England Golf has reignited its campaign to bring the Solheim Cup to English soil and is now appealing to the national government for financial assistance to back a bid for the 2030 edition of the tournament. The Solheim Cup, the premier women’s team competition in golf, has been staged in seven different European nations but has never taken place in England. The host venue for the 2030 contest – the next time the event will be held in Europe – remains undecided, and England Golf sees this as a prime opportunity to finally showcase the competition at home.
Several potential sites have put their names forward, with The Grove in Hertfordshire emerging as a leading candidate. However, the organizers stress that without public funding – private investment alone will not cover the full cost – the bid cannot be competitive.
England Golf’s chief executive, Jeremy Tomlinson, has been vocal about the benefits a Solheim Cup would bring, describing the impact as "immeasurable" for the sport’s growth in the country. "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 added that several clubs are eager to submit proposals and that, with a modest boost from the government, England could finally host the event for the first time. The governing body is already collaborating with a range of partners, including local clubs, IMG, the Ladies European Tour and UK Sport. While Tomlinson declined to reveal detailed negotiations, he expressed optimism, noting that discussions with officials have been "positive and constructive." He emphasized that the financial scale of a Solheim Cup is far smaller than that of its male counterpart, the Ryder Cup – typically less than one‑tenth of the cost – making a government-backed guarantee a realistic prospect.
"It’s always easier when an entrepreneur steps forward and underwrites the whole event, but we haven’t found that yet," Tomlinson explained. "We are somewhat dependent upon government to be able to step forward and help us. It’s a lot of money, but we truly believe – and I think the government feels it as well – that the returns in terms of a feel‑good factor and promotion of an incredible sport could be dynamic." The recent Solheim Cup, held at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, saw Team Europe reclaim the trophy with a 15‑13 victory.
The match attracted a packed grandstand and featured three English players on the winning side, underscoring the depth of talent in the UK. Tomlinson highlighted that the sport has experienced a surge in participation since the pandemic, noting that more than 12.5 million people in England engage with golf in some capacity. "We have an incredible number of women who enjoy playing golf outside of traditional courses," he said. "We’d love more women and girls to come onto the courses, but they need heroes and role models to inspire them." Tomlinson believes that hosting the Solheim Cup would create exactly those icons, providing a high‑profile platform for women’s golf and encouraging broader participation across the country.
Beyond the immediate boost to viewership and ticket sales, Tomlinson argues that the event would have long‑term economic and social benefits. A major international tournament can stimulate local economies through tourism, hospitality and infrastructure investment, while also delivering a legacy of improved facilities and heightened community interest in sport.
He contends that these ripple effects align with the government’s broader objectives of promoting health, equality and regional development. The next Solheim Cup after 2030 is already scheduled for 2028, when it will be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, USA, from September 8‑10. That event will serve as a benchmark for the scale and excitement that England hopes to replicate on home ground. By securing public backing now, England Golf aims to position the country as a viable, attractive host for the 2030 edition, ensuring that the tournament’s growing popularity can be shared with English fans for the first time.
Sky Sports News has reached out to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for comment on the funding request. The governing body remains confident that, with the right mix of public and private support, the Solheim Cup can become a historic milestone for English golf and a catalyst for the continued rise of women’s sport in the nation.