RYDER CUP: Sir Terry’s praise for staff (From South Wales Argus)

RYDER CUP: Sir Terry’s praise for staff

11:10am Tuesday 5th October 2010 in Ryder Cup news

CELTIC Manor Resort chairman Sir Terry Matthews said everybody involved in organising the competition was “deeply disappointed” by the weather.

He praised the dedication of a team of 110 greens keepers, members and volunteers, which was led by Jim McKenzie, the director of golf courses at the Celtic Manor.

But he reserved his biggest praise for the spectators and sponsors who he said deserved so much better.

Sir Terry said: “The support and enthusiasm for the event, despite the disruption, has been extraordinary.”

He described the atmosphere in the course as “electric” stating that the weather had just been bad luck.

He said: “We could have played this event exactly one year ago or exactly one week ago and we would have experienced no interruptions to the schedule of play, but one thing we cannot control is the weather.”

He said the fact that four hours of play was possible on Friday and a third session was completed on Sunday was testament to the high quality of the course drainage, after 55.5 percent of the average monthly rainfall for October fell in less than three days. This equates to 94mm or 3.7 inches.

Sir Terry said that Jim McKenzie and the ground staff team did an “unbelievable” job.

He also thanked everyone who worked at the event, paying particular reference to the volunteer marshals for their “tireless work” in trying conditions.