I’ve noted with interest the news on the Hulton Park development and wanted to share my thoughts.

As a local PGA golf professional and golf social media personality, I think it would be fantastic to bring the Ryder Cup to the North West in the near future.

It will undoubtedly have a transformational impact on the sport, the regional economy and many local communities. I hope that in either 2031 or 2035 England is successful in attracting the Ryder Cup.

I also feel that the golf academy on site will be an amazing facility for local communities and underrepresented golfers, to experience golf for the first time and hopefully to create a generation of future golfers.

I live locally to Hulton Park (Westhoughton) and being a dad with a young family I would love the opportunity for my children to be able to access the site and take advantage of the new cycling and walking routes that have been proposed.

Rick Shiels