Dec 18 solheimireland

The Solheim Cup will be played for the first time in Ireland in 2011.

The Ladies European Tour announced Thursday that the 12th biennial match between Europe and the United States will be staged at a Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Killeen Castle, northwest of Dublin.

The course will be opened in 2007, and the dates for the 2011 match have not been decided. “We have chosen Ireland and Killeen Castle for a number of reasons,” LET executive director Alexandra Armas said. “The first of which is the superb way the whole nation supported the Ryder Cup (at The K Club) in September. The second is that we believe the modern Ireland is a young vibrant society compatible with the image we wish to promote for ladies golf.”