England Golf has revived its campaign to secure the Solheim Cup for England and is now pressing the government for financial assistance to back a bid for the 2030 tournament. Although the Solheim Cup has already visited seven different European nations, it has never been staged in England, and the venue for the 2030 edition – the next time the competition will be held on European soil – remains undecided. Several courses have put their names forward, with The Grove in Hertfordshire among the most vocal candidates.
However, any successful application will need public funding, as private capital alone has not yet materialised to underwrite the event. England Golf’s chief executive, Jeremy Tomlinson, says that securing government backing could unlock the pathway to bringing the biennial contest to English soil, delivering what he describes as "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." He added that a number of clubs are eager to put forward proposals and that, with a modest infusion of public money, England could finally host the tournament for the first time. Tomlinson explained that England Golf is already collaborating with potential host clubs, the event management firm IMG, and the Ladies European Tour, while also maintaining ongoing discussions with UK Sport. "We don't want to reveal all the details yet, but the conversations are positive and we feel optimistic about the prospect of bringing the Cup to England," he said.
Financially, staging a Solheim Cup is far less demanding than organising a Ryder Cup, the men's equivalent. Tomlinson estimates that the cost of a Solheim Cup is under one‑tenth of a Ryder Cup budget, yet he stresses that the government’s guarantee would still be essential. "It’s always easier when an entrepreneur steps in and can underwrite the whole event, but we haven’t had that yet," he noted. "We are somewhat dependent upon government to be able to step forward and help us.
We have some discussions with them right now and they are positive, they are constructive." The governing body believes the return on investment would be significant, not only in terms of direct economic impact but also through the "feel‑good" factor and the promotion of women’s sport. Tomlinson argued that the visibility of a high‑profile women’s golf tournament could inspire a new generation of female players and boost participation across the country. Recent results underscore the growing popularity of the women’s game.
Team Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup with a 15‑13 win at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, a match that featured three English players on the victorious side. "Golf has continued to boom since the pandemic, there is no two ways about that," Tomlinson observed. "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 also highlighted the untapped potential among women who enjoy golf outside of traditional courses. "We have an incredible amount of women that 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. Tomlinson believes that hosting the Solheim Cup would create those role models and provide a "very, very proud moment" for the nation. The next Solheim Cup after 2030 will be held in 2028 at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, USA, from September 8‑10.
That event will serve as a benchmark for what England hopes to achieve in terms of attendance, media coverage, and overall impact. In summary, England Golf is making a concerted push to bring the Solheim Cup to England, arguing that the tournament’s modest cost relative to a Ryder Cup, combined with its potential to drive participation and showcase women’s sport, makes it a worthwhile investment for the government. The organization is actively engaging with clubs, sponsors, and public bodies, and remains hopeful that a positive decision from the Department of Media, Culture and Sport will pave the way for a historic first‑time English Solheim Cup in 2030.