Celtic Manor trip

It was a sunny Tuesday morning for our trip to Celtic Manor. I was taking 5 of my clients to the Ryder Venue as a playing experience. The journey time was only 2 hours, leaving at 9am for Newport, Wales.
We were planning on playing Roman Road on the first day, which made for an excellent warm up for the 2010 Ryder Cup course on the 2nd day.

Once we had all arrived at the venue, I carried out a short game clinic of pitching and bunker shots. Then we headed for the 1st tee of Roman Road.

The course is a little shorter than the other courses here, but has some wonderfully undulating greens. Combine that with the uphill, downhill and side hill lies and you have a golf course that does demand some respect.
After a great evening meal and a good nights sleep, we were then ready for day two.

This started by me giving a putting clinic in the morning and then we headed off to the 2010 clubhouse.
The 2010 course provides a very different experience, Upon arrival, we were greeted and clubs were taken away to the practice ground. We were then shown round the clubhouse and the Ryder Cup locker room, where we were given the lockers for our day to change. Next we bought drinks and snacks for the course and just enough time for photos.
Forty minutes prior to our tee off time, we were shuttled down to where our clubs were waiting and after hitting 50 balls or so, we were ready for the 2010 course.

Our names were announced and with a satisfying drive down the middle of the 1st hole, our round was under way.
The course itself apart is long, fairly tight, but has area defined to clearly land the ball. It has lakes and ponds with strategically placed bunkers everywhere. The greens have various landing distances with subtle slopes on the greens. Scene to where the top players in the world have played.

Driving down the first and last into a gusting head wind and with a short iron over the water and all the holes in-between will leave a lasting memory.

Everyone said they thoroughly enjoyed what I had set up and one that which, hopefully in the not too distant future will happen again.