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The Ladies European Tour has announced that Spain will host the 2023 Solheim Cup at the spectacular Finca Cortesín course in Andalusia, and that the dates for the competition will be finalized shortly.
The United States and Europe will face each other in Spain for the first time in the tournament's history, a milestone that once again places our country in the sporting spotlight and adds to the long list of major top-level events (1982 World Cup, 1986 Basketball World Cup, Barcelona 92 Olympic Games, 1997 Ryder Cup, 2007 and 2010 America's Cup, etc.) held in our country.
Although it is Spain's first time organizing this prestigious international women's team competition, the country has a long history as a host nation for high-level golf events, such as the 1997 Ryder Cup or the 75 LET and LET Access Series tournaments that have taken place on its courses.
To these figures must be added the event that will serve as the grand finale of the 2020 LET calendar, the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, which will also conclude this year's Order of Merit, the Race to Costa del Sol. Spain becomes the sixth European country to host this competition after Scotland, the most recent European venue, Wales, Sweden, Ireland, and Germany.
Located on the Costa del Sol, in the heart of Andalusia, Finca Cortesín is a world-renowned golf destination that has hosted three editions of the European Tour's Volvo World Match Play Championship and regularly appears among the top five Spanish courses in the rankings of Golf World and Golf Digest, two of the most prestigious golf publications. The course, whose greens underwent extensive renovation in 2017, is known for its superb condition and the challenging design that perfectly complements its meticulous aesthetics.
“We are delighted to announce that Spain will host the Solheim Cup in 2023 when the competition returns to European soil for the eighteenth edition of this prestigious international team tournament. Spain is a country passionate about golf; its fans have a deep understanding of the sport, and its inexhaustible pool of talent has produced generations of great players. Furthermore, the rich Andalusian cultural heritage will ensure a unique experience for the players, guests, and fans,” said Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour.
“The tournament not only reinforces Spain’s reputation as an elite golfing country, but also that of the Costa del Sol and Andalusia as essential destinations, something that will undoubtedly inspire future generations to play golf.”.
Spanish women have had a significant presence in the Solheim Cup since the inaugural edition in 1990, with seven compatriots representing Europe throughout the competition's history, a figure second only to the players contributed by England and Sweden.
Carlota Ciganda, one of the local heroines, has participated in the last four editions, while Azahara Muñoz from Marbella also has four appearances to her credit since her debut in 2011. Both have been decisive in the recent history of the competition, in which Europe has achieved three victories in the last five editions, including a memorable triumph in the 2019 edition held in Gleneagles (Scotland).
Costa del Sol joins the family of global partners for the 2023 edition, adding to the list of long-standing Solheim Cup sponsors alongside PING and Rolex. Deporte & Business will organize the event and manage all aspects of the tournament in conjunction with the Ladies European Tour.
“It is a source of pride to have brought the Solheim Cup to Spain. Undoubtedly, the key has been the excellent collaboration between all the institutions involved: Andalusia, the Costa del Sol, Acosol, the Marbella City Council, the Benahavís City Council, and the Royal Spanish Golf Federation have all worked together seamlessly to achieve this milestone, which will boost quality tourism in Andalusia and solidify the Costa del Sol as the undisputed destination for women's golf,” stated Íñigo Aramburu, CEO of Deporte & Business.
“I want to thank the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour for the confidence they have placed in the Spanish bid. We are going to try to organize the best and most exciting Solheim Cup ever. The Costa del Sol is a unique destination in the world, and we are going to showcase that through this tournament. I also want to highlight that the chosen course, Finca Cortesín, is one of the best in Europe, and its hotel has been considered the best in Spain and Portugal, so the hospitality that the teams will receive here in Spain will be of the highest caliber.”.
The next Solheim Cup in 2021 will take place in Toledo, Ohio, from September 4-6, and the US team intends to snatch the trophy from Europe, who won the 2019 edition with a spectacular putt on the last green of the last singles match.
The Solheim Cup was first played in Florida in 1990 and is named after Karsten Solheim, the businessman and golf club designer who spearheaded its creation. The Solheim Cup features two teams of 12 players competing over three days in the same format as the Ryder Cup, with a total of 28 matches (eight foursomes and eight fourballs on the first two days, and 12 singles matches on the final day).
More information on the website www.solheimcup2023.eu, on the Twitter account @SolheimCup2023, on the Instagram account @solheimcup2023esp and on the Facebook page Solheim Cup 2023.
The 2023 Solheim Cup, officially hosted by Finca Cortesín, is sponsored by PING, Costa del Sol, and Rolex as global partners; and by Andalucía, Acosol, the Marbella City Council, and the Benahavís City Council as official partners. The LET, the LPGA Tour, the RFEG, and Deporte & Business are collaborating in its organization.
About Finca Cortesín
Finca Cortesin is an independent luxury golf resort, hotel, and spa located in the hills of southern Spain between Marbella and Sotogrande. Overlooking the Mediterranean on one side and the tranquil mountains of Casares on the other, Finca Cortesin was designed in the style of a traditional Spanish finca.
Opened in March 2006 and situated on 532 hectares, this exclusive Andalusian resort is a member of the prestigious European Tour Destinations network. Its world-class facilities include an elegant 67-suite hotel, the Hotel Cortesin; a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course with a state-of-the-art Jack Nicklaus Academy; a 6,000-square-meter Beach Club; and an award-winning spa featuring Spain's only snow cave, offering personalized treatments from the French beauty brand Biologique Recherche.
Hotel Cortesin offers a choice of four restaurants, including El Jardin de Lutz, serving authentic Spanish cuisine, and the exclusive Japanese restaurant Kabuki Raw. The development also features an exclusive collection of villas available for purchase or rent.
Surrounding the hotel is the resort's acclaimed 18-hole championship golf course, designed by world-renowned architect Cabell Robinson. The par-72 course, one of the longest in Europe at nearly 7,500 yards, gained global recognition when it was awarded the honor of hosting the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012, with a star-studded lineup including Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, and Luke Donald.
More information at www.fincacortesin.com.
About the Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of golf with the passion each player feels for their country and continent. This transatlantic team match-play competition is held every two years and pits the best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) against the best American golfers from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
The Solheim Cup is named after Karsten Solheim, founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, the company that markets the PING brand of golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in collaboration with the LET and the LPGA, developed the concept and became the title sponsor of the Solheim Cup. The global partners of the 2023 Solheim Cup are PING, Costa del Sol, and Rolex.
Held every two years, the event has become the most prestigious team competition on the international golf calendar. The Solheim Cup is a highly coveted trophy, and some of the most memorable moments in golf history have taken place in this competition, making it a coveted prize for players on both tours.
The 2019 Solheim Cup was held from September 13-15 in Gleneagles, Scotland, and the European team reclaimed the coveted crystal trophy from Waterford by 14 ½ to 13 ½ points.
More information at www.solheimcup.com.
About D&B
Deporte & Business is a company specializing in the organization of sporting events. Since 2002, it has focused on women's professional golf and has launched more than 35 Ladies European Tour tournaments, including the Spanish Open, the European Nations Cup, and the Mediterranean Ladies Open, among others. It also promotes events on the LET Access Series and the Santander Golf Tour, the national women's professional golf circuit.
About LET
The LET inspires girls and women to pursue their dreams and achieve them through golf. Our players are examples of strength, energy, pride, and confidence, and their motivation drives them to compete at the highest level and set an example for others. The LET is a global tour with European roots, and its members exemplify diversity and multiculturalism, with 325 professionals representing 38 countries.
We want to entertain and excite, but also promote healthy habits and a better quality of life with responsibility, commitment and respect.
Passion: We are driven by a passion to fully develop our potential and improve every day. It's not for money or glory, but for the love of the sport.
Commitment: We strive to continuously improve and know what it takes to achieve long-term goals.
Inspiration: Our players serve as role models and encourage others to pursue their dreams.
The 2020 LET season is the 42nd since the professional tour was founded in 1978 and the first to feature the Race to Costa del Sol. The LET Access Series is the satellite tour of the Ladies European Tour and was created to give female golfers the opportunity to compete, reach the LET, and ultimately fulfill their dreams in professional golf.
#RaiseOurGame
SOURCE: Solheim Cup 2023 Organization
