THE best Ryder Cup there has ever been – that is the opinion on both sides of the Atlantic as the dust settles, or rather the water disappears, after the tumultuous tournament at the Celtic Manor which ended with a dramatic triumph for Europe last week.

When Graeme McDowell got the better of Hunter Mahan on the 17th green it resulted not only in a memorable European triumph but it also brought the curtain down on more than seven years of meticulous planning.

Not even the biggest pessimist could have predicted the foul weather which curtailed play severely on two of the three days, but it brought the best out of hundreds of volunteers who worked day and night to make the course playable.

It was the first time in the 83-year history of the competition play went into a fourth day, and it made people forget about all the rain as the United States staged a stirring recovery which went within a whisker of succeeding.

And it was still played out in front of 35,000 fans who will never forget what they witnessed amid scenes of great euphoria on the 17th and all the way back to the clubhouse.

It made for spectacular viewing and led John Jermine, chairman of Ryder Cup Wales, to sum up: “It couldn’t have been better, it has become the best Ryder Cup ever and I didn’t hear one adverse comment, which is unbelievable.

“When the Prince of Wales came on the Wednesday they were four deep for over 500 yards and he must have shaken hands with more than a thousand people.

“He had never seen such a warmth of welcome and the Americans were overwhelmed by the warmth of their reception as well.

“Ryder Cup Europe did a wonderful job staging the event and I met a guy from America who had been to 18 majors and PGA events and said the tented village had knocked them all into a cocked hat, which was a huge compliment.

“Tiger Woods was eight under for ten holes and the warmth of the reception he got, particularly from the youngsters and during practice, was tremendous. Everyone seemed to love Bubba Watson and G-Mac was every girl’s favourite.

“And look at Rory McIlroy, who a year ago was not overly enthusiastic about the Ryder Cup, but he got up and down out of a bunker on the 18th to get a half point without which Europe wouldn’t have got the trophy back.

“It was all so wonderful because of the people, the spectators, the volunteers behind the scenes. Seven years of work went into preparing the emergency services, the police, the hospitality and some of us had been to Oakland Hills in 2004, then the K Club, then Valhalla. Jim McKenzie (head groundsman) learnt from them all and the contingency plans they had.

“That enabled Wales to cope with two inches of rain in 16 hours which no other club in the country could deal with. The K Club (which staged the last Ryder Cup in Europe) and Gleneagles (which holds the next one) were shut.

“I think Sir Terry Matthews (Celtic Manor owner) did a fantastic job with Jim McKenzie with the drainage to deliver a system which might be unique in Great Britain. To be playing golf so quickly after such rainfall was unheard of.

“The park and ride system worked terrifically and schoolchildren had the most amazing days. The stands were very well located with all supported by TV screens so that people could look at the golf and keep abreast of what was going on from different vantage points.

“We had 1,500 volunteers and 7,500 people working here with 80 greenkeeping staff from local clubs complementing Jim McKenzie and his team from all the clubs in the area and throughout Wales. They were here night and day which was a massive lift.”

Jermine says the Celtic Manor is in a unique position to beneft from the success of the Ryder Cup.

“It’s the gateway to golf in Wales, it’s two hours from 40m people and anyone arriving in Britain can come to the Celtic Manor, the first trophy course we’ve ever had, while the Welsh National Centre of Excellence opened here by Arnold Palmer last year is the equal of any facility in Europe.”

- Tomorrow, the Ryder Cup’s legacy for Wales and the Celtic Manor.