 1st - Tudor Weatherley (Langland, 37pts) 2nd - Graham Davies (Garnant, 36pts) 3rd - Haydn Painter(Cottrell Park, 35pts) Category B (65+) 1st - Pat Wards (Neath, 41pts) 2nd - David Skinner (Carmarthen, 38pts) 3rd - Huw Thomas (Morriston, 35pts) There were two Nearest the Pins prizes. On the first hole a par three Brian Williams (Mountain Ash) was closest and on the 18th E Jones was near the pin in two. Amongst the 13 two's, David Read of Newport Golf Club scored his two on the sixth, which measures 409 yards.

Jermine claims English Open Seniors

6:42pm Thursday 26th June 2008

John Jermine, former Welsh Champion and international - and current chairman of Ryder Cup Wales - recently won the English Open Seniors Championship by 1 stroke.

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