Celtic Manor Resort facts for kids
| Celtic Manor Resort | |
Quick facts for kids  |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Newport, South East Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°36′11″N 2°55′57″W / 51.60306°N 2.93250°W |
| Address | |
| Opening date | 1982 |
| Owner | Sir Terry Matthews |
| No. of restaurants | 5 |
| No. of rooms | 400 |
| of which suites | 32 |
| No. of floors | 11 |
The Celtic Manor Resort is a large hotel and resort in Newport, South East Wales. It is known for its golf courses, spa facilities, and many fun activities. The resort is owned by Sir Terry Matthews. It is located near the M4 motorway and overlooks the beautiful Vale of Usk. The resort covers a huge area of about 2,000 acres.
The land where the resort stands has a long history. It was once crossed by ancient Roman roads. In 1860, a large house was built here. This house later became a hospital where over 60,000 babies were born, including Sir Terry Matthews himself! In 1980, Sir Terry bought the old house and turned it into the Celtic Manor Hotel, which opened in 1982. Over the years, the resort has grown a lot.
The Celtic Manor Resort has hosted many important events. In 2010, it held the famous 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament. In 2014, world leaders met here for the 2014 NATO summit. The resort also hosts the Wales Open golf tournament every year.
Today, the resort has four hotels, a country inn, and luxury lodges. It offers two spas, six restaurants, and three championship golf courses. There are also fun activities like high ropes courses, adventure golf, laser tag, and archery. The International Convention Centre Wales is also part of the resort.
Contents
History of Celtic Manor
Early Beginnings
Long ago, during the Roman Empire, important Roman roads passed through this area. These roads connected local Roman towns like Caerleon and Caerwent.
The main house, now called the Manor House, was built in 1860. A rich coal businessman named Thomas Powell built it. It was first known as Coldra House. Later, it was renamed Coldra Hall. The house was given to Powell's son as a wedding gift. After some time, the house was sold to Sir John Beynon in 1915. He was a local businessman who added a new part to the house.
In the 1930s, Sir John Beynon gave the house to the local health service. In 1940, it became the Lydia Beynon Maternity Hospital. This hospital was named after his mother. Many babies were born there, including the current owner, Sir Terry Matthews. The hospital closed in 1975.
Growing into a Resort
In 1980, Sir Terry Matthews bought the Manor House. He spent a lot of money to make it into a hotel. The Celtic Manor Hotel opened in 1982 with 17 bedrooms. The golf courses were planned for later.
During the 1990s, the hotel grew bigger. A new part was added, making the hotel have 70 bedrooms. For five years in a row, from 1983 to 1987, it was named the best hotel in Wales by the Egon Ronay Guide.
In 1991, plans were made for two new golf courses and a convention center. These would be built near the Manor House and the River Usk. Sir Terry Matthews worked with famous golf-course designer Robert Trent Jones. Work began on the Roman Road course in 1992. It was named after the old Roman road nearby. By 1994, work also started on a large 400-bedroom Resort Hotel. A new golf clubhouse and the Coldra Woods golf course were also built.
The new parts of the resort opened in 1999, adding 330 rooms. The original Celtic Manor Hotel was then called "The Manor House." This helped people tell it apart from the new "Resort Hotel."
In 2001, the resort won the chance to host the 2010 Ryder Cup. To get ready, a special golf course called The Twenty Ten Course was built. It was the first golf course ever made just for this event. A new bridge, called The Twenty Ten Bridge, was also built. It connects the practice area to the golf course over the River Usk. This bridge was opened by the First Minister of Wales.
In 2019, the Twenty Ten Bridge was closed to the public. The resort said it was for safety, as golf balls from the driving range could hit people. This means people now need to drive to get to the resort from the village of Caerleon.
Discovering Ancient History
When the golf courses were being built, workers found old Roman things. Experts from the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust helped make sure these historical finds were protected. For example, when a Roman pottery kiln (an oven for making pots) was found, the golf course design was changed to avoid it.
Other discoveries were made too. They found another Roman pottery kiln and a building that might have been a workshop. They also found a Roman drying kiln. In one area, they found a small square building. Experts think it might have been a Roman watch tower or a special burial place called a mausoleum. Pieces of an old writing were found there, which talked about "unjust fate." This might mean it was a burial site.
Modern Day and Big Events
The Celtic Manor Resort has hosted many important events. The Wales Open golf tournament was played here from 2000 to 2014, and again in 2020. In 2010, the resort hosted the famous 2010 Ryder Cup. In 2014, it was the location for the 2014 NATO summit, where leaders from around the world met.
In 2012, the resort announced plans to add more luxury chalets and apartments. They also planned to build Europe's longest zip-line. These plans aimed to create many new jobs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort faced challenges. Local people asked Sir Terry Matthews to help save jobs at the resort.
Resort Fun and Facilities
The Celtic Manor Resort is a popular place for weddings and holidays. It has different types of hotels. The original Manor House has special "period" rooms, some with large four-poster beds.
The resort has many places to eat. These include "The Olive Tree" buffet, the Asian-style "PAD," "The Grill," and "Steak on Six." There are also several bars, like "Merlins" with live music and "The Cellar Bar" for sports fans.
Besides golf, the resort offers a golf training academy, health clubs, and a spa. There's also a shopping center, tennis courts, and trails for mountain biking and walking. Off-site, you can try laser clay-pigeon shooting and fishing.
ICC Wales
The International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) is a big part of the resort. It opened in 2019. It has a large hall for exhibitions and many rooms for meetings. It can hold up to 4,000 people. This center is a joint project with the Welsh Government.
Golf at Celtic Manor
The Twenty Ten clubhouse
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| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Newport, south Wales |
| Established | 1994 |
| Type | Private |
| Owned by | Terry Matthews |
| Total holes | 54 |
| Tournaments hosted | 2010 Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor Wales Open |
| The Twenty Ten Course | |
| Designed by | Ross McMurray |
| Par | 71 |
| Length | 7,493 yards |
| The Montgomerie Course | |
| Designed by | Colin Montgomerie |
| Par | 69 |
| Length | 6,371 yards |
| Roman Road Course | |
| Designed by | Robert Trent Jones |
| Par | 69 |
| Length | 6,600 yards |
The Celtic Manor Resort is famous for its golf courses. It has three championship courses.
2010 Ryder Cup
In 2001, the resort won the chance to host the 2010 Ryder Cup. This is a very important golf tournament. To get ready, the Wentwood Hills course was changed a lot. It became the "Twenty Ten" Course, which was the first golf course built just for the Ryder Cup. A new clubhouse was also built for this course. The Ryder Cup took place from September 27 to October 4, 2010. Prince Charles visited for the opening. Europe won the trophy that year.
Other Golf Events
- 2000 PGA Cup: In 2000, Celtic Manor hosted the PGA Cup. This is a golf competition between club professionals from Great Britain and Ireland against the United States. The USA team won this event.
- All*Star Cup: The resort also hosted the All*Star Cup. This was a celebrity golf tournament shown on TV. Famous people like Ross Kemp and Alice Cooper played in it. It was like the Ryder Cup, but with celebrities from Europe playing against celebrities from America.
Current Golf Courses
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- The Twenty Ten Course: This course was designed by Ross McMurray. It was specially built for the 2010 Ryder Cup. It uses parts of an older course and new holes. The design allows many spectators to watch the matches easily. It can hold up to 50,000 fans. The Wales Open tournament was played here before the Ryder Cup.
- Roman Road Course: This course opened in 1994. It is a championship course. It hosted the Wales Open in 2005, 2006, and 2007. This was while the Twenty Ten Course was being built.
- The Montgomerie Course: This course was designed by famous golfer Colin Montgomerie. It opened in July 2007. It combines parts of older courses to create a new challenge.
Images for kids
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Celtic Manor Resort
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The Twenty Ten Bridge
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The Lodge, clubhouse for the Roman Road and Montgomerie golf courses
See also
- List of golf courses in the United Kingdom
