Solheim Cup holds €60m of “favourable publicity”

According to Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, the 2011 Solheim Cup will bring in around €60m in ‘free’ advertising for Ireland.

Minister Varadkar also said the Cup will bring in around €30m in tourism revenues along side the €60m in free advertising for the country. The free advertising figure comes as 300 people from the international media are expected to attend the event in Killeen Castle this weekend.

This will see Ireland gain phenomenal global exposure as the event is being beamed into 400 million homes across the globe, worth an estimate advertising value of €60m, reports Business World.

"The 2011 Solheim Cup is just the kind of high-profile event to regenerate our tourism sector. It's estimated that the event will generate up to E60 million worth of favourable publicity for Ireland.

“Ireland has a proven track record in hosting high-profile international events and the Irish public is renowned for supporting them," the Minister said.

The Solheim Cup will be played on the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle, County Meath. The Solheim is one of the biggest events in women’s golf and the biggest in women’s team golf.

The Cup will also bring greater attention to women’s golf over here. Which is a great thing, because the more popular it gets the better looking the players will get. But if you can’t wait a few years for the ‘prospects’ to get on the scene, then check out JOE’s pick of the Solheim Cup chicks.