It would be brilliant if England Golf wins its bid to host the Solheim Cup in 2030 at The Grove in Hertfordshire. First, thought we need the Treasury to cough up the £20 million to meet the shortfall of the £30 million total required to stage the match. IMG holds the rights to the Solheim Cup and pushing for a resolution by the end of this month.
Last week England Golf’s chief executive Jeremy Tomlinson, who is confident that the bid would be successful if backing is provided, told the BBC, “We believe at this moment in time, it’s right and proper that the Solheim Cup should come to England.
“We’ve provided so many players through the years and continue to do so, whether it’s Charley Hull, Georgia Hall or Lottie Woad. We have such inspirational women in the game of golf that we just think it would be fantastic to be able to get the Solheim Cup.” He's right. Scotland has hosted the event twice, and both Wales and Ireland have hosted it once. It's surely about time England gets to stage the most high-profile event in women's golf.
This would align with the government's commitment in its election manifesto to "delivering international events and seeking new opportunities to inspire the next generation of talent." We've had the Women's Rugby World Cup and the Women's T20 World Cup is happening next year, so let's hope women's golf will be given its moment in the spotlight.
Look what the Ryder Cup does for golf, it’s the one event that even people with no real interest in the sport get behind with real enthusiasm. Over recent editions, the Solheim Cup has grown considerably in popularity due to its tightly fought contests and has the same appeal.
So, imagine the impact hosting such an event in England would have on driving interest and participation and an opportunity to build on that legacy for years, not just for one week. I don’t want to get too excited as there are no doubt a lot of political hoops to jump and it might not happen, but fingers crossed!
Lottie Woad is very likely to make her Solheim Cup debut next year at Bernardus Golf Club in the Netherlands, and her coach, Luke Bone, will no doubt be there to support her. In this article for Golf Monthly, Mark Townsend chatted with Luke about his coaching philosophy and what makes her a standout pupil. In this article, whether you're a club golfer, a parent, or a fan, there are lessons we can all learn.
Interestingly, when discussing natural talent, Luke explains that he’s coached plenty of kids at the age of 12 who swung it ‘naturally’ better than Lottie did. For him, it’s about ball flight, impact and the delivery of the club, then you can build around that. He asks, “What’s the ball telling us?” That’s something to think about!
Happy golfing!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
