England Golf has reignited its campaign to bring the Solheim Cup to English soil and is now appealing to the government for financial support to underwrite a bid for the 2030 edition. While the Solheim Cup has already visited seven different European nations, it has never been staged in England, and the venue for the 2030 contest – the next European-hosted tournament – remains undecided.
Several clubs have signalled their interest in hosting the event, with The Grove in Hertfordshire emerging as a leading candidate. However, any serious application will require public funding, as private investment alone has not yet materialised.
England Golf’s chief executive, Jeremy Tomlinson, says that securing government backing could be the decisive factor in finally landing the biennial competition on home turf. "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." He believes that a successful bid would generate "immeasurable good" for women’s golf and for the broader sporting landscape in the UK.
"We have several clubs that really want to put themselves forward and would love to host the event. With a bit of government help, we truly believe we could bring it to England for the first time," Tomlinson continued. "We’re working with clubs, with IMG, with the Ladies European Tour, and we have ongoing talks with UK Sport. I don’t want to give away too much, but we feel very positive and would love to see the Solheim Cup on English soil." Financially, staging a Solheim Cup is considerably cheaper than its male counterpart, the Ryder Cup.
Tomlinson notes that the cost of a Solheim Cup is less than one‑tenth of what a Ryder Cup demands, yet the event still requires a substantial financial foundation. "It’s always easier when an entrepreneur steps in and underwrites the whole event, but we haven’t had that yet," he said. "We are somewhat dependent on the government to step forward and help us.
Our discussions with officials have been constructive and positive." The governing body argues that the public investment would be justified by the broader economic and social returns. "It’s a lot of money to put on the table, but we truly believe – and I think the government feels the same – that the returns in terms of a feel‑good factor and the promotion of an incredible sport could be dynamic," Tomlinson added. Recent results have added momentum to the push.
Team Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup 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. The triumph underscores the growing popularity of women’s golf across the continent. Tomlinson points out that the sport has experienced a post‑pandemic boom.
"Golf has continued to boom since the pandemic, there is no two ways about that," he explained. "We have in excess of 12.5 million people in England who, in some way, touch or participate in golf." He also highlights the need to inspire the next generation of female golfers. "We have an incredible number of women who enjoy playing golf away from the courses. We’d love more women and girls to come onto the courses, but they need heroes and role models to inspire them," he said.
"We at England Golf truly believe that if we could get the Solheim Cup here, it could do immeasurable good for the game and for women in sport. It would be a very, very proud moment." The next Solheim Cup after 2028 will be contested in 2030, and the governing bodies are keen to lock in a venue as soon as possible.
The 2028 edition will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8‑10, and the momentum from that event is expected to feed into the European bidding process. England Golf’s strategy involves close collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ladies European Tour, the International Management Group (IMG), and UK Sport, to craft a compelling bid package. The organization is also engaging local authorities and potential sponsors to demonstrate the breadth of support across the country. While the exact amount of public funding required has not been disclosed, Tomlinson suggests that a modest contribution could bridge the gap left by the absence of a private underwriter.
He stresses that the investment would not only cover operational costs but also fund community outreach programmes, legacy projects, and initiatives aimed at increasing female participation at grassroots levels. The government’s response will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for future support of major women’s sporting events in the UK. Sky Sports News has reached out to the Department for Media, Culture and Sport for comment on the matter.
In summary, England Golf is mounting a renewed, well‑coordinated campaign to secure the 2030 Solium Cup for England. By leveraging recent on‑course success, a growing base of participants, and a clear economic case, the organization hopes to persuade the government to provide the essential financial backing that could finally see the prestigious tournament held in England for the first time.