Dilip Kuner
FINCA Cortesin golf course in Spain will host the 2023 Solheim Cup.
The Estepona club will be the first Spanish venue for the biggest team event in women’s golf.
It also makes Spain the sixth European nation to host the event.
It will be the biggest golf tournament in terms of world-wide exposure and coverage to be hosted by the nation since the hugely successful Ryder Cup at Valderrama in nearby Sotogrande in 1997, which gave the Costa del Sol.
That tournament gave the Costa del Sol a massive boost as a golfing destination, with the region being rebranded the Costa del Golf.
Like the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup features teams from Europe and the USA battling it out for the coveted trophy.
Dates for the event have not yet been set .
Ladies European Tour chief executive Alexandra Armas said: “We are delighted to announce Spain as the host nation for the 2023 Solheim Cup when it returns to European soil.
“Spain is a passionate golfing nation with knowledgeable fans and a history of developing generations of talented golfers while Andalucia’s strong cultural heritage will make for a unique experience for players, guests and supporters alike.”
Europe holds the trophy after beating the USA at Gleneagles in 2019, with the next match slated to be played at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio in 221 from September 4 to6.
This is not the first big tournament Finca Cortesin has hosted. In 2012 it was the venue for the World Match Play won by Nicolas Colsaerts.
Designed by American architect Cabell Robinson, it is regarded as one of the top-10 courses in Spain.
