Ryder Cup: Peel’s Hulton Park one of two courses in running to host
It may not yet have planning permission for its latest rendition, but Peel’s Hulton Park project in Bolton is one of only two courses left in the running to be the UK’s choice to host the international golf championship in 2031 or 2035.
Hulton Park had been competing against the London Golf Club and The Belfry in Birmingham for the spot as UK Sport’s preferred venue for the competition. The Belfry has since withdrawn its bid. UK Sport is expected to choose its preferred venue in April.
The news comes ahead of Bolton Council’s planning committee meeting on 24 February, where the fate of Hulton Park will be decided. If approved, the 882-acre development would create an elite golf course, golfing academy, primary school, community facilities, and homes.
The application has been recommended for approval by planning officers, and an earlier version of the scheme was already approved by both the council and the secretary of state. The newer version introduces more outdoor sports facilities and a village hall.
“The selection of Hulton Park as a potential venue for the Ryder Cup is now a very realistic and exciting prospect,” said Richard Knight, Peel L&P’s director of planning and strategy. “We hope that the council will seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and support our efforts to bring this prestigious event – and all the benefits that flow from it – to Bolton.”
Knight went on to describe how the park suits the government’s levelling up missions by regenerating part of Bolton and also encouraging physical activity by having more than 15.6km of public paths and trails.
“It’s a perfect fit in many ways,” Knight said. “Hulton Park could be bringing the Ryder Cup to Bolton and is restoring degraded historic parkland, creating jobs, creating skills and training opportunities with new community facilities and new infrastructure. The new link road on the back of this development will help resolve a lot of traffic issues in the area. It’s all-around a good fit for levelling up.”
While the Ryder Cup news is exciting, Knight did make a point to say that other parts of the project are just as important.
“What actually often gets forgotten is the heritage and restoration that this will deliver,” Knight said. “And secondly, there’s the sustainability of what we have put forward, which is net zero carbon with biodiversity gain, with sustainable building design and sustainable golf design. There’s also the whole side of things about what this can do for the local area in terms of community engagement.
“At one level, there’s an international tournament and that’s very high profile and very shiny – but we also want to make sure Hulton Park is seen as being the right thing locally. That’s what we’ve worked really hard on and what’s important to us.”
Here are some CGIs which show Peel’s plans for Hulton Park:
- Hulton Park Barns could hold event spaces and restaurants
- Allotments at Hulton Park
- Health and Wellbeing Hub at Hulton Park
- Houses at Hulton Park
Want to learn more about Hulton Park? The application reference number with Bolton Council is 12218/21.
UK Sport. Part of DCMS. That has just inexplicably and unilaterally decided to relocate to Manchester.
I wonder which course they’ll pick. The one that exists and isn’t in greater Manchester. Or the one that doesn’t exist but would be in greater Manchester.
And of course I shouldn’t be shocked that one of Liverpool’s famous courses aren’t in the running… after all, why showcase your nation’s assets to the world?
By Jeff
Nice try Jeff.
The question you should be asking is why the Liverpool venues either aren’t suitable or didn’t put a bid forward to the London-based UK Sport for consideration.
By Faldo not
Hard to believe that Bolton MBC will be taken in by a 3 day jamboree. What really matters is the long terms gains this development opportunity affords to the community and parkland over the next 75 plus years.
As for the Ryder Cup, it’s hard to get excited about either venue, when you look at the world class golf courses on offer in the UK, many of which have the facilities to cope with an event of this size.
By Grumpy Old Git
Ah yes the DCMS inexplicably moving to a city which has hosted Commonwealth Games, CL and Europa League finals, UCI Track Cycling world championships, World Cup Cricket/Rugby League/Union, etc etc…weird one.
By Dave
Great Idea, but lets be honest – it’s going to the London Golf Club. We all know why.
By Lets be honest
What’s important is that Bolton MBC aren’t taken in by the carrot of a 3 day jamboree that may not come to fruition rendering the whole golfing and leisure element of the scheme obsolete and undelivered leaving just a huge housing estate – which I’m sure is Peel’s main goal here. It wouldn’t be the first time such a tactic has been used.
The fact that Liverpool has more civil service employment than Manchester is irrelevant.
By Falso not
Has Bolton hosted all those events, Wow!
By It must be true?
No, the city DCMS is to call home. Keep up.
Although Bolton has hosted CWG events, RL World Cup and it’s annual IronMan
By Dave
If other international renowned Golf courses are not applying or withdrawing their applications something must be up somewhere? Is the cost of hosting the Ryder cup exorbitant or just not worth the expenditure over the income?
By Buyer beaware?
Yes this will benefit the golfing community right across the region not just Manchester. And I agree it’s irrelevant that Manchester has more Civil Service jobs or more coming, surely but that’s a different article, I don’t it’s relevant here at all.
By Angiebaby