MILLIONS of pounds are expected to flood in to the economy of South East Cornwall following confirmation that the new-look St Mellion International Golf Resort is to host next year's English Open Golf Tournament.
Crown Golf, the owners of St Mellion and the UK's largest golf course owner/operator, is hosting the tournament from August 13 to 16.
The event is returning to the European Tour International Schedule after an absence of seven years and will be played at St Mellion until 2013.
Stephen Lewis, chief executive of Crown Golf, said this week that the staging of the English Open would be a proud day for the company and for the district.
'Everyone connected with our organisation is looking forward to supporting the European Tour in delivering a fantastic event for some of the world's best golfers and raising the profile of Cornwall as a place to visit and play golf,' he said.
'The English Open will have a tremendous positive economic impact in the region, creating jobs and attracting thousands of spectators who, in turn, will generate significant tourism expenditure.'
He explained that hosting high visibility professional tournament golf was a key ingredient in the £100m redevelopment currently under way at St Mellion International Resort.
Volunteers
The redevelopment includes the construction of a new 80-room landmark hotel which will be ready by March of next year in time to provide accommodation at the event. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course – the first one built in the UK by the US star in 1988 – is also undergoing a £2.5m improvement programme.
An appeal has been made for local golfers to volunteer their services to assist with the staging of next year's English Open.
ALISTAIR WREFORD