Tommy Fleetwood becomes an ambassador for a new proposed Ryder Cup golf venue in North West England

• Three-time Ryder Cup player backing proposed development at Hulton Park as part of regeneration plans
• Venue is targeting hosting a future edition of the Ryder Cup
• Fleetwood has welcomed the economic and social regeneration benefits the project would bring to the north west region

Tommy Fleetwood has become an ambassador for a  proposed purpose-built new golf course in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which is bidding to host the Ryder Cup.

Fleetwood, who last week represented Europe in his third consecutive Ryder Cup, believes the proposed Hulton Park project would help increase grass roots participation and greater access to golf in the north west region of England, as well bring economic and social regeneration to the area.

The championship golf course will sit at the heart of a wider plan to regenerate hundreds of acres into accessible green spaces for the community to enjoy and experience.

As part of his ambassadorial role, Fleetwood is supporting the venue’s bid to host a future edition of the Ryder Cup, with Hulton Park one of three English venues  shortlisted by UK Sport and Ryder Cup Europe as candidates for a potential bid to host the biennial contest. 

England last hosted the Ryder Cup in 2002 and Fleetwood thinks the Hulton Park project can anchor one of the world’s premier sporting events in the country and deliver a legacy with myriad economic, social and sporting benefits to his roots in the north west of England.

“I’ve studied the proposals for Hulton closely and seen the site for myself – it is an amazing landscape and the prospect of a purpose-built stadium course here would be fantastic for everyone concerned – for golf, for the tournament and for the game in England.

But perhaps more importantly, I love what this proposal offers to my corner of the country. I can see that it would inspire more people in the North West to take up the game and for those who don’t play golf, it will also bringing jobs, investment and tourism to the region and open up a huge new green space for the community,” Fleetwood said.

Fleetwood was born in the north west coastal town of Southport - host to the second and third European Ryder Cups in 1933 and 1937 - some 30 miles distant from Hulton Park. The new venue at Hulton is in turn 20 miles from the birthplace of Samuel Ryder, the godfather of the tournament, connecting the past, present and future of golf’s most famous team competition.