Andalusia will have the honour of hosting the 2023 Solheim Cup, the world’s most prestigious women’s golf tournament and the most important event in this sporting discipline to take place in Spain in the last 25 years.
In 1997 this region made organisational history by hosting in Valderrama the first Ryder Cup held outside British and American soil, and it is once again blazing a trail as the organiser of the first Solheim Cup to be played on a Spanish course.
This confirms Andalusia as Spain’s pre-eminent golfing destination, and that the standard of its facilities and the professionalism, hard work and reliability of everyone involved in the sector are a guarantee of its continued capacity to attract promoters and fans who once again turn to us as an example to follow.
The Costa del Sol’s own Finca Cortesín, one of the most attractive courses on the international panorama, is ready to welcome the world’s top women players in a tournament which for the third time will leave the United Kingdom as part of its European rotation.
On behalf of this tribunal I would like to thank all the competition participants for working so hard to turn a wish into a reality, and for creating such an exceptional opportunity to promote golf in Andalusia at this ideal time. It has been a challenging task to respond to the complex situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic for a sector that, like so many others, has seen its tourism and sporting segments affected by the limitations imposed on mobility and the closing of borders. No one could ever have imagined a situation even remotely similar, but thankfully the recovery has begun, and with the 2023 Solheim Cup, Andalusia has an exciting opportunity to return to business as usual.
We are firmly committed to the sector. Golf not only gives us international projection as the ideal destination for playing this sport all year round, but it also has a major impact on the economy of Andalusia and on the creation of both direct and indirect jobs. These qualities are undoubtedly evidence of its considerable capacity to contribute to the recovery after this period of uncertainty.
To achieve this goal, the Government of Andalusia has been working tirelessly to renew its support and partnerships with the foremost international operators to promote the 104 courses in the region, the greatest concentration of golf venues in the whole of continental Europe, and to market the segment and its associated tourist attractions in the leading fairs and forums. The specific offer is linked with other elements in the value chain such as gastronomy, quality accommodation, health and wellness facilities, and a wide range of leisure options, plus the almost one thousand kilometres of coastline in the region, all blessed with an unbeatable climate that makes it possible to play golf all year round.
Andalusia is without doubt a destination packed with experiences for golf lovers, as we will once again demonstrate on this occasion by making sure that the tournament is a resounding sporting and organisational success. The countdown has begun to the start of the best Solheim in history.
Juan Marín Lozano.
Vice President and Councillor for Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration. Regional Government of Andalusia
