Perth Museum and Art Gallery will play host to the Solheim Cup this July as the build-up to the world’s biggest and most prestigious women’s golf event at Gleneagles this September continues.
The trophy, which will be on display at the museum in Perth from 2 – 7 July, will allow members of the public the chance to view the trophy up close before the tournament starts in September.
The trophy will be unveiled by PGA Professional Karyn Dallas, the Scottish Girls National Coach on Tuesday 2 July. Karyn will be joined by local, community and female golfers from around Perth and Kinross.
To coincide with the Solheim Cup taking place in Perthshire this year, Perth Museum and Art Gallery will also be telling the story of Perth’s Fairway Maid, Jessie Valentine this summer. Jessie’s lifelong golfing career with championship wins at home and abroad through the 1930s and 1950s led to her becoming a Scottish sporting legend. Awarded an MBE for services to golf, she turned professional in the 1960s using her skills to design golf clubs for women.
Speaking ahead of the trophy visiting, CEO of Culture Perth and Kinross Helen Smout said:
“We are really proud that Perth Museum and Art Gallery can be part of the biggest sporting event held in Scotland in 2019. It is fantastic that Scotland and Gleneagles will be hosting the Solheim Cup this year and we welcome this opportunity to allow visitors the rare opportunity to see the trophy up close.
“With more than 100,000 spectators expected to attend, we hope that visitors from across the globe will take the opportunity to visit our venues as well as the fantastic golf courses Perth & Kinross is known the world over for.”
Leader of Perth & Kinross Council, Councillor Murray Lyle said:
“The opportunity to see the Solheim Cup in reality at Perth Museum and Art Gallery will help build the excitement as Perth and Kinross takes another step closer to welcoming this prestigious sporting event to the area. Having the actual Cup on display will highlight that the Solheim Cup is coming to Gleneagles between 9 and 15 September to residents and visitors alike.”
Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, said:
“The Solheim Cup is the biggest event in women’s golf and will deliver a host of benefits for Perth & Kinross when it is played at Gleneagles from 9-15 September 2019, with 100,000 spectators expected and a potential TV audience of 600m people worldwide.
“Perth Museum and Gallery is an excellent free attraction in the heart of the city of Perth and I’m delighted that they are playing host to the Solheim Cup trophy in July, giving visitors and local people the opportunity to see the Cup itself and learn more about this exciting event. I hope this will help to inspire the community of Perth & Kinross to come to Gleneagles in September to witness world-class sporting action and also to showcase the outstanding tourism and events assets the region has to offer.”
Building on the legacy of the successful 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, the Solheim Cup is one of the world’s biggest golf events as female golfers from the USA and Europe compete head-to-head for the trophy, with over 100,000 spectators expected to attend this biannual event.
©Image reproduced with permission of Visit Scotland