The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Golf event isn’t just for the pros, says Solheim Cup organiser
The championship is claimed to be the ‘most family friendly’ in the world
When the much-anticipated Solheim Cup tees off next month it promises to be an event to remember.
Counting down the days to the biennial golf tournament, which sees Europe take on the USA, is one of the organisers Katy Mathieson, who has attended every Solheim Cup since 2007.
The 2015 championship was the last one Katy covered as a golf reporter.
This year, she is part of the organising committee at EventScotland (VisitScotland’s events branch) and after almost four years in the making, she cannot wait to see it all come to fruition.
The former Glenbervie Golf Club member said: “For me this is very different from what I was doing in production teams for Sky Sports, so it is a big learning curve.
“From an event delivery perspective, it’s been a great experience, exciting and a lot of hard work. I think it will be very rewarding getting to the course and seeing everything that we have discussed at many meetings all coming together.
The keen golfer from Falkirk, who has been playing since she was 12, has achieved a highly respectable handicap of four.
Now working for EventScotland and as part of the team responsible for delivering a successful Solheim Cup at Gleneagles from September 9-15, Katy recalls her first experience of the world famous golf tournament.
“The first year I went to The Solheim was in 1992 when my dad took me to Dalmahoy. I recently found an old programme and golf ball I caught when the Americans threw it into the crowd.
“What we are doing this year is up another notch from Des Moines in 2017. Gleneagles is a world-class resort based in Scotland, the home of golf, and you can’t get much better than that.”
As a golf reporter Katy travelled the world covering major events, including the European and PGA tours, but The Solheim Cup “was always a particular highlight”, said the 39-year-old.
Billed as “the most family-friendly golf event in history”, The Solheim Cup has a whole host of attractions on site including family parking, a Golf Zone, family area with arts and crafts, storytelling, a play area, and a quiet zone, as well as an autograph area, merchandise and food and drink stalls.
Having attended so many golf contests, Katy is well placed to says it is unlike any other golf tournament: “The Solheim Cup has always been one of my favourite events. As well as being about the quality of golf, it’s about the crowd, the colours and the noise.
“Unless you are a golf fan, not many people see a golf tournament as a great day out, but The Solheim Cup definitely is.
“As well as world-class golf, there will be lots of other activities and entertainment for families and young people – so we are trying to encourage more people to come to the event and get a taste of it.
“What’s special about The Solheim is that it has an inclusive message for young people and families – no one is excluded. It’s going to be a great experience for everyone.”
The opening ceremony on the Thursday, September 12, will be a celebration in which Texas, Bjorn Again and Scottish Orcadian acts play for the crowds, kicking off three days of competition.
Katy added: “I am a golfer, so I would want to attend The Solheim Cup anyway, but we want to show people it’s also ideal for families. They can come together with their kids, and put them into a crèche and enjoy other non-golfrelated activities.
Besides hoping for a great turnout and dry weather, Katy has one other wish: “It would be a fairytale for Catriona Matthew (who is Scottish and captain of the European team) to win with her team in Scotland – that would be the cherry on the top.”