THE new Celtic Manor Wentwood Lakes Course, the first to be built specifically for the Ryder Cup, is on target to meet the scheduled completion date of next summer.
The second phase of the building work is complete on the site for the 2010 Ryder Cup and the final phase will be started when work resumes in January.
The course will feature nine holes from the Wentwood Hills Golf Course, which closed in early this year to enable development, and nine new holes, which are nearing completion.
It is anticipated that the course will host The Celtic Manor Wales Open in June 2007 and be fully operational and open to the public that spring.
The new holes will cover more than 120 acres of land with the practice ground, practice greens and six holes on flat land between Bulmore Road and the River Usk.
Three holes are being constructed on the south side of the road, playing along the lower slopes of the valley.
Starting from a new clubhouse, the first five holes are located on low-lying land close to the river.
Holes six to 13 make use of eight holes on the former Wentwood Hills course before a spectacular new par four, 14th hole.
The existing 13th hole then becomes the 15th on the Ryder Cup course before moving on to the demanding final three holes which have been constructed along the lower slopes of the valley running back towards the clubhouse.
Dylan Matthews, chief executive at The Celtic Manor Resort, said: "We are delighted with the progress that has been made over the past 18 months which has meant that the new course is right on schedule for completion in the summer of 2006.
"It has always been our aim to be in a position to provide both public and top professionals the opportunity to really get to know and enjoy the course before we host The Ryder Cup in 2010. We are now in a position where
"we can plan to host four Celtic Manor Wales Open tournaments prior to The Ryder Cup as well as granting our members and the general public the chance to play on it."
Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: "We are impressed by the amount of work done in such a short time since the Wentwood Hills course closed to allow the redevelopment to commence.
"The 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort will benefit greatly, with so many holes affording outstanding viewing access across the valley."
Former Ryder Cup captain, Brian Huggett, said: "The golf course is really moving along now.
"We are now just 30 per cent from completion and it looks fantastic already.
"There are some dramatic and picturesque holes now appearing. I'm confident it will be a magnificent course."
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