(Sugar Grove, Illinois -- 19th August 2009) - The 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland will be played September 23-25, as announced today by the Ladies European Tour (LET).

"We have chosen to move The Solheim Cup back to September for a number of reasons," said Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the LET. "In consultation with our stakeholders and global partners AIB, PING and ROLEX, we have chosen a date that will ensure that the whole nation is able to support the event. Given the great success of the Ryder Cup in Ireland in September 2006, we anticipate that the Irish public will contribute to taking The Solheim Cup to a higher level. The countdown to The 2011 Solheim Cup begins now!"

Roddy Carr, Director of Killeen Castle, said: "September is one of the most beautiful months to visit Ireland for golf and especially Killeen Castle and all the Heritage sites surrounding it. We cannot wait to extend a warm traditional Irish welcome to all attending The Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle."

Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said: "I look forward with great anticipation to The 2011 Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle, Co Meath. It will be a wonderful sporting occasion and a great honour for Ireland to host one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. The hosting of The Solheim Cup provides a great opportunity to promote Ireland as a golf destination to a worldwide market, not least to women golfers, and builds on the success of the 2006 Ryder Cup."

The 2011 Solheim Cup will mark the 12th staging of the event, which was started by Karsten and Louise Solheim, founders of PING and Karsten Manufacturing Corporation in 1990. PING has sponsored The Solheim Cup since its inception and is now a Global Partner of The Solheim Cup along with AIB Group and Rolex.

About Killeen Castle
Killeen Castle, the ancestral home of the Earls of Fingal, sits in a wooded estate in 600 acres in Dunsany, Co. Meath. Set in the historic grounds of one of Ireland's oldest and finest 12th century Norman castles, the estate at Killeen Castle is home to a unique development of supreme quality residences discreetly positioned among the natural woodlands of the demesne and throughout which the magnificent Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course winds.

Jack Nicklaus, course designer at Killeen Castle, said: "As the course designer, I am proud to be part of what is happening at Killeen Castle. It is phenomenal, what with the castle as a focal point. You have wonderful facilities to stage The Solheim Cup or the Ryder Cup in the future. It is a very strong course and will be nicely matured for 2011."

Located just north of Dunshaughlin in the heart of Royal Meath overlooked by the ancient Hill of Tara, Killeen Castle is just minutes from the picturesque hamlet of Dunsany. Killeen Castle offers all the joys of true country living, yet it is only 35 minutes from Dublin International Airport and 45 minutes from Dublin city centre.

The golfing facilities are augmented by a 30,000 sq ft stand alone modern purpose built clubhouse, with parking facilities in an old wall garden setting for 260 cars. In the context of holding The Solheim Cup, the venue provides ample room (500 acres) for public village and hospitality facilities, a television compound, grandstands and spectator traffic flow, all adjacent to the dramatic 18th hole. Killeen Castle is soon to be complemented by a luxury hotel and spa. For more information, visit the club's website, www.killeencastle.com.

About The Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim, and his family, the makers of PING golf equipment. The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious international team event in women's professional golf. It is a biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the LET. The U.S. Team leads the competition, 7-3, and has never lost on home soil. The 2009 Solheim Cup will be played at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., Aug. 21-23. It will be contested at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland, in 2011, Sept. 23-25 and then moved to Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colo. in 2013. In addition to founding sponsor PING, Global Partners of The Solheim Cup include AIB Group and Rolex. For more information, log on to www.SolheimCup.com.

2011 Solheim Cup Dates Announced

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