Bolton aims to host the 2035 Ryder Cup
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has announced Bolton’s intention to host the 2035 Ryder Cup at a purpose-built £240m golf resort in Hulton Park, reports BritPanorama.
The mayor unveiled a substantial transport investment package worth up to £70m, centred on a new M61-M6 link road designed to support the ambitious bid. “We’re deadly serious about it. We believe we can land [the Ryder Cup] and now it’s a case of putting in a firm bid next month and hopefully a decision soon,” Burnham stated.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has indicated that preparations are already underway to stage what it describes as “the biggest ever Ryder Cup,” with organisers expecting approximately 350,000 spectators to attend. Tommy Fleetwood, the Southport-born professional who claimed Ryder Cup victories in 2018 and 2023, has thrown his weight behind the Bolton proposal. Fleetwood believes a Ryder Cup in England would be deeply special, particularly in the north-west.
He noted, “We have so much to offer, the people have a lot to offer, the infrastructure has a lot to offer, and I think it would be something that would be incredible.” Fleetwood described the tournament as “the biggest sporting event in the world” and suggested hosting it locally would create memories that would endure “forever.”
The Hulton Park development has faced a turbulent planning journey before reaching this stage. Despite an initial rejection by Bolton Council on environmental grounds, developers Peel L&P successfully appealed the decision, securing approval from a government inspector in 2022. The ambitious resort plans extend beyond the golf course itself, incorporating a luxury hotel, lodges, and a health club within the grounds, configured to accommodate crowds of up to 65,000 spectators during tournament play.
Bolton’s bid faces competition from two other English venues seeking to end the country’s lengthy absence from hosting duties. London Golf Club in Kent and Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire are also pursuing the 2035 hosting rights. Should Bolton succeed, it would mark England’s first Ryder Cup since The Belfry in Warwickshire staged the tournament in 2002, ending a drought of more than three decades. The north of England has not welcomed the Ryder Cup since 1977, when Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lancashire provided the setting for a young Nick Faldo to face American legends Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus.
In a sport where history and geography intertwine so captivatingly, the prospect of Bolton emerging as a host adds another interesting layer. It’s a reminder of how the game can bridge past glories with present ambitions.
