VisitScotland unveils three new major sponsors for Solheim Cup at Gleneagles

VisitScotland has today unveiled three new major sponsors for the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019.

The national tourism agency said Ricoh, Highland Spring and Carryway are all backing the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup as “event partners”.

The competition, at Gleneagles from 9 to 15 September, is gearing up to be the “most successful ever”, the agency said, with “strong ticket sales, high levels of interest in the hospitality programme, hundreds of volunteers signed up and a number of commercial partners signed up.”

It made the announcement today in conjunction with IMG – the international sporting events organiser – which was appointed the event ‘staging partner’ following a competitive tender process.

With just under a year to go, interest in the 2019 match has been ‘unprecedented in terms of sponsorship’ – according to the two organisations – with a “stellar stable of global partners” including PING, Rolex and VisitScotland.

Ricoh joins as the ‘Official Office Equipment Partner’ of The 2019 Solheim Cup, Highland Spring joins as the ‘Official Hydration Partner’ while Carryway comes on board as the ‘Official Golf Cart Supplier’.

IMG and Visit Scotland anticipate announcing further commercial partners in the New Year.

Beyond sponsorship, The 2019 Solheim Cup is experiencing significant interest with thousands of tickets already sold, some ticket categories ‘sold-‘out’ and pre-registration for official hospitality exceeding projections.

The Volunteer Application Programme is over-subscribed by as much as 100% and the event is now closed to new applications.

Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted at the incredible support we have received to host The 2019 Solheim Cup. The enthusiasm of these premium international brands to be a part of the match at Gleneagles is so encouraging as they too share in Scotland’s commitment to raising the international profile of women’s golf and delivering a world-class event in September 2019.”

European Captain and VisitScotland Ambassador, Catriona Matthew, is looking to return the trophy to Europe in 2019 after an inspired USA team retained their trophy by 16 ½ to 11 ½ points, in front of record crowds in Iowa. Organisers are now aiming to set a new record for a European edition in 2019.

Themes of equality, innovation and experience will be threaded through all the event’s communications as The 2019 Solheim Cup aims to engage both the traditional golf audience and the wider sport fan, raising the profile of women’s golf both in Scotland and internationally.

The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have been long-time supporters of the women’s game, having partnered with the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the recently significantly enhanced Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, which took place as a co-sanctioned LET and LPGA event for the first time last year.

The 2019 Solheim Cup will not only showcase the stunning assets of Scotland, the Home of Golf, but also build on the legacy of the successful 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. It will underline that Scotland is the perfect stage for major golf events as it seeks to help inspire a new generation of children to take up the game invented in their home country.

A complete list of partners and sponsors is below:

PING – Founding Partner & Official Apparel Supplier
Rolex – Global Partner
VisitScotland – Global Partner
Scotland, the Home of Golf – Host Destination
Gleneagles – Host Venue
Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental – Official Car /Rental Car
John Deere – Official Golf Course and Turf Maintenance Machinery Event Partner
Ricoh – Official Office Equipment Supplier
Highland Spring – Official Hydration Partner
Carryway – Official Golf Cart Providers
Arena – Official Structures Supplier