Greater Manchester has launched a formal bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup at Hulton Park, Bolton, backed by nearly £70m in transport investment
Greater Manchester in the UK has launched a bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup at a purpose-built course at Hulton Park in Bolton, with Mayor Andy Burnham committing up to £69.8m ($93.2m) in transport improvements to support the push.
The announcement forms part of a wider economic package which will grow the region’s Good Growth Fund from £1bn ($1.33bn) to nearly £2bn, backed by a new £500m partnership with the National Wealth Fund and £175m from central government.
Oliver Holbourn, Chief Executive Officer of the National Wealth Fund, said: “The National Wealth Fund’s ambition to provide significant investment across the city region will help create skilled jobs and opportunities and contribute to long-term, sustainable growth for Greater Manchester and its communities and businesses.”
If the bid succeeds, it would mark the first time England has hosted the tournament since The Belfry in 2002.
Burnham said: “The success of the BRIT Awards in Manchester shows that we can attract and deliver international events to a brilliant standard. 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.”
Fleetwood backs north west bid
The bid has the backing of Tommy Fleetwood, FedEx Cup champion, eight-time European Tour winner and current world number three, who was part of the Europe side that won the 2025 Ryder Cup.
The Southport-born golfer said the prospect of the tournament coming to the region where he grew up would be something to remember.
“As a golfer, a Ryder Cup being in England, first and foremost, would be something special. On top of that, to do it in the North West of England, where I’m from, would be amazing,” Fleetwood said.
“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 Hulton Park course is being developed in partnership with Peel Retail & Leisure, with the site configured to accommodate up to 65,000 spectators per day.
Restoring the historic parkland – owned by the Hulton dynasty for more than 700 years before falling into neglect – is framed by the GMCA as a legacy objective in its own right, separate from the economic case for the event.
Bolton faces competition from London Golf Club in Kent and Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire for the 2035 hosting rights. A formal bid is expected to be submitted in April, with a decision from Ryder Cup Europe to follow.
What the transport package includes
The infrastructure commitment focuses on the first phase of a new M61-M6 link road – known as Park Avenue – alongside new cycling and walking routes and dedicated bus services to the Ryder Cup site.
During the tournament, Bee Network services would be tailored to move spectators to and from the venue, in the same way they operated during Oasis’ homecoming gigs in the city last year.
Burnham has also called on the UK government to accelerate improvements on the Atherton rail line, invest in better stations and speed up work to connect the area to the Metrolink network.
With around 350,000 fans anticipated to attend, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) estimates the event would add more than £1.2bn in Gross Value Added to the North West’s economy.
Bolton Council leader Nick Peel described the link road as “absolutely crucial for that part of Bolton”, adding that the economic boost from hosting the tournament would be significant and lasting.
