Ryder Cup, Golf’s Most Prestigious Event, To Take Place In Italy For The First Time

2023 Ryder Cup Itay to fight for the future of Italian golf at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

The re imagined Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy is the official venue of the 2023 Ryder Cup. Ryder Cup Italy edition, Golf’s most prestigious event, is aimed at reviving Italy’s golf scene and the country’s 321 golf courses.

For the first time in history, Italy will host the 44th edition of the most significant golfing event. The Italian edition of the Europe-USA super challenge will take place from September 29th to October 1st. Ryder Cup allows Italian golf to look ahead in time, enabling Marco Simone Golf & Country Club to become an innovative and advanced international reference point, rich in values and linked to sustainability.

“Golf doesn’t have huge awareness in Italy,” said Guy Kinnings, the DP World Tour’s Ryder Cup Director. “It’s the 16th most popular pastime. What’s the legacy we want to leave? We want to improve that.”

 

THE RYDER CUP
The Ryder Cup is the most important international golf event. Played in the United States for the first time in 1927, it was named after the British businessman Samuel Ryder, who donated the trophy. There is no prize pool in the golf tournament, with the cup itself and the honour of victory being at stake. The Ryder Cup sees the United States and Europe face off in the only sporting event in which the Old Continent competes as a team. It is played every two years, alternating between a European or American city.

PLAYING THE FUTURE
The transformation of the Marco Simone Golf Club in Guidonia Montecelio, Rome commenced with all the architects, engineers and agronomists who started the first phase of the project to construct a site that would become the next European headquarters to host the Ryder Cup. With the coordination of European Golf Design, in collaboration with Tom Fazio II (son of architect Jim Fazio who designed the original Marco Simone Golf Club course), a new playing route was created, able to host the largest golf event in the world in 2023.

EUROPEAN GOLF DESIGN
European Golf Design was founded in 1992 by a joint venture between European Tour and IMG. The courses created by EGD are considered amongst the best in the world. Three routes created by this company have been recognised as the best new pathways in Europe, with two included amongst the top 100 routes in the world. Projects carried out include the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, where the 2010 Ryder Cup was hosted.EGD is also involved in projects in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia. Marco Simone’s project was created by architects Jeremy Slessor and Dave Sampson.

THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE RYDER CUP
On 14th December 2015, Italy was awarded the right to host the 2022 Ryder Cup. Being awarded to Italy and Rome came about following a very strong candidacy, seeing the extraordinary support of the Government and CONI with President Giovanni Malagò, the Italian Golf Federation with President Franco Chimenti, Marco Simone Golf with President Laura Biagiotti and Vice President Lavinia Biagiotti Cigna, large business groups, sports champions and personalities, as well as an excellent operational task force. Marco Simone Golf & Country Club is an ambitious project created by entrepreneur designer Laura Biagiotti and her husband Gianni Cigna, who passed away in 1996 in his late 80s. The project was dedicated to transforming over 150 hectares of Roman countryside into 27 spectacular holes.

“I am proud and delighted—together with my daughter Lavinia—to have brought the Ryder Cup to Italy for the first time, being the third sporting event in the world and watched by over two billion viewers. This extraordinary opportunity has come about thanks to the immense commitment and vision of the President of the Italian Golf Federation Franco Chimenti and CONI President Giovanni Malagò,” declared Laura Biagiotti.

Ryder Cup
Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2023 Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, Rome, Italy.