The southernmost region of Spain and more specifically the Costa del Sol, became the epicenter of world golf on the celebration of the Solheim Cup 2023 from September 18th to 24th at Finca Cortesin.
This September, Andalusia has been the real heart of women’s golf worldwide on the Solheim Cup 2023, an event that pitted the best European and American players at Finca Cortesin, Casares.
A heart that beat stronger than ever from Costa del Sol, the Mediterranean coast of the province of Malaga where golf is much more than a sport, since, with more than 70 courses, it is the area with the highest concentration of golf courses in Europe.
With this data, the fact that this region was chosen to host the Solheim Cup for the first time in Spain, was no trivial matter and this event was an excellent loudspeaker to publicize the countless attractions of the area, both to the millions of viewers who watched the tournament on TV and the thousands of lucky ones who attended live.
Those who watched the competition from their homes already have more than enough arguments to choose Andalusia for their next vacation, and those who were among the more than 80,000 lucky ones who lived in person the outcome of the Solheim Cup 2023, will not only remember forever the magnificent duel between Europeans and Americans, they also took with them the exceptional cultural, gastronomic and leisure offer of the area.
In this edition, it has been demonstrated that the Solheim Cup is not only the top international women’s golf competition and one of the most important events in women’s sport worldwide, it´s also an event that transcends the sporting aspect with a host of activities around it such as concerts, exhibitions or gastronomic dinners.
And for those who want more, the offer is almost unparalleled.
The strategic location of Costa del Sol has made it possible to have such emblematic Andalusian cities as Seville, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera and Granada within easy reach.
Closer still are world-renowned golf courses such as the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, home of the Estrella Damm N. A. Andalucía Masters 2023; the Real Club de Golf Las Brisas, host of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España 2023; or the Real Club de Valderrama, scene of major events such as the 1997 Ryder Cup, which undoubtedly marked a before and after in golf tourism in Andalusia.
As for Malaga, the capital of Costa del Sol, is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and as such, has interesting proposals around the figure of the great painter, especially when this year marks the 50th anniversary of his death.
There is also the so-called “Route of the museums of the Costa del Sol” with establishments such as the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the Collection of the Russian Museum of St. Petersburg or the Automobile Museum, and other more curious as the Museum of Glass and Crystal, the Museum of Miniatures, the Museum of Bonsay and the Museum of Bandolero.
Contemporary art and urban art also have their corners such as the Contemporary Art Center of Malaga, the Pompidou Center Malaga, the CAC of Mijas and the CAC of Velez-Malaga.
Nature and active tourism should not be overlooked either, with Natural Parks such as the Sierra de las Nieves, which is also a Biosphere Reserve, or the salt lagoon of Fuente de Piedra, with its flamingo reserve.
These are joined by the cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo, in the foothills of the Sierra de la Almijara, where the Cave of Nerja is also located, or the karst formations of the Pedrizas and the Torcal de Antequera.
As for leisure and entertainment, there are many options in lively cities such as “night routes”, events such as the “Noche en Blanco” and other themed activities.
And finally, from the Mediterranean cuisine of the coast to the typical products and dishes of the inland villages, Andalusia’s gastronomy stands out for its variety and flavors.
Andalusia’s gastronomy stands out for its variety and flavors, and can be tasted in restaurants, beach bars, tapas bars, wineries and Michelin-starred chefs.
In short, all these ingredients make both Andalusia and Costa del Sol a preferred destination for the organization of major sporting events, such as this Solheim Cup, which has just come to an end and will surely be remembered as one of the best in history.
More information on the website www.solheimcup2023.eu, on the Twitter account @SolheimCup2023, on the Instagram account @solheimcup2023esp and on the Facebook page Solheim Cup 2023.
