Bolton is preparing a bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup at Hulton Park, with backing from Tommy Fleetwood and a proposed transport package worth up to £69.9m.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham confirmed the plan this week, saying the town is in discussions with organisers about staging golf’s flagship event on a new purpose-built course.
Fleetwood, who grew up in the North West, told Sky News hosting the tournament in the region would be “something special”.
“As a golfer, a Ryder Cup being in England, first and foremost, would be something special,” he said. “On top of that, to do it in the North West of England, where I’m from, would be amazing.
“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. I’m totally in favour of it and would be happy to support as much as I can.
Biggest sporting event in the world
“Whenever it’s on, the Ryder Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and bringing that to the North West of England would be something very special that we’d remember forever.”
The tournament has not been held in England since 2002, when it took place at The Belfry in Warwickshire.
Burnham said the bid would depend on delivering the necessary infrastructure, with funding earmarked for transport improvements, including a new M61–M6 link road and dedicated event routes.
“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,” he said.
Promising conversations with organisers
“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.
“We’re doing our bit to make it happen. We’re committing up to £70m to deliver a transport package to not only help spectators get to the site but deliver major benefits for the people living in the surrounding areas.”
A formal bid is expected to be submitted next month.
The proposal follows a series of major regeneration and infrastructure projects across Greater Manchester, alongside wider plans to attract global sporting events to the North.
A joint Liverpool–Manchester Olympic Games bid is also under discussion, with regional leaders backing a feasibility study into hosting a future Games and the potential for large-scale transport and housing investment linked to it.
