Gleneagles lined up for Solheim Cup

• Scotland announces intention to host the 2019 Solheim Cup
• Planning on taking it to Ryder Cup host venue Gleneageles
• “We’d be honoured to welcome it,” said Bernard Murphy

It’s official: Scotland has thrown its hat into the ring to host the 2019 Solheim Cup – and it is planning on taking the match to last year’s Ryder Cup host venue, Gleneagles.

Led by VisitScotland’s Events Directorate and backed by the Scottish Government, the country is bidding to stage the biennial match, contested by teams representing Europe and the USA, for the third time in its history, following previous matches at Dalmahoy, in 1992, and Loch Lomond, in 2000. On both those occasions, Europe ran out victorious.

“Scotland is now renowned as a world-class tourism and events destination” – Nicola Sturgeon

Announcing the intention to bid for the match, First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, remarked: “Last year, Scotland showed what it can do on the world-stage when it not only held, but significantly enhanced, some of the biggest events in the world of sport. The 2014 Ryder Cup was a magnificent spectacle and will be remembered for many years to come, while the Commonwealth Games was another huge success story for our country. We want to do the same with the Solheim Cup.

BLOG -> Scotland’s Solheim Cup bid ‘should be backed to the hilt’

“Scotland is now renowned as a world-class tourism and events destination. Not only would hosting the Solheim Cup in Scotland, the Home of Golf, provide a huge boost to the profile of this fantastic event, it would continue to promote equality across the game and show that golf in Scotland is a sport for all after the successful hosting of the Ryder Cup.”

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The decision to play the prospective match at Gleneagles was made following a detailed review of submissions by Scottish clubs and resorts, who were invited to put their names forward to stage the match.

bunkered.co.uk understands around a dozen such facilities did so, including courses on the Open rota, from which a shortlist of four was drawn up before Gleneagles was given the nod on account of the ‘world-renowned status of the venue’ and ‘the outstanding success of the 2014 Ryder Cup’.

Bernard Murphy, Gleneagles’ managing director, commented: “Hosting the Ryder Cup was a great opportunity for Gleneagles and Perthshire, and an experience none of us will ever forget. The positive impact it had on tourism and Scotland’s global reputation should not be underestimated. We would be truly honoured to welcome the Solheim Cup to Gleneagles and look forward to working with VisitScotland and the Scottish Government to bring another world-class golf event to the area.”

GALLERY -> Scotland & the Solheim Cup

It is bunkered.co.uk’s understanding that Scotland’s main competition is likely to come from Spain and Sweden, whilst a bid from England – with Ganton rumoured to be its chosen venue – has also not yet been ruled out.

Welcoming the decision to bid for the 2019 match, seven-time Solheim Cup player and former RICOH Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew said: “The Solheim Cup is a special event, which is growing in profile and stature with each passing staging. I have no doubt that a Solheim Cup in 2019 at Gleneagles would be the biggest and best yet.”

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The event, to be played in August or September 2019, would be expected to attract around 30,000 spectators per day to Gleneagles, including a strong contingent from outwith Scotland and overseas.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted to have led this bid on behalf of Scotland and the Scottish Government and look forward to helping deliver a world-class Solheim Cup in 2019 in the same way as we did with the Ryder Cup in 2014.”

A decision on the venue for the 2019 Solheim Cup could be made as early as November.

Gleneagles :: The perfect Solheim Cup venue?

What do you make of the news that Gleneagles could be hosting the 2019 Solheim Cup? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor