The Solheim Cup is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturers Karsten and Louise Solheim, the founders of the Ping brand, and they were instrumental in its development.
After watching Europe end America’s long domination with victories in the 1985 and ’87 Ryder Cups, and a halve in ‘89, Solheim, who was a staunch supporter of the LPGA Tour, put his money behind a women’s contest.
Within the space of five months, the first Solheim Cup had been staged, and it was the US side, captained by Kathy Whitworth, who triumphed by 11.5 to 4.5 points.
This year's match takes place at Finca Cortesin in Spain, but where was the first Solheim Cup?
That contest was held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Florida, a club that has become home for a number of the game’s Tour stars.
Designed by premier golf architect Tom Fazio, the 18-hole championship course features a number of stunning views, especially on the back nine, where the lakes create the kind of risk-reward factor that helps generate so much drama in a matchplay contest such as the Solheim Cup.
As well as hosting the inaugural Solheim Cup, Lake Nona also hosted the World Cup of Golf in 1993. In addition, the course has hosted qualifying for the US Open (men and women), and for the last two years has been the venue for the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on the LPGA Tour.
The Florida club is also famous for hosting the Tavistock Cup team event, where top professionals attached to the Isleworth Golf & Country Club compete against their counterparts at Lake Nona.
Solheim cup venues since 1990
- 1990, Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, Florida
- 1992, Dalmahoy Hotel Golf and Country Club in Edinburgh, Scotland
- 1994, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
- 1996, Marriott St. Pierre Hotel & Country Club in Chepstow, Wales
- 1998, Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio
- 2000, Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland
- 2002, Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota
- 2003, Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Malmo, Sweden
- 2005, Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana
- 2007, Halmstad Golf Club in Halmstad, Sweden
- 2009, Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois
- 2011, Killeen Castle in Co. Meath, Ireland
- 2013, Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado
- 2015, Golf Club St. Leon Rot, Germany
- 2017, Des Moines Golf & Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa
- 2019, Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course, Scotland
- 2021, Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio
