Solheim Cup off to bumpy start as fans struggle to get to course due to transportation issues

GAINESVILLE, Va. — The atmosphere on the first tee to start the Solheim Cup is typically supercharged, excited fans waiting in anticipation as the opening matches between the U.S. and Europe get underway. But a little past sunrise on Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, the scene was far more subdued, with a third of the 2,000 seats surrounding the tee still empty.

Posts on social media showed that instead of being at the course, thousands of fans were standing anxiously in long lines at Jiffy Lube Live, a concert venue doubling as the main public parking lot roughly five miles away, waiting for shuttle buses to take them to the course. Spectators described not moving in lines for long periods of time, too few shuttle buses coming too infrequently to get everybody to the course .

Back at the first tee, emcee Byron Kerr extolled the crowd that was in attendance ahead of the opening match, saying, "You can make a big difference!"

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis, who has been in every Solheim Cup as a player or part of the captain's group since 2011, also noticed the small crowd size on the first tee. "We've gotta fill this thing up a little bit more," Lewis told Golf Channel. It’s uncertain if she knew of the transportation issues that seemed to have arisen.

The stands never filled before the opening four matches got on the course, with numerous blue chairs in the grandstands sitting empty.

From the observation of fans on social media, the issues seemed to stem from a lack of shuttle buses and volunteers getting priority to take those buses that did arrive. Many fans chronicled waiting for hours until finally getting a ride. Others, too frustrated by the wait, decided to leave instead.

It’s not the first time this week that patrons have struggled with getting on shuttles. After the opening ceremonies Thursday evening, fans reported on social media that they waited multiple hours for a shuttle to leave the course.

The Solheim Cup is a marquee draw for the LPGA, with 131,000 fans attending the last match in America at Inverness Club in 2021. The LPGA's Chief Marketing and Brand Officer Matt Chmura explained that this could be an even bigger Solheim Cup ahead of the competition.

"This could be the biggest event in the history of women's golf," Chmura told Sports Business Journal. "That's the way I'm thinking about it."

Golf Digest reached out to the LPGA for clarity on the situation. The tour eventually released the following statement via social media.

Whether that’s enough of an apology for fans remains a question mark.

Susan and Wayne Campbell waited 2½ hour as they began what they described as their “bucket list trip.” The retirees from Niceville, Fla., have spent 2024 traveling in honor of their daughter Megan, who passed away two weeks into her freshman year of college on Sept. 13, 2022, in a car accident. Megan was a golf enthusiast who played for her high school team. Her parents beamed recalling the ace Megan hit during her high school championships.

The Campbells traveled to town on Wednesday before their first-ever Solheim Cup. On Friday, they got to the shuttle lot around 7 a.m. Trying to make the most of their time in the slow-moving line, they chatted with those around them who hailed from across the country to Europe. At one point they noticed a second bus company started shuttling, at least doubling the number of buses on the loop.

Despite the focus on the silver lining of the delay, the couple remained frustrated at how this could happen. They paid $25 for parking through SeatGeek, which should have provided the LPGA data on how many people would go to the lot. While they appreciated the volunteer's attitudes and the free water, they wished for a bit more.

"Shares in the company are more important," Wanye joked.