The beautiful Torre Leonera Park in Benahavís, Málaga, has served as the stage for the presentation of the Club Ambassador Program. This is an initiative associated with the Solheim Cup 2023 that has brought together 40 ambassadors of this International Team competition, bringing together Europe and the United States for the first time in the history of the tournament, to Spanish soil. It will take place from September 18th to 24th, 2023 at Finca Cortesín (Costa del Sol, Andalusia). Catherine Shiels, our Lady Captain, has the honor of being the Ambassador of Marbella Golf Country Club for this event.
This program aims to bring the Solheim Cup to golfers from all over the world and will allow participating clubs and entities to enjoy a number of advantages associated with its promotion (such as, for example, having a travel package under special conditions for the Solheim Cup 2021 to be held this year in the United States). To this end, the figure of ambassador of the Solheim Cup 2023 has been created, which will identify those players and club members especially gifted to excite, mobilize and transmit; qualities all of which are essential to spread the importance and pride of hosting the Solheim Cup in 2023.
After ensuring the unanimous support of the Spanish and Andalusian institutions (all of them represented in the Torre Leonera Park), thanks to this initiative the Solheim Cup 2023 strengthens its ties with the group of golf fans. A fact that was endorsed at the ceremony of delivery of credentials to the ambassadors, chaired by the mayor of Benahavís, José Antonio Mena. In this ceremony, Ángeles Muñoz, mayor of Marbella, José Carrasco, mayor of Casares, and Pablo Mansilla, president of the RFGA also took part of. This event was attended by 40 ambassadors of ten different nationalities, the first representatives of a group that already has members in Spain (led by Ana Belén Sánchez, a golf player who played the 2003 Solheim Cup) and on the other side of the Atlantic (such as the Andalusian professional Belén Mozo, currently living in Colombia, and Azucena Maldonado, president of the Latina Golfers Association of Los Angeles, USA) whose enthusiasm and motivation was evident during the ceremony.
José Antonio Mena, mayor of Benahavís, highlighted in his speech the importance of the Solheim Cup 2023 for Benahavís and the Costa del Sol, as well as emphasizing the fundamental role that the ambassadors will play so that the Costa del Sol, Andalusia, Spain and the whole world breathe golf from now until the 2023 edition is held.
“The event that will take place in just over two years has a fundamental significance for the Costa del Sol, so the appeal made with the launch of this program is extremely important. In this act I wanted to thank Montse, María, Rocío, Lola and all of your colleagues. You, the ambassadors, are in charge, throughout these years, of publicizing this event and its setting, the Costa del Sol and Andalusia, at a time when these efforts are more necessary than ever to convey the benefits of the southern Spain ”, highlighted José Antonio Mena.
Pablo Mansilla, president of the RFAG, wanted to emphasize the importance of hope and excitement as the engine of an international event of these characteristics and on the essential role of the golf federation in structuring an initiative of this caliber.
“The Solheim Cup is not only important for tourism, which it is, but also for sport. It will be the first time that we have a Solheim Cup here in Spain, something very important for Malaga sports, for Costa del Sol sports, Andalusian sports and Spanish sports… and especially for women’s sports. And you have to transmit everywhere (Andalusia, Costa del Sol, Marbella, Benahavís, Casares) what the Solheim Cup is going to be, because the Solheim Cup has to breathe everywhere, and you have to make a lot of noise. As it is done in the Solheim Cup: with a lot of respect, but let everyone know that we are here, that golf is a great sport, the first in women’s licenses in Andalusia, and that we have to be many more”, indicated Pablo Mansilla .
The Solheim Cup 2023, an event of exceptional public interest and whose official headquarters is Finca Cortesín, is sponsored by PING, Costa del Sol and Rolex as global partners; and for Andalusia, Acosol, Marbella City Council and Benahavís City Council as official partners, Solán de Cabras, Eversheds Sutherland and Casares City Council are official suppliers. Marca and Radio Marca are official media. They collaborate in your organization LET, LPGA, RFEG, RFGA, and Deporte & Business.
