Solheim Cup: England Golf Makes Fresh Call for Government Support to Bring 2030 to England

2030 Solheim Cup England Bid Receives Fresh Push

The 2030 Solheim Cup England bid is back in the spotlight after England Golf renewed its call for government support to bring one of women’s golf’s biggest events to the country for the first time.

England has a rich golfing history and regularly stages some of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments. Yet it has never hosted the Solheim Cup, the biennial team competition between Europe and the United States.

That is something England Golf wants to change.

Following Europe’s dramatic 15-13 victory over the United States at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, England Golf chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson has again urged the government to help make a 2030 bid possible.

The 2030 venue has not yet been finalised, leaving England with an opportunity to make history.

Tomlinson believes hosting the competition could provide a giant boost to women’s golf, attract enormous crowds and inspire more women and girls to take up the sport.

Why Has England Never Hosted the Solheim Cup?

The Solheim Cup has travelled around Europe since the competition began in 1990.

European editions have previously been staged in countries including Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Spain and, most recently, the Netherlands.

England, surprisingly, has never hosted it.

That absence is particularly notable given England’s place in world golf and the number of English players who have represented Europe.

The victorious 2026 European team included three English golfers — Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes.

For England Golf, bringing the competition home would therefore represent more than simply staging another major sporting event. It would provide an opportunity to celebrate the country’s contribution to European women’s golf.

Government Funding Could Decide the Bid

The biggest obstacle is money.

England Golf does not currently have a private investor prepared to underwrite the entire cost of staging the tournament, meaning government support could be crucial.

Tomlinson says discussions are continuing with clubs, IMG, the Ladies European Tour and UK Sport. He described talks around government support as positive and constructive.

This is not the first attempt to secure public backing.

An earlier proposal centred on approximately £30 million being required to support the event, with around £10 million already available and roughly £20 million sought from government.

The argument from England Golf is that, although staging the Solheim Cup requires substantial investment, its cost is considerably lower than that of bringing a Ryder Cup to England.

Tomlinson told Sky Sports that staging a Solheim Cup costs less than one-tenth of the amount required for a Ryder Cup.

That could strengthen the case for public support if the government believes the tournament would produce worthwhile economic and sporting benefits.

The Grove Could Be a Potential Venue

One venue linked with the 2030 Solheim Cup England campaign is The Grove in Hertfordshire.

The course has experience staging major professional golf.

It hosted the 2006 WGC-American Express Championship, won by Tiger Woods, and has also staged the British Masters.

Its location close to London could be another advantage.

International visitors would have relatively easy access to the venue, while the large population around London and southern England could potentially generate strong ticket demand.

However, The Grove is not the only club interested.

Tomlinson says several English clubs want to put themselves forward to stage the tournament.

No final English venue has therefore been confirmed.

England Golf Predicts Huge Crowds

One of the strongest arguments for taking the competition to England is its potential audience.

Tomlinson believes an English Solheim Cup could attract significantly larger crowds than previous editions.

He told Sky Sports that England could potentially double or even treble the crowds if it secured the tournament.

There are reasons for that optimism.

Golf remains enormously popular in England, while women’s sport has experienced remarkable growth in visibility and attendance over recent years.

England Golf says that more than 12.5 million people in England participate in or engage with golf in some form.

The challenge is converting that broad interest into greater participation at golf courses, particularly among women and girls.

A major international tournament could help.

Charley Hull, Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes Could Inspire a Generation

The timing of a potential English Solheim Cup could be particularly powerful because England currently has several prominent female golfers.

Charley Hull is already one of the most recognisable figures in women’s golf.

Lottie Woad has emerged as another major English talent, while Mimi Rhodes was also part of Europe’s successful 2026 team.

All three represented Europe during its victory in the Netherlands.

If they remain involved in the European team by 2030, the prospect of English stars competing in a home Solheim Cup could generate considerable interest.

Tomlinson believes young golfers need visible sporting heroes to inspire them.

A tournament staged in England would allow thousands of girls to watch some of the world’s best golfers in person rather than only seeing them on television or online.

That could potentially create a lasting participation legacy.

Women’s Sport Provides a Powerful Example

England has already witnessed how major women’s sporting events can transform public interest.

Women’s football and rugby have attracted increasingly large audiences, while international competitions staged in England have demonstrated the appetite for elite women’s sport.

Golf wants to capture some of that momentum.

The potential benefits would not necessarily be limited to people attending the Solheim Cup itself.

A successful tournament could encourage golf clubs to create more opportunities for girls, increase investment in coaching and raise the visibility of women’s golf across mainstream media.

The real measure of success would therefore come in the years after the tournament.

If more women and girls began playing because they had watched a Solheim Cup in England, the event could leave a significant sporting legacy.

Could Hosting the Solheim Cup Boost the Local Economy?

Major sporting events can also bring economic benefits.

Thousands of spectators travelling to Hertfordshire or another host region would require hotels, restaurants, transport and other services.

International visitors could extend their stays to visit London and other parts of Britain.

Local businesses could therefore benefit from increased spending during tournament week.

England Golf has previously argued that a home Solheim Cup could support local economies and job creation as well as provide wider sporting benefits.

Those arguments are important because any government funding would ultimately come from taxpayers.

Ministers would need to be convinced that the economic and social return justified the investment.

Europe Regaining the Solheim Cup Adds Momentum

England Golf’s renewed campaign comes at an ideal sporting moment.

Europe defeated the United States 15-13 at Bernardus Golf to regain the Solheim Cup on 13 September.

Captain Anna Nordqvist’s team produced a memorable victory, with Charley Hull playing an important role.

Hull was sent out first in Sunday’s singles and defeated Megan Khang 3&2, helping Europe build the momentum required to reclaim the trophy.

The victory has generated fresh attention around women’s golf across Europe.

England Golf will hope to use that momentum to strengthen its argument for bringing the tournament to England four years from now.

Where Is the Next Solheim Cup?

Before Europe returns to home soil in 2030, the competition will head back to the United States.

The 2028 Solheim Cup will take place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky from September 8 to 10.

Valhalla is one of America’s best-known championship venues and has previously staged major tournaments, including the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup.

After that, the competition returns to Europe in 2030.

That is the opportunity England Golf wants to secure.

Because host planning for major international tournaments takes years, decisions about financial backing cannot simply be left until shortly before the competition.

England Golf therefore wants progress on government support well in advance.

Why the 2030 Solheim Cup Could Be Important for English Golf

The benefits of staging the tournament could extend well beyond one week of elite competition.

England Golf launched a five-year strategy covering 2025 to 2030 aimed at inspiring more people to participate in the sport.

Its priorities include making golf safer, more inclusive, sustainable and inspirational.

England Golf reported that affiliated club membership had risen to approximately 730,000 in 2024, while its iGolf programme for golfers without traditional club membership had grown beyond 61,000 subscribers.

A home Solheim Cup could become a showcase for those wider ambitions.

Rather than treating the tournament simply as an entertainment event, England Golf could use it as a platform to promote participation, volunteering, coaching and greater inclusion.

Government Now Faces an Important Decision

The question is whether ministers believe those potential benefits justify providing financial support.

The government has previously said that Britain has a strong reputation for hosting major sporting events and that decisions about supporting future bids would consider their potential social and economic benefits.

England Golf believes the Solheim Cup meets those tests.

There would be an economic argument based on tourism and local spending, a sporting argument based on participation, and a wider social argument based on supporting women’s sport.

But government finances remain under considerable pressure, meaning every request for public funding faces scrutiny.

Officials will therefore need to assess whether underwriting a Solheim Cup bid represents good value for taxpayers.

Conclusion

The campaign to deliver the 2030 Solheim Cup England has received fresh momentum following Europe’s memorable victory in the Netherlands.

England has never hosted the competition despite its deep golfing heritage and long history of producing players for Team Europe.

England Golf wants that to change.

Jeremy Tomlinson believes a home tournament could attract enormous crowds, inspire more women and girls to play golf and generate wider economic benefits. Several clubs are interested in hosting, with The Grove among the venues previously linked to the project.

The biggest hurdle remains financial backing.

Without sufficient private investment, England Golf needs government support to make a competitive bid possible.

If that support arrives, 2030 could finally be the year the Solheim Cup comes to England — potentially creating one of the biggest moments in the history of women’s golf in the country.