The Solheim Cup is a biennial women’s team golf competition in which the best players from Europe compete against players from the United States. This year, for the first time in its history, the tournament will be held in Europe’ s golf capital – Andalusia!
Ideal playing conditions
The venue for this year’s competition between female golfers from Europe and the United States will be Finca Cortesin, a world-renowned golf course that has been recognised as one of the best in Europe. As well as excellent playing facilities, the site also features a beautiful hotel owned by The Leding Hotels. The entire complex, surrounded by stunning natural scenery, is located near the village of Casares – half an hour from Marbella.
The golf course was designed by Cabell B. Robinson – one of the world’s most respected golf course architects – and features a combination of challenging holes and breathtaking views. All this makes for an exciting tournament for spectators who make it to this year’s Solheim Cup.
World-class competition
The Solheim Cup is one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf and attracts the best players – from both Europe and the United States. The competition is widely regarded as the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup and, thanks to its long-standing tradition, excellent cast and the excitement of each edition, it enjoys great prestige among the golf community worldwide.
The origins of the Solheim Cup date back to 1990, when the inaugural edition of the tournament took place. Its name is a tribute to Norwegian businessman Karsten Solheim, the inventor of the popular Ping putter, who has gone down in the history of the sport thanks to his enormous contribution to the development of golf. The Solheim Cup itself is a competition between twelve of the best female golfers from Europe and the United States, who are selected every two years.
The first Solheim Cup tournament was held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida. In terms of number of wins, the American women have long dominated their European competitors, but recent years have brought more balance. The tournament is known for its exciting and unpredictable matches, which were repeatedly decided on the last green.
The athletes who take part in the Solheim Cup compete not for money, but for the honour and prestige of representing their continent. The event itself has become not only a marker of sporting rivalry, but also a symbol of friendship and respect between female players from both sides of the Atlantic. In this way, the tournament contributes significantly to the promotion and development of women’s golf worldwide.
The teams taking part in the Solheim Cup consist of 12 players each and compete in various formats – foursomes, fourballs and singles. The competition is fierce and both teams are hard-pressed to win the trophy and earn bragging rights for the next two years.
Andalusia home of the Solheim Cup 2023
Since its inception, the Solheim Cup has been held on many outstanding golf courses – both in the United States and Europe:
1990: Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, Orlando, Florida, USA
1992: Dalmahoy Hotel Golf & Country Club, Edinburgh, Scotland
1994: The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, USA
1996: St. Pierre Hotel & Country Club, Chepstow, Wales
1998: Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio, USA
2000: Loch Lomond Golf Club, Luss, Scotland
2002: Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, USA
2003: Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Barsebäck, Sweden
2005: Crooked Stick Golf Club, Carmel, Indiana, USA
2007: Halmstad Golfklubb, Halmstad, Sweden
2009: Rich Harvest Farms, Sugar Grove, Illinois, USA
2011: Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Ireland
2013: Colorado Golf Club, Parker, Colorado, USA
2015: Golf Club St. Leon-Rot, St. Leon-Rot, Germany
2017: Des Moines Golf and Country Club, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
2019: Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland
2021: Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
2023: Finca Cortesin, Andalusia, Spain
This year, the Solheim Cup will finally come to the European golf capital, the Costa del Sol! The captain of the European team in this year’s edition will be Suzann Pettersen, a Norwegian golfer who has played in nine Solheim Cup events and was the winning captain of the edition played in 2019. Pettersen is a highly respected figure in women’s golf and has a wealth of experience to draw on to lead her team to victory.
Captaining the US team will be Stacy Lewis, an American golfer who has played in four Solheim Cup tournaments and will also lead the US team at September’s tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Lewis will certainly be looking to build on the success of previous US captains.
More than just a tournament
The Solheim Cup is not only a golf tournament, it is also a great sporting event that attracts thousands of spectators from all over the world. The atmosphere during the competition is amazing, with fans cheering on their favourite players and creating an unforgettable atmosphere around the course.
One of the unique features of the Solheim Cup is the opening ceremony, which is a colourful and entertaining spectacle showcasing the culture and traditions of the host country. The Opening Ceremony is the highlight of the event and sets the tone for the golf tournament to come. This year it is sure to be a dazzling display of Spanish culture – with music, dance and colourful costumes.
In addition to the golf competition, the Solheim Cup is also an opportunity for the host country to showcase its tourism and hospitality infrastructure. The Costa del Sol is a popular tourist destination and the Solheim Cup is expected to be a boost to the local economy. Hotels and restaurants in the area are already preparing for the event, and there will be a number of events and activities around the golf course to keep visitors entertained. If you’re planning to come to the tournament, it’s a good idea to take care of your accommodation now – you can find an extensive list of luxury flats and houses on the Costa del Sol here.
An unforgettable experience – you have to be there
The Solheim Cup 2023, to be held from 18-24 September at the Andalusian Finca Cortesin, will undoubtedly be an unforgettable event and will present observers with the best of women’s golf and Spanish culture. With two very experienced and respected captains leading their teams and some of the best players in the world competing for the trophy, the competition is sure to be fierce and exciting.
Fans from all over the world will be following the developments, and those lucky enough to attend in person will witness a truly unique and memorable experience. More information about the tournament can be found on its website. Meanwhile, if you already know that you would like to watch the tournament live, tickets for the event can be purchased here.
