Celtic Manor Resort
Encyclopedia
The Celtic Manor Resort is a golf
-centric hotel
and leisure resort in Newport
, south Wales
. It consists of two adjoining hotels, a country inn, two golf and country clubs, and a multi-purpose conference centre. It was the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup
, the first to be held in Wales.
, is located on the south-facing side of Christchurch Hill in eastern Newport
, overlooking Junction 24 of the M4 motorway
. The golf courses extend over the ridge and down the north-facing side of the hill into the Vale of Usk
, with views up to the Wentwood
escarpment
. The resort covers 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of land.
of Monmouthshire
, Lewis Van.
The Manor House
was built in 1860 by Thomas Powell, the largest coalmine owner in the South Wales coalfield
, the world's biggest coal exporter and the first coal millionaire
. Powell's son, Thomas Powell Jnr, and his bride Julia Jenkins were given the mansion
as a wedding gift when they married in 1859. They named it Coldra Hall.
After Thomas and Julia Powell's deaths on safari
in Africa
, Coldra Hall was leased to a number of tenants, including the Firbank family from 1900–1915. Charles Firbank was also a high sheriff of Monmouthshire and well known for his generosity, entertaining parties of a hundred or more blind and disabled people. On Mr Firbank's death in 1915, the hall was sold to Sir John Wyndham, a colliery and shipping entrepreneur
, who added a wing to it.
In 1930 Sir John donated the house to the local health authority and, in 1940, it became the Lydia Beynon Maternity Hospital, named in honour of his mother. Over 60,000 babies were born there, including the present owner. It closed as a hospital on the 1st March 1977.
. Matthews had become friends with the late golf-course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
whose family roots were in Aberystwyth
, Wales. Work began on the Roman Road course in 1992 – named after the main route connecting the former Roman fortress of Caerleon
with the town of Caerwent
which crosses the land. By 1994, work had commenced on the 400-bedroom Resort Hotel; as well as a £10-million golf clubhouse and the 4000 yards (3,657.6 m) Coldra Woods golf course.
The new development was completed and opened in 1999. The former Celtic Manor Hotel was renamed "The Manor House" to distinguish it from the new "Resort Hotel."
To prepare for the 2010 Ryder Cup, The Twenty Ten Course was built, as part of a £16 million development. This was the first golf course in history to be purpose built for the event. As part of this development, this included a 120 metre long £2m twin-suspension, the course and a new clubhouse and surrounding infrastructure, which was promised as part of the bid to host the event in 2001. The new bridge, The Twenty Ten Bridge, links the practice ground to the golf course across the River Usk
and was officially opened by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones
AM. Rowecord Engineering of Newport
, provided all the steelwork and structure and Andrew Scott Ltd was the main construction contractor..
's planning committee which refused permission for Matthews to demolish or move a ruined Grade 2 listed building from a position overlooking the 18th green, a farmhouse dating back to 1630, described by Matthews as "damaging to the image of the entire nation". The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings said: "The problematic situation is entirely of the owner’s own making and refusal to safeguard the listed building over many years. It cannot be right to reward this by agreeing to a proposal to simply move a listed building out of the way."
It being known that a Roman
settlement had been located at Great Bulmore, the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
was appointed by the Celtic Manor Resort to oversee archaeological
considerations prior to the course construction. The Trust worked closely with the designers to ensure the preservation of historic material and features. When a Roman pottery kiln was found during the construction of one of the greens,
the green was redesigned to avoid it..
While as much as possible of the potential archaeology was identified at the design stage, watching briefs were carried out during construction, since other structures might be discovered. As a result, construction work was halted in sensitive areas to give them time to excavate features, like a second Roman pottery kiln with a probable workshop building and a Roman drying kiln.
On the site of the new coach park, a small square tower-like building was found well to the north of any Roman activity previously discovered. It lay alongside a lightly metalled track, that must have branched off the Caerleon to Usk road. There has been some argument as to whether it was military—a Roman watch tower (Castellum
) for example—or whether it was a mausoleum where someone of importance had been buried . In the rubble that overlay the building were two pieces of an inscription, with a few letters on each. They were found to fit together, and Professor Roger Tomlin, of Oxford University interpreted them as part of a verse referring to 'unjust fate', which could support the mausoleum theory.
. As a result much of the Wentwood Hills course was redeveloped into the Ryder Cup's first purpose-built venue; the "Twenty Ten" Course. An additional clubhouse built specifically for the Twenty Ten course was completed and opened in autumn 2007. The opening of the Ryder Cup, which ran from 27 September until 4 October 2010, saw a visit from Charles, Prince of Wales
. Europe won the trophy by 14½ – 13½ points.
in 2005 and then ITV
in 2006. In a similar vein to the Ryder Cup, it pitched European celebrity golfers against American counterparts. Celebrities such as Ross Kemp
, Bruce Forsyth
, Jane Seymour
and noted golfing enthusiast Alice Cooper
took part. There has been no tournament from 2007 due to inclement weather.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
-centric hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and leisure resort in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, south Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It consists of two adjoining hotels, a country inn, two golf and country clubs, and a multi-purpose conference centre. It was the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup
2010 Ryder Cup
The 38th Ryder Cup matches were held 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, Wales. It was the first time the competition was staged in Wales. With the USA as the defending Cup holder the event was played on the newly-constructed Twenty 10 course, specifically designed for the...
, the first to be held in Wales.
Location
The resort, owned by Sir Terry MatthewsTerry Matthews
Sir Terence Hedley Matthews OBE, FIEE, FREng is a Welsh business magnate, serial high tech entrepreneur, and Wales's first billionaire....
, is located on the south-facing side of Christchurch Hill in eastern Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, overlooking Junction 24 of the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
. The golf courses extend over the ridge and down the north-facing side of the hill into the Vale of Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
, with views up to the Wentwood
Wentwood
Wentwood is a forested area of hills, rising to 309 metres , in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is located to the north east of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.- Geology :...
escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
. The resort covers 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of land.
Site history
The earliest record of a building on the resort site was 1634, when it was the residence of the High SheriffHigh Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, Lewis Van.
The Manor House
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was built in 1860 by Thomas Powell, the largest coalmine owner in the South Wales coalfield
South Wales Coalfield
The South Wales Coalfield is a large region of south Wales that is rich with coal deposits, especially the South Wales Valleys.-The coalfield area:...
, the world's biggest coal exporter and the first coal millionaire
Millionaire
A millionaire is an individual whose net worth or wealth is equal to or exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account...
. Powell's son, Thomas Powell Jnr, and his bride Julia Jenkins were given the mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
as a wedding gift when they married in 1859. They named it Coldra Hall.
After Thomas and Julia Powell's deaths on safari
Safari
A safari is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa. Traditionally, the term is used for a big-game hunt, but today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.-Etymology:Entering the English...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Coldra Hall was leased to a number of tenants, including the Firbank family from 1900–1915. Charles Firbank was also a high sheriff of Monmouthshire and well known for his generosity, entertaining parties of a hundred or more blind and disabled people. On Mr Firbank's death in 1915, the hall was sold to Sir John Wyndham, a colliery and shipping entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, who added a wing to it.
In 1930 Sir John donated the house to the local health authority and, in 1940, it became the Lydia Beynon Maternity Hospital, named in honour of his mother. Over 60,000 babies were born there, including the present owner. It closed as a hospital on the 1st March 1977.
The Celtic Manor Hotel
Matthews bought the Manor House in 1980, investing £100m in a redevelopment and refurbishment project. The house was renovated, retaining all its best older features. Initially with 16 bedrooms, the Celtic Manor Hotel opened in 1982. With the addition of a modern three-storey extension, by the early 1990s the hotel's capacity was expanded to 70 bedrooms. It received Egon Ronay Guide awards for the best hotel in Wales for five consecutive years.Resort development
In 1991, plans were unveiled to develop two new golf courses and a convention centre on land between the Manor House and the River UskRiver Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
. Matthews had become friends with the late golf-course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Robert Trent Jones
Robert Trent Jones, Sr. was a golf course architect who designed about 500 golf courses in at least 40 US states and 35 other countries all around the world...
whose family roots were in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, Wales. Work began on the Roman Road course in 1992 – named after the main route connecting the former Roman fortress of Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
with the town of Caerwent
Caerwent
Caerwent is a village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located about five miles west of Chepstow and eleven miles east of Newport, and was founded by the Romans as the market town of Venta Silurum, an important settlement of the Brythonic Silures tribe. The modern village is built...
which crosses the land. By 1994, work had commenced on the 400-bedroom Resort Hotel; as well as a £10-million golf clubhouse and the 4000 yards (3,657.6 m) Coldra Woods golf course.
The new development was completed and opened in 1999. The former Celtic Manor Hotel was renamed "The Manor House" to distinguish it from the new "Resort Hotel."
To prepare for the 2010 Ryder Cup, The Twenty Ten Course was built, as part of a £16 million development. This was the first golf course in history to be purpose built for the event. As part of this development, this included a 120 metre long £2m twin-suspension, the course and a new clubhouse and surrounding infrastructure, which was promised as part of the bid to host the event in 2001. The new bridge, The Twenty Ten Bridge, links the practice ground to the golf course across the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
and was officially opened by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones
Carwyn Jones
Carwyn Howell Jones is a Welsh politician and the First Minister of Wales. The third official to lead the Welsh Government, Jones has been Assembly Member for Bridgend since 1999. In the coalition government of Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, he was appointed Counsel General for Wales and Leader of...
AM. Rowecord Engineering of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, provided all the steelwork and structure and Andrew Scott Ltd was the main construction contractor..
Archaeological and heritage site
In July 2010 a bitter dispute developed between Matthews and Newport City CouncilNewport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
's planning committee which refused permission for Matthews to demolish or move a ruined Grade 2 listed building from a position overlooking the 18th green, a farmhouse dating back to 1630, described by Matthews as "damaging to the image of the entire nation". The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings said: "The problematic situation is entirely of the owner’s own making and refusal to safeguard the listed building over many years. It cannot be right to reward this by agreeing to a proposal to simply move a listed building out of the way."
It being known that a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settlement had been located at Great Bulmore, the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust is an Archaeological Trust organisation established in 1975 as part of the Welsh Archaeological Trusts.The Trust is a charitable company The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust is an Archaeological Trust organisation established in 1975 as part of the Welsh...
was appointed by the Celtic Manor Resort to oversee archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
considerations prior to the course construction. The Trust worked closely with the designers to ensure the preservation of historic material and features. When a Roman pottery kiln was found during the construction of one of the greens,
the green was redesigned to avoid it..
While as much as possible of the potential archaeology was identified at the design stage, watching briefs were carried out during construction, since other structures might be discovered. As a result, construction work was halted in sensitive areas to give them time to excavate features, like a second Roman pottery kiln with a probable workshop building and a Roman drying kiln.
On the site of the new coach park, a small square tower-like building was found well to the north of any Roman activity previously discovered. It lay alongside a lightly metalled track, that must have branched off the Caerleon to Usk road. There has been some argument as to whether it was military—a Roman watch tower (Castellum
Castellum
A castellum is a small Roman detached fort or fortlet used as a watch tower or signal station. The Latin word castellum is a diminutive of castra , which in turn is the plural of castrum ; it is the source of the English word "castle".The term castellum was also used to refer to a settling or...
) for example—or whether it was a mausoleum where someone of importance had been buried . In the rubble that overlay the building were two pieces of an inscription, with a few letters on each. They were found to fit together, and Professor Roger Tomlin, of Oxford University interpreted them as part of a verse referring to 'unjust fate', which could support the mausoleum theory.
Hotel accommodation
- A 19th-century 69-bedroom 4-star hotel (floors 1–4, rooms 110 – 427). Rooms 110–118, 120–121, 123 and 125 are located within the original Coldra Hall building and as such are furnished and marketed as "period" rooms. Three of these rooms contain four-poster beds.
- A 334-bedroom, 32-suite luxury 5-star hotel (floors 5–10, rooms 501 – 1080)
- 2 "presidential" suites
Convention centre
- The 1,500-delegate conference suite has an exhibition hall and 40 function rooms.
Restaurants
- The Olive Tree features informal dining with a Mediterranean theme and is located within the main atriumAtrium (architecture)In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
of the Resort hotel. - The Crown At Celtic Manor is a fine-dining restaurant featuring WelshCulture of WalesWales has a distinctive culture including its own language, customs, holidays and music.Wales is primarily represented by the symbol of the red Welsh Dragon, but other national emblems include the leek and daffodil. The Welsh words for leeks and daffodils Wales has a distinctive culture including...
-sourced organicOrganic foodOrganic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
produce. - The Lodge Brasserie is a brasserie located at the golf lodge.
- Le Patio is a French-style brasserieBrasserieIn France and the Francophone world, a brasserie is a type of French restaurant with a relaxed, upscale setting, which serves single dishes and other meals. The word 'brasserie' is also French for "brewery" and, by extension, "the brewing business"...
located in a conservatory adjacent to the Manor House. - Hedleys is the private dining room and function suite located within the Manor House.
- Rafters is the restaurant located at the new Twenty Ten course clubhouse.
Bars
- Merlins is a piano bar featuring a baby grand, snooker table room and regular live music.
- The Cellar Bar is an informal basement bar which shows live televised sports. It is located within the Manor House.
- The Manor Bar / Lounge Bar is located within the Manor House.
- Spike is the bar located at the new Twenty Ten course clubhouse.
Leisure
- Three championship golf courses
- Golf training academy
- Two health clubs
- 16-treatment-room spa
- Shopping centre with golf and other retail outlets
- Two tennis courts
- On-site mountain biking and nature trails
- Off-site clay-pigeon shootingTreetops Shooting GroundTreetops Sporting Ground is located in Coedkernew, Newport, South Wales. It is a sporting clay pigeon shooting ground. It also has facilities for air rifle owners.-History:...
and fishing
2010 Ryder Cup
In 2001 the resort won its bid to host the 2010 Ryder Cup2010 Ryder Cup
The 38th Ryder Cup matches were held 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, Wales. It was the first time the competition was staged in Wales. With the USA as the defending Cup holder the event was played on the newly-constructed Twenty 10 course, specifically designed for the...
. As a result much of the Wentwood Hills course was redeveloped into the Ryder Cup's first purpose-built venue; the "Twenty Ten" Course. An additional clubhouse built specifically for the Twenty Ten course was completed and opened in autumn 2007. The opening of the Ryder Cup, which ran from 27 September until 4 October 2010, saw a visit from Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
. Europe won the trophy by 14½ – 13½ points.
All*Star Cup
The Celtic Manor hosted the All*Star Cup, a celebrity golf tournament televised firstly on Sky OneSky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
in 2005 and then ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in 2006. In a similar vein to the Ryder Cup, it pitched European celebrity golfers against American counterparts. Celebrities such as Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp
Ross James Kemp is a BAFTA award-winning British actor, author and journalist, who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders...
, Bruce Forsyth
Bruce Forsyth
Sir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
, Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour (actress)
Jane Seymour, OBE is an English actress best known for her performances in the James Bond film Live and Let Die , East of Eden , Onassis: The Richest Man in the World , and the American television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman...
and noted golfing enthusiast Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
took part. There has been no tournament from 2007 due to inclement weather.
Defunct courses
- Wentwood Hills – Opened in 1999 and was the venue for the Celtic Manor Wales OpenCeltic Manor Wales OpenThe Saab Wales Open, previously the Celtic Manor Wales Open, is a European Tour golf tournament which was founded in 2000 and is played each June. The event is hosted at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, South Wales, also the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup...
, on the European Tour from 2000 to 2004. - Coldra Woods – a par-59 academy course for beginners that opened in 1996 and was replaced by The Montgomerie in July 2007.
Current courses
- The Twenty Ten – Wentwood Hills has been extensively remodelled for the 2010 Ryder Cup2010 Ryder CupThe 38th Ryder Cup matches were held 2010 at the Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, Wales. It was the first time the competition was staged in Wales. With the USA as the defending Cup holder the event was played on the newly-constructed Twenty 10 course, specifically designed for the...
Matches, making the new version the first course to be purpose-built for the biennial transatlantic tournament. Opened in 2007, the resultant course comprises nine pre-existing holes from the Wentwood Hills course and nine new ones. The layout is designed to allow large galleries to conveniently follow the small number of concurrent matches which are played during the Ryder Cup. The course has only one fairway crossing, and there are open views of the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, which are situated in an amphitheatreAmphitheatreAn amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
. The spectator capacity is 50,000. The course hosted the Wales Open tournament prior to the Ryder Cup.
- Roman Road – opened in 1994. This par-70 championship course hosted the Wales Open in 2005, 2006 and 2007 during the conversion of Wentwood Hills into the Twenty Ten course.
- The Montgomerie – this is a new par-69 course designed by Colin MontgomerieColin MontgomerieColin Stuart Montgomerie, OBE is a Scottish professional golfer, often referred to by one of his nicknames 'Monty'. He has had one of the finest careers in European Tour history, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31...
that opened in July 2007. The new course incorporates elements of both Coldra Woods and Wentwood Hills.