Two years after the 2026 Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, the event returns to the US for its first edition at Valhalla.
The Kentucky course, designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1986, quickly became famous when it hosted the 1996 PGA Championship.
Since then, Valhalla has been a regular spot for top golf events. It hosted more PGA Championships in 2000 and 2004, and again in 2014 and 2024, where Xander Schauffele triumphed over Bryson DeChambeau.
In addition to these events, Valhalla was also home to the 2011 Senior PGA Championship. The course’s most significant moment came during the Ryder Cup in 2008 when Paul Azinger’s Team USA defeated Nick Faldo’s Team Europe with a score of 16.5 to 11.5 points.
Valhalla’s Rich History:
Given its storied past, it’s no surprise that Valhalla is set to host the Solheim Cup twenty years after its Ryder Cup debut. This makes it only the fourth venue to host both prestigious events, joining The Greenbrier, Muirfield Village, and Gleneagles.
LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan highlighted that hosting at such renowned venues will boost women’s golf: “Showcasing our extraordinary athletes at venues that have hosted the world’s largest and most prestigious golf tournaments…will continue to elevate the LPGA Tour and the Solheim Cup.”
Fans might think this is an excellent choice for growing women’s golf visibility.
The course underwent renovations since the 2008 Ryder Cup; greens were rebuilt and bunkers were added or updated before Rory McIlroy won there in 2014. Now featuring 62 bunkers spread across rolling fairways and greens, Valhalla is known for its challenging closing stretch. The par-5 18th hole called “Photo Finish” includes a large fairway bunker on the left side and a lake nearby. A bunker guards the front of this green while another pot bunker sits on its left side.
With all these features combined with its history of hosting major events, Valhalla is set up perfectly for one of women’s golf’s biggest team matches.
What do you think about Valhalla hosting another big event?
