The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles may see Scotland deliver another "sporting spectacle," but its main aim, Ladies European Tour CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh said, is to try and address a "shocking" statistic in the "home of golf," according to Martin Dempster of the SCOTSMAN. Just 14% of golf club members in Scotland are women, making it like a "developing country" in that respect in the eyes of Khodabakhsh, who is hoping that a "determined effort by all the stakeholders can possibly double that figure" after the third Solheim Cup in Scotland. Khodabakhsh: "The main reason was that, while Scotland is a very mature golf market, it is shocking that we are talking about 14 percent female membership in this country. From that perspective, it is almost like a developing country, and this is something that Scotland is very aware of, all the way from the First Minister and the sports minister down to VisitScotland and all the other stakeholders." He added, "For us, it is a four-year journey, which we are already one year into, to make a change." Before the Solheim Cup spotlight "shines on it," Gleneagles will stage a new event that will see men and women professionals "join forces for their nations." Taking place at the Perthshire resort next August, the first European Team Championships "are part of a multi-sport event being hosted jointly by Glasgow and Berlin." Golf is the "only new event" in '18 and will involve men’s and women’s tournaments along with a mixed one (SCOTSMAN, 4/29).
