Welsh golf is poised for its greatest ever year as the Principality stages the Ryder Cup for the first time.
The Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort in October will be the pinnacle of a mouth-watering Summer of Golf in Wales that includes a PGA triumvirate of national titles - the Welsh Young PGA Professional Championship, the Welsh Open PGA Championship and the Welsh National PGA Championship.
The trio, which carry a collective prize find of £85,000, will provide the perfect build-up to the Ryder Cup as some of the PGA's best players go head-to-head over three of Wales' finest courses.
Royal St David's, overlooked by the imposing Harlech Castle, will stage the Welsh National event from August 31-September 2.
It will be only second time in the tournament's 106-year history it has been contested here. The last time was in 1939, although the venue did host the Welsh Open two years ago.
The Welsh Open PGA Championship, which celebrates its fifth anniversary, will be staged at Ashburnham between June 29 and July 1. It will be the first time the south Wales course has hosted the 54-hole tournament and follows its welcome return to the PGA schedule last year when the Welsh National was played there.
The south coast will also host the season's icebreaker, with Southerndown staging the Welsh Open Young PGA Professional Championship. This marks the PGA's first visit to the venue since 2005 and the tournament, which will be played on May 12 and 13, is also celebrating its fifth anniversary.
Rob Holt, Ryder Cup Wales chief executive, said: "Wales' pledge to take golf events throughout the country is supported by this year's programme and will provide golf fans of all ages and standards with another opportunity to watch great golf on their doorstep.
"The three PGA events form part of the Ryder Cup Wales Summer of Golf and 2010's schedule is set to be the best yet, culminating in October at The Celtic Manor Resort with one of the biggest sporting events in the world."
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones hailed 2010 a momentous year for Wales.
"This is a historic year for Welsh golf as the nation will host the Ryder Cup Match at Celtic Manor in October," he said.
"The world will be watching with baited breath but, before that, an exciting programme of events is being staged at some wonderful venues throughout the Principality.
"Without doubt it promises to be a wonderful year for Welsh golf both nationally and internationally."
21 January, 2010