FAQ / STATS: ST MELLION & THE ENGLISH OPEN

The combined £100m redevelopment of St Mellion International Resort - and the hosting of The English Open there for the next five years – is one of the biggest golf projects currently underway in the UK.

It will also produce a major economic uplift for Cornwall and, in particular the Caradon District.

Here are some useful facts and figures about the project:

The Nicklaus Signature Course at St Mellion International Resort

Opened in 1988, The Nicklaus Signature Course at St Mellion International Resort was the first in the UK to be designed by the 18-time Major winning golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Owners Crown Golf are well underway with a £2.5m course improvement programme ahead of next year’s English Open which includes:

• 1,000 metres of new drainage
• 1,000 tons of sand used on bunker replenishment
• 4,000 tons of rootzone used on all new green & tee constructions
• 13,000 m2 of cart path resurfacing
• 1,100 sprinklers will be installed

The Hotel & other Accommodation

The ‘old’ hotel at St Mellion International Resort has been demolished and in its place will be a new 80-bedroom 4-star standard hotel.

In addition, 265 new homes are being built around the resort over a period of five years by Living Villages.

The hotel is being equipped with:

• 80 rooms
• 6,500 square metres of carpet & flooring
• 1,250 new chairs
• 250 new pieces of artwork
• 20km of cabling
• 850 data points
• 10 wireless hot spots
• 100 new flat screen TVs

Economic Impact

• The total full time, part time, casual and seasonal employment at St Mellion International Resort is estimated to grow to 375 jobs by 2010. This represents an increase of 27%. 1
• The total future employment supported by St Mellion International Resort in Caradon will increase to 249 FTE jobs by 2010 through direct employment and on and off-site expenditure – an increase of 85 (+52%) compared to 2006. 2
• When completed, the total accommodation at St Mellion International Resort will provide almost 1,000 bedspaces. This represents a 9% increase in the district accommodation stock. 3
• Because of the profile of The English Open, Crown Golf expects an extra 20,600 rounds of golf a year to be played by visitors to St Mellion International Resort. 4
• The 62,000 people forecast to be staying at St Mellion International Resort annually will generate £2.1m of offsite expenditure. 5

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 St Mellion Economic Impact Final report, Roger Tym & Partners, September 2006

The English Open

• Was first played in 1979 and was won by legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros.
• Was last played in 2002, and was won by Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke for a record third time.
• Has only ever been won by four Englishmen – Howard Clark (1988), Mark James (1989 & 1990), David Gilford (1991) and Lee Westwood (1998).
• Has been won by 10 different nationalities of golfers in 20 stagings of the event (England 5 times, Australia 4, Northern Ireland 3, Spain 2, Argentina, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden).
• It’s expected that between 30-40,000 visitors will attend The English Open 2009, which will celebrate all that the West Country has to offer. Many local businesses will be showcased in the tented village.

Stephen Lewis, CEO, Crown Golf
Tel: 01344 383975 Email: s.lewis@crown-golf.co.uk

John Weir, Chief Operating Officer, Crown Golf
Tel: 01344 383975 Email: j.weir@crown-golf.co.uk

(LOCAL) Sue Bradbury, Sue Bradbury PR
Tel: 01872 863863 Email: sue@suebradburypr.com

(NATIONAL / GOLF) Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Partners
Tel: 01780 757461. Email: andy@hiseman.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Crown Golf group is Europe’s largest golf course owner/operator, with 33 properties in its portfolio and more than 50 courses. With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide an outstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made to suit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.