The Solheim Cup will become the latest high profile golf event to be staged in Ireland with the as yet unfinished Killeen Castle hosting the tournament in 2011.
Following the success of this year's Ryder Cup, the news adds a further feather in the cap of the Irish golf industry.
Indeed, with the Walker Cup due to be played at Royal County Down next year and the Seve Trophy returning to these shores at The Heritage Ireland's reputation as a prime golfing destination goes from strength to strength.
The Solheim Cup, which sees the European and American ladies compete in a Ryder Cup style format, is currently in the hands of the US team and will travel to Sweden and Ilinois before pitching up in Co Meath in September 2011.
"Hosting the Solheim Cup will be a natural and logical progression from our success in hosting the Ryder Cup," said sport's minister John O'Donoghue at today's announcement. "The experience and expertise gained over the past eight years in particular, since signing the Ryder Cup agreement, mean that Ireland is ideally placed to host an enhanced Solheim Cup."
The Killeen Castle resort, a €160m development with a championship layout designed by Jack Nicklaus, is due to open for play in spring 2008.
A 200-bedroom hotel is being constructed on-site while there are also plans for a Dave Pelz golf school, which specialises in the short-game, and a Jack Nicklaus Academy for the long game.
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