Ryder Cup 'rogue' tickets warning

The event will be held at Celtic Manor in Newport

Golf fans hoping to attend the Ryder Cup in Newport in 2010 have been warned to buy tickets through official sources or face receiving invalid ones.

The bi-annual match-play event, which pits Europe against the United States, is introducing photo identification for the first time next year.

The European Ryder Cup director said some packages had been sold which did not guarantee entry to the event.

Richard Hills said many were costing far in excess of tickets' face value.

The event is being held at the Celtic Manor Hotel outside Newport from 1-3 October 2010.

Mr Hills said: "We need to make it clear to anyone intending to be at the 2010 Ryder Cup that they are strongly advised to purchase tickets through the official channel.

"Failure to comply with this warning could lead to fans being seriously overcharged for tickets which are simply not valid and unnecessary disappointment as those unwitting fans are turned away.

"We are receiving an increasing number of enquiries from members of the public who have paid for Ryder Cup tickets and hospitality through unofficial sources.

"In all cases, the sums involved have been far in excess of the face value of the tickets and it would appear that the seller is unable to absolutely guarantee entry into the event."

Public tickets are being awarded by a ballot system and applications have to be made through the Ryder Cup's official website.

Pirate agencies

Ryder Cup Europe said it had previous experience of unauthorised organisations offering hospitality packages for sale.

In 2006, a number of companies were informed they had bought non-existent packages.

Mr Hills said they had been made aware of pirate hospitality agencies operating, and said only five companies had been authorised to service the contest: Ryder Cup Travel Services, Keith Prowse, IMG Hospitality, the Mike Burton Group and CSL Hospitality (Ireland).

Tickets in the public ballot cost £100 a day for the Friday and Saturday and £130 on the final day, the Sunday.

Official hospitality packages can cost from around £3,800 for the full tournament.

Mr Hills added: "There are imposters out there prepared to try and cheat not only individual purchasers, but also companies.

"We want to protect all golf fans from being duped and we want to protect the good name that Wales has for hospitality.

"We urge everyone to check and double check before parting with their money as there appears to be an increasing number of operators seeking to sell hospitality packages through unauthorised and invalid channels."