Manchester Launches £1.2B Bid to Host 2035 Ryder Cup at New Hulton Park Resort

Greater Manchester Eyes 2035 Ryder Cup with £1.2 Billion Bid

Greater Manchester has officially launched an ambitious bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup, a move that could see the prestigious golf tournament return to English soil for the first time in over three decades. The announcement, made on March 17-18, 2026, signals a bold play for the region, proposing a purpose-built, world-class golf resort at Hulton Park in Bolton as the designated venue. This high-stakes endeavor aims to secure one of golf’s most significant events, promising substantial economic and infrastructural benefits for the North West.

The Hulton Park Project: A Vision for World-Class Golf

At the heart of Greater Manchester’s Ryder Cup aspirations lies the Hulton Park Project, a proposed £240-£250 million golf resort developed by Peel Land and Property (Peel L&P). The vision for Hulton Park is expansive, featuring not just a championship-ready golf course designed to accommodate 65,000 spectators, but also a luxury hotel, a series of lodges, a state-of-the-art health club, and over 1,000 new homes. This comprehensive development is intrinsically linked to the Ryder Cup bid; its construction is contingent upon securing the hosting rights for the tournament. The site’s journey to approval has been complex, with initial rejections by Bolton Council eventually overturned by a government inspector in October 2022 following a successful appeal. The resort promises a bespoke, world-class facility capable of staging an event of the Ryder Cup’s magnitude, setting the stage for what Mayor Andy Burnham described as potentially “the biggest ever Ryder Cup”.

Funding the Ambition: A £70 Million Infrastructure Investment

To underpin this ambitious bid, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is committing a substantial financial package. Up to £70 million (£69.8M) is earmarked for a crucial supporting transport infrastructure project. This significant investment will fund the Park Avenue link road, a vital component of the broader M61-M6 link road project. Mayor Andy Burnham has underscored the necessity of this infrastructure, stating, “We’ve had promising conversations with organisers about bringing the tournament to a bespoke, world-class course at Hulton Park. But it will only be possible with the right infrastructure”. This proactive investment from the GMCA’s Good Growth Fund highlights Greater Manchester’s serious intent to deliver the necessary framework for a successful Ryder Cup, ensuring accessibility and smooth logistics for an event of this scale.

Economic and Regional Impact: A £1.2 Billion Boost

A successful bid would deliver a transformative economic injection into the North West. Estimates project that hosting the 2035 Ryder Cup could generate an staggering £1.2 billion for the regional economy. The event is anticipated to draw approximately 350,000 fans, creating a massive influx of visitors and driving significant revenue across various sectors. Beyond the immediate economic gains, securing the Ryder Cup would mark a historic moment for English golf, representing the first time the tournament has been held in England in over 30 years and the first time in the North of England since 1977. Mayor Andy Burnham articulates the broader vision, asserting that “Culture and sport will be major drivers of our good growth, and that’s why we’re bidding to host the biggest ever Ryder Cup in Bolton in 2035”. A decision on the 2035 host is reportedly expected later this year, keeping the region on tenterhooks as it awaits the outcome of this monumental proposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was the bid for the 2035 Ryder Cup officially announced?
   Greater Manchester officially announced its bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup on March 17-18, 2026.

2. What is the estimated economic benefit if Greater Manchester wins the bid?
   If successful, the bid is estimated to generate up to £1.2 billion for the North West economy.

3. What is the significance of the Hulton Park development in relation to the Ryder Cup bid?
   The Hulton Park golf resort, a £240-£250 million project, is the proposed venue for the Ryder Cup, and its development is contingent upon Greater Manchester winning the hosting rights.

What impact do you think hosting the Ryder Cup would have on the local community in Bolton, beyond the direct economic benefits?

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Related Topics: Ryder Cup, Hulton Park, Bolton, Andy Burnham