IT was a turbulent first day for the 45,000 spectators at Ryder Cup yesterday, with torrential rain putting pay to the majority of the play because of a waterlogged course.

But, even though many Gwent people had paid up to £200 for tickets for the day at the Celtic Manor, seen little golf and fought to get a place in the dry, the majority were thoroughly enjoying what they called a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

Allen Deans, 57 and son Carl, 25, from Tredegar, arrived at the course at 7.30am to secure a good vantage point in the fifth hole’s grandstand.

Carl Deans said: “We watched the first pairing complete the hole and one shot of the second match, before it was halted because of the rain. That was a bit disappointing, but just being here is a great experience, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

His dad added: “I just feel sorry for the organisers.

You can see how much work has gone into this, but you just can’t plan for the weather.”

The pair joined tens of thousands of others huddling into the food and beer tents when the announcement “play suspended due to waterlogged course” went up at round 9.50am.

Hundreds of people wearing plastic raincoats grabbed wooden chairs from the outside seating area and crammed into pavilions in the tented village, trying to find a place to sit and dry off.

Keen golfers Lee Channon, 26, from Beechwood and Terry Johnston, 47, from Maindee, paid £220 for tickets to every day of the tournament, while friend Lewis Faulkner, 27, from St Julians paid £200 just to attend on Friday.

They have all played at the Celtic Manor and Mr Channon said “testing weather like this is what you get up here all the time”.

He got there at 7am, got soaked and warmed up with a cuppa before going back to brave the elements on the course.

All four live five minutes away from the course and admitted they were dreading the park and ride system, where they had to drive to Llanwern.

“We were shocked, it worked really well. We just strolled in and got on the bus in no time,” Mr Channon added.

Mr Johnston said:” This is incredible and definitely the biggest thing to ever happen in the city, but I’m not sure how much it will actually benefit Newport going forward.

"There was a new shopping centre and hotels promised that failed to materialise.”

When play resumed at around 5pm the bulk of the crowds had given up and gone home, meaning those remaining enjoyed a unhindered view of play.

John Richards of Oklahoma said: “I wasn’t going to come all this way and just go home when it started raining.

“The weather has been pretty tough but for the die-hards that stayed this is incredible. You will never be able to watch a Ryder Cup this close.”

He said he felt bad for organisers saying: “It has been ten years in the making, but you can never plan for the weather.

"At least the sun is out now. It’s beautiful and the forecast looks better for tomorrow.”

Heath Peters, 27, of St Louis, Missouri, said he expected bad Welsh weather.

He said: “It was absolutely worth waiting around. I came here for one reason, to see golf, and I’ll probably never see it closer.”

Julian Price, originally from Pontypridd, flew in from Dubai on Tuesday. He said: “It’s been typical Welsh weather all day.

"But it’s almost perfect now and was well worth staying.”

Fabio Capello was just one of the stars in the city yesterday enjoying the Ryder Cup.