Solheim Cup Coming to Prince William County in 2024

Prince William County will host the Solheim Cup on September 10-14, 2024. During their meeting yesterday, the Board of County Supervisors received an update on the premier women’s golf tournament coming to the county from Becky Newell, the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) Senior Director of Sponsorship for the Solheim Cup.

The Solheim Cup is held every two years and features the 12 best U.S. players from the LPGA and the 12 best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET). The tournament alternates between the U.S. and Europe, with the last tournament held in the U.S. in 2021in Toledo, Ohio. The LPGA and LET recently announced that the tournaments will be held in even years starting in 2024 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville.

Newell told the board that the LPGA was pleased to bring the biggest women’s professional golf event in the world to the county.

“It’s exciting for all of us,” Newell said. “All eyes will be on our community with over 240 countries and territories being able to tune in to the Solheim Cup in 2024… We can’t wait to showcase this region throughout the world...”

Newell went on to tell the board that the tournament brought $40 million in economic impact to Toledo, Ohio, when the tournament was played there in 2021.

According to Prince William County Tourism Director, Kevin Costello, the Solheim Cup is expected to draw 5.5 million television viewers from around the world.

“It’s huge,” Costello said. “People will have eyes on Prince William County on television; and then we’re expecting 140,000 to 150,000 attendees on the four days of the event. It’s a great opportunity to put a spotlight on Prince William County, Northern Virginia and the D.C. area.”

The influx of money visitors will bring to the county will help local businesses and perhaps bring future visitors to the county.

“First and foremost… it will impact our tourism economy. People will have to go out to eat and stay in hotel rooms. Indirectly, being on TV will let people see where the golf course is and learn more about Prince William County. What we get in television and media exposure will be immeasurable,” Costello said.

While the Solheim Cup will be the first major women’s competition held at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, the Golf Club has hosted several PGA events, including the first four Presidents Cup tournaments held in the United States.

“It’s wonderful,” said Prince William County Chair At-Large Ann Wheeler about hosting the LPGA tournament. “It’s one of the best things to come to Prince William County – just very, very excited about it.”

“This is not just a tourism event, but this an economic development event,” said Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin. “So, when we talk about bringing different opportunities to Prince William County, this is exactly, I think, what we are talking about… It’s things like this that helps to cement Prince William County on the map.”