As the Ryder Cup unfolded at Valhalla golf club in Louisville, Kentucky, last week, two people paid special attention more to the logistics of it than the event itself. Sir Terry Matthews is the owner of Celtic Manor, Newport, Gwent, where the next Ryder Cup will be held in almost exactly two years' time. Rhodri Morgan is First Minister of the Wales Assembly and, as he put it at the closing ceremony, "the man who makes the laws in Wales" and thus very concerned that what will be comfortably the biggest event ever to have been staged in Wales goes off well.

"This is impressive," Matthews said, gesticulating at Valhalla. "But Celtic Manor will be better. We started with a blank piece of paper and we have built it from scratch. The 2010 course will be the first Ryder Cup course built from scratch. We have the hotel that has 430 rooms on site so that the competitors do not have to be bussed in and out each day. They have 48 bus stops for spectators here at Louisville. We will have 140.

"They have 17 hospitality units here but because the spectators are in front of them it is crazy. The people who have paid the huge amounts are not able to see. We won't to that. We have room for 40,000 people to see the last three holes.

Matthews was asked where the gala dinner that tradtionally precedes the event or the opening ceremony might be held? "Wales has hundreds of castles and Cardiff and Caerphilly are nearby," he replied. "The Millennium Stadium is not far away either and it has a roof that can be closed. There are lots of possibilities. We could have it in the hotel."

Matthews was not concerned that bad weather could cause a problem for the event in 2010 when it is played at the end of September. "The fog always disappears quickly in that part of the valley," he said. "And if it rains, well, I remember what Robert Trent Jones, my friend, always said. The three most important things about a golf course are drainage, drainage and drainage. And if you are still worried then put in more drainage."

Morgan's concern was to make sure the handover from Louisville to Newport went smoothly. "Something as big as the 2010 Ryder Cup is potentially transformatory for Wales," he said. "Everyone knows that golf in Wales is the best-kept secret in Europe. We want to do something about that. We want to be on a par with Scotland and Ireland. This will help us to achieve that."

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Nick Faldo is not likely to be asked to become captain at Celtic Manor in 2010. It is doubtful whether he would like to have a repeat of the kicking he got from the press at Valhalla and, anyway, the Ryder Cup Committee might have someone else in mind for that event. Expect to hear early next year. Meanwhile, here are the candidates.

1) Jose Maria Olazabal is an obvious one but 2010 may be too soon. Wonderful motivator of players. His command of English will be tested as it was last Sunday night when he saw red at a pointed but fair question put to Faldo. Might be better to keep him for 2012 when the event is back in the US.

2) Colin Montgomerie has taken to advancing the cause of Sandy Lyle. Monty says he wants to be considered as a player in 2010 when he would have a chance of beating Nick Faldo's points total. Well, pigs might fly. Can't really see why he isn't pencilled in for Gleneagles in 2014. He is a Scot and it is his country. No good in the US in 2012. Too many people would try and enrage him.

3) Thomas Bjorn is very popular among the players. He is clever enough though he does have a short temper, which would guarantee some good quotes for journalists. 2010 might be too soon though he could be a compromise candidate.

4) Sandy Lyle left announcing his candidacy too late. Always seems to be the bridesmaid. Why didn't he express his interest at the same time as Faldo and Ian Woosnam? Bit too late for him now. Didn't do himself any favours by walking off the course during the first round of the Open.