England Golf has reignited its campaign to secure the Solheim Cup for England and is now appealing to the government for financial support to back a bid for the 2030 edition. Although the Solheim Cup has visited seven different European nations, it has never been staged on English soil, and the venue for the 2030 contest – the next European-hosted tournament – remains undecided. Several clubs have signaled interest in hosting the event, with The Grove in Hertfordshire emerging as a frontrunner. However, without substantial private backing, a government contribution would be essential to fund any serious application to bring the competition to England.
Talks about the next European venue are ongoing, and England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson is confident that securing the biennial showdown would generate "immeasurable good" for the sport. "The Solheim Cup is in a really good place and it's going to get bigger," Tomlinson told Sky Sports.
"I honestly think if we bring the Solheim Cup to England we can double, maybe even treble the crowds." Tomlinson emphasized that multiple clubs are eager to put forward proposals and that, with a modest amount of government assistance, England could finally host the tournament for the first time. "We are working with clubs, with IMG and the Ladies European Tour, and we have ongoing discussions with UK Sport. I don't want to reveal too much, but we feel very positive and would love to bring it to England," he added. Financially, staging a Solheim Cup is considerably less demanding than organizing a Ryder Cup, the men's counterpart.
The cost is estimated to be less than one‑tenth of a Ryder Cup budget. Tomlinson hopes the government will underwrite the bid, allowing England to create a historic event on home turf. "It’s always easier when an entrepreneur steps forward and underwrites the whole event, but we haven’t had that yet," he explained. "We are somewhat dependent on government to step forward and help us.
Our discussions with them are positive and constructive." He acknowledged that the financial outlay is significant, yet argued that the returns—both in terms of a feel‑good factor and the promotion of an extraordinary sport—could be dynamic. "It’s a lot of money you need to put on the table, but we truly believe – and I think the government feels it as well – that the returns from a feel‑good factor and a promotion of an incredible sport could be dynamic," Tomlinson said.
The recent Solheim Cup saw Team Europe reclaim the trophy with a 15‑13 victory at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, a match that attracted a packed grandstand and featured three English players on the winning side. This success underscores the growing popularity of women's golf in the UK.
"Golf has continued to boom since the pandemic, there is no two ways about that," Tomlinson noted. "We have in excess of 12 and a half million people just in England who, in some way, shape or form, touch golf or participate in golf." He highlighted the potential for the Solheim Cup to inspire a new generation of female golfers. "We have an incredible amount of women who enjoy playing golf away from golf courses.
We'd love more women, more girls to be able to come to the golf courses, but they need to have heroes and they need to have people to inspire them," he said. "We at England Golf truly believe that if we could get the Solheim Cup, it could do immeasurable good for the game of golf and for women in sport. It would be a very, very proud moment." The government’s role could be pivotal. By providing a financial safety net, it would not only help cover the direct costs of staging the event—such as venue preparation, security, hospitality, and broadcasting—but also enable broader community outreach programmes tied to the tournament.
These programmes could include school visits by elite players, free coaching clinics for girls, and promotional campaigns aimed at increasing participation among under‑represented groups. Beyond the immediate economic impact—tourism, hospitality, and local business revenue—the Solheim Cup could serve as a catalyst for long‑term growth in women's sport across the nation. The visibility of a world‑class event on English soil would likely attract sponsorship deals, media rights agreements, and a surge in grassroots club membership. Moreover, the tournament’s legacy could be cemented through the development of permanent facilities or scholarships that nurture young talent.
The next Solheim Cup will be contested in 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, scheduled for September 8‑10. That edition will set the stage for the 2030 European host, making the timing of England’s bid critical. As the conversation with government officials progresses, England Golf remains hopeful that a collaborative approach—combining public funding, private investment, and the enthusiasm of local clubs—will finally bring the Solheim Cup to England, marking a landmark moment for the sport and for women athletes nationwide.