Celtic Manor Resort facts for kids
Celtic Manor Resort | |
Quick facts for kids ![]() |
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Hotel facts and statistics | |
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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 huge hotel and leisure spot in Newport, South East Wales. It's owned by Sir Terry Matthews. This amazing resort sits on a hill overlooking the beautiful Usk Valley. It covers about 2,000 acres, which is like 1,500 football fields! It's famous for its golf courses, relaxing spas, and many fun activities.
The resort has four hotels, a country inn, and luxury lodges. You can find two spas, six restaurants, and three championship golf courses here. There are also high ropes courses, adventure golf, laser tag, and archery. It's a place with lots to do for everyone!
The Story of Celtic Manor
From Roman Roads to a Grand Hotel
Long ago, during the Roman Empire, important Roman roads ran through the area where the resort now stands. These roads connected local Roman towns.
The main manor house was built in 1860 by a rich coal businessman named Thomas Powell. It was first called Coldra House. Later, it became a hospital in 1940, named the Lydia Beynon Maternity Hospital. Over 60,000 babies were born there, including the current owner, Sir Terry Matthews! The hospital closed in 1977.
Building a World-Class Resort
In 1980, Sir Terry Matthews bought the old manor house. He spent a lot of money to turn it into a hotel. The Celtic Manor Hotel first opened its doors in 1982 with 17 bedrooms.
Over the next few years, the hotel grew bigger. In the 1990s, plans were made to add two new golf courses and a convention center. One of these was the Roman Road course, named after the ancient Roman roads nearby.
By 1999, a huge new Resort Hotel with 330 rooms was finished. The original Celtic Manor Hotel was then renamed "The Manor House."
Hosting Big Events
In 2001, the resort won the chance to host the 2010 Ryder Cup, a very famous golf tournament. To get ready, they built a brand-new golf course called The Twenty Ten Course. It was the first golf course ever made specifically for the Ryder Cup! A special bridge, The Twenty Ten Bridge, was also built over the River Usk.
The resort has hosted other important events too. The Wales Open golf tournament was played here for many years. In 2014, the resort welcomed world leaders for the NATO summit.
In 2012, Sir Terry Matthews announced big plans to make the resort even better. These plans included luxury chalets, apartments, and Europe's longest zip-line!
Fun Things to Do at the Resort
The Celtic Manor Resort is known as a great place for weddings and holidays. It has many restaurants where you can enjoy different kinds of food.
Activities and Relaxation
- Golf Courses: Three championship courses for all skill levels.
- Golf Training Academy: Learn or improve your golf game.
- Health Clubs and Spa: Places to exercise, swim, and relax.
- Shopping Centre: Find gifts and souvenirs.
- Tennis Courts: Play a match with friends or family.
- Mountain Biking and Nature Trails: Explore the beautiful outdoors.
- Off-site Fun: Try laser clay-pigeon shooting and fishing.
International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales)
The International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) opened in 2019. It's a huge building designed for big meetings and events. It has a large exhibition hall and 40 other rooms. The main auditorium can hold 1,500 people, and the exhibition space can fit up to 2,700 guests. It's a joint project with the Welsh Government.
Golf at Celtic Manor
![]() The Twenty Ten clubhouse
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Club information | |
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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 hosted many important tournaments.
The 2010 Ryder Cup
In 2001, the resort won the chance to host the 2010 Ryder Cup. This is a big golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The "Twenty Ten" Course was specially built for this event. The Ryder Cup took place from September 27 to October 4, 2010. Europe won the trophy!
Other Golf Tournaments
- 2000 PGA Cup: In 2000, Celtic Manor hosted the PGA Cup. This competition is for club golf professionals from Great Britain and Ireland against the United States.
- All*Star Cup: The resort also hosted the All*Star Cup. This was a fun celebrity golf tournament where famous people from Europe played against American celebrities.
The Golf Courses Today
The resort has three amazing golf courses:
- The Twenty Ten: This course was designed by Ross McMurray. It was the first course ever built specifically for the Ryder Cup! It opened in 2007 and is designed so that many spectators can watch the games easily.
- Roman Road: Opened in 1994, this championship course is named after the ancient Roman roads in the area. It hosted the Wales Open tournament several times.
- The Montgomerie: Designed by famous golfer Colin Montgomerie, this course opened in 2007. It uses parts of older courses to create a challenging and fun experience.
See also
- List of golf courses in the United Kingdom