The international women's golf elite will meet from September 18th to 24th on the Costa del Sol to play the Solheim Cup. The teams from Europe and the United States will test their strength in the most important women's golf tournament in the world, in match-play format, which will offer a unique opportunity to discover a destination known as the Costa del Golf and enjoy its hospitality and gastronomy.
Malaga, September 14th, 2023.- Europe or the United States, who will lift the coveted Solheim Cup trophy? The Costa del Sol is getting ready to welcome the players of the most important women's golf tournament in the world, which is being played in Spain for the very first time. The women's version of the Ryder Cup will take place next week, from September 18th to 24th, in a destination that has been committed to the practice of the sport for years. The best in Europe, according to IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators).
With an exceptional climate all year round and a large concentration of golf courses, the Costa del Sol is one of the main assets of the so-called Costa del Golf, which boasts more than 70 courses where elite competitions such as the Ryder Cup or the World Golf Championships have already been played. The hospitality, the high level of services, a wide range of hotels and the exquisite gastronomy of Malaga, in addition to a whole host of cultural and leisure activities, have turned the Costa del Sol into one of the gold standards of the international golf scene. With the Solheim Cup from September 18th to 24th, the destination will become the world capital of this sport.
The Solheim Cup, held every two years, has become the most prestigious team competition of the international golf calendar, with some of the most memorable moments in the history of golf having taken place in this tournament. Some 75,000 tickets have been sold to spectators from 34 countries, all of whom will be eager to find out if the European team, captained by Suzann Pettersen, will be able to beat the American team, led by Stacy Lewis, and overturn the dominance of the Americans. More than 300 journalists will cover the event, which will be broadcast for 35 hours, including the opening and closing ceremonies.
The venue for the tournament, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Casares mountain range, is the exclusive Finca Cortesin resort. Located between Marbella and Sotogrande, it houses, among other facilities, a five-star hotel (which will host the 24 players) and a magnificent 18-hole, 7,500-yard championship golf course, as well as the state-of-the-art Jack Niclaus Academy. The course, designed by Cabell Robinson, is one of the longest in Europe and has hosted several high-level tournaments, including the Volvo World Match Play Championship - one of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments in the world - on three occasions. For the Solheim Cup tournament, 65 greenkeepers, 40 of them volunteers from around the world, are expected to prepare the course. In total, 300 volunteers from 33 countries will ensure the success of the competition.
Cultural and gastronomic experiences
The Solheim Cup offers an opportunity to enjoy the Costa del Sol, both its hospitality, thanks to its high level of services, as well as its gastronomy and cultural events that will take place alongside the tournament. Andalucía Plaza will be the main meeting place and entry and exit point, as well as a gastronomic and cultural hub, with live music from September 18th to 24th.
Furthermore, Swing and Sun, the Solheim Cup 2023 Fan Fest, will be located at the Marbella Arena, Puerto Banús. An immersive experience from morning to night, allowing the spirit of the tournament to thrive both on and off the course, it will host concerts throughout the seven days of the competition. Meanwhile, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort will be the setting for exclusive gastronomic evenings throughout the week, with menus designed to take the diner on a culinary tour of Andalusia. The most exclusive experiences will take place at the Malaga Pavilion – where the 'sold out' sign hung nine months before the tournament was held - and at Hoyo 17, where a VIP menu designed by some of the most renowned Michelin-starred chefs will be offered.
Sustainability
Sustainability will play an important role in the Solheim Cup. The Finca Cortesín course is irrigated with 100% reclaimed water, the electric generators are powered by solar panels and ecological chairs will be used, made with olive tree stubble. In addition, thanks to 'Málaga Zero footprint', a project driven by Turismo Costa del Sol and the Costa del Sol Council, attendees will be able to calculate their carbon footprint. It should be noted that, with this initiative, the Costa del Sol has become the first destination in the world to calculate the carbon footprint of any tourist arriving in the province of Malaga, regardless of the type of trip, and to offset it.