On a September evening in 2023, Carlota Ciganda stood poised on the immaculate 17th green at Finca Cortesin with a putt to secure a dramatic 14-14 tie and retain the Solheim Cup for Europe.
Calm and collected as she’d been all day, the Spaniard holed her birdie putt to beat Nelly Korda 2n1 and secure her place in Solheim Cup history. Now, a new documentary reveals the extraordinary effort that went into creating one of the most memorable events in recent history.
At the heart of the film is the stunning Finca Cortesin in southern Spain, and its dedicated team who set out to create the ultimate stage for one of the biggest events in women’s golf.
Known for its spectacular setting, superb climate and challenging design by Cabell B. Robinson, Finca Cortesin had long been on the radar of the golfing world, but the opportunity to host the prestigious Solheim Cup took things to the next level.
From the very moment the venue was awarded the event, every detail was scrutinized, and every aspect of the course perfected. “It was the greatest honour for Finca Cortesin to host such an incredible event,” said a club spokesperson. “We knew the eyes of the world would be upon us.”
The eight-minute documentary below shows the staggering scale of preparations that were undertaken. From the agronomy and greenkeeping teams working tirelessly to ensure the course was in pristine condition, to the meticulously laid out stands and crowd facilities to provide a first-class fan experience and a stage for the world’s media to capture history in the making.
For Finca Cortesin, it was about more than just a golf tournament. Hosting the coveted Solheim Cup was an opportunity to showcase the resort’s dedication to women’s sports and its status as one of the best golfing destinations in the world.
The documentary highlights this dual ambition, as the club sought not only to host a world-class event but to leave a lasting impression.”It was such an extraordinary team effort by so many people in so many different areas to bring together what would prove to be such an iconic successful event,” the spokesperson added. “We are so very proud to have helped write such a key chapter in the story of the Solheim Cup.”
A key focus of the film is the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed. While the Europen and the USA teams finalised their preparations, a dedicated team of professionals toiled in the background to ensure every aspect of the event went off without a hitch.
The agronomy team, in particular, was crucial to its success — agronomy being the science of soil management and crop production. Their work made certain that the greens were fast and true, the roughs challenging but fair, and that Finca Cortesin lived up to its reputation as one of Europe’s finest courses.
And then, of course, you have the drama of the Solheim Cup itself, with Carlota Ciganda’s victory over World No. 1 Nelly Korda on home soil.
The winning moment serves as a fitting tribute in the documentary to the emotional stakes of the Solheim Cup and everyone involved from the ground up. “Local hero Ciganda’s pivotal victory will forever be remembered as a defining moment for the tournament,” the documentary narrates, capturing the relief and electric atmosphere as Ciganda triumphed in front of her home crowd.
While the United States regained the trophy in 2024 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, the legacy of the 2023 Solheim Cup at Finca Cortesin still resonates, with the resort set to remain a key player in the sport for years to come.
