Could Bolton really host the Ryder Cup?
It's one of international sports truly elite events. Held every two years, the Ryder Cup golf competition between European and United States teams becomes the primary focus of the sporting world with tens of thousands attending and millions more watching on television across the globe.
In 2035, when the tournament is next expected to be played England, it could very well be held on currently undeveloped parkland on the outskirts of Bolton. Hulton Park, near Westhoughton, is at the centre of Bolton's bid, put together by developers Peel Land and supported by Bolton Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Peel Land has existing permission for the £240m project to build a Ryder Cup golf complex and more than 1,000 new homes on mainly green belt land at the park. The developer claims if the project is successful it will have £1.6bn of impact on the region, create an international venue hosting local events and bring hundreds of jobs.
Their bold assertions say the project will mean heritage restoration and new public access to the park along with updated road infrastructure. During a planning process dating back around seven years, there has been sustained and vociferous opposition to any development of the Hulton park estate from many nearby residents.
Planning was originally rejected by Bolton council, with permission for the plans only being granted for the project after two planning inspectorate inquiries. But the whole development is dependent on one key decision – the awarding of the 2035 Ryder Cup to Bolton.
Without that, no significant development can take place and the whole project falls. So are we likely to see golf's elite players in Bolton in 10 years time?
A recent planning meeting extended Peel's planning permission at the site, which was due to expire in October. During discussions, a detailed update on the bidding process emerged.
Richard Knight, on behalf of Peel, said that a decision on the venue is not expected 'until next year at the very earliest'. He said: 'There have been cuts in government spending, a change in government, changes in the game of golf globally.
'We have as a result of these delays already missed the 2031 Ryder Cup event and our efforts are now focussed on 2035. 'We remain short-listed by UK Sport and Ryder Cup Europe and an update received this week from UK Sport officials confirms that the selection process in now moving forward again.
'Three sites were short-listed across the country, one of them was Hulton Park, the others were the Belfry and the London Club. 'Neither of those venues is a new venue so don't have a growth and regeneration element.
'We believe that Hulton is the stand out site and it has the government's backing.' Mr Knight said that in an update given to him in late January, UK Sport have now submitted a proposal to Dept of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to move forward with the Ryder Cup bid, which is one of the government's hosting targets for major sporting events.
He added: 'That then goes through DCMS into Treasury and into the comprehensive spending review if all goes according to plan. 'The process is moving, we're short-listed and I think we've got the best proposition and we've got planning permission.
'We couldn't have put ourselves in a stronger position.'
The Ryder Cup was historically played in England every four years until 2002, since when other European venues have hosted. There is a strong expectation in the golfing community that England will host the tournament in 2035. One member of Bolton's planning committee expressed strong doubts about the Hulton Park bid.
Speaking at the planning meeting, Coun Debbie Newall, said: 'I was part of the original planning committee in 2018. 'I didn't believe we'd get the Ryder Cup then, I still don't believe we'll get it now.
'There's nothing been said today that assures me that the Ryder Cup is coming to Hulton. It isn't. We're on a short-list of three but there's no guarantee that it's even coming to this country."
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