How Ping Changed The Landscape Of Women’s Golf Forever

Not everyone immediately associates the Solheim Cup with equipment and apparel manufacturer PING, but the biennial match highlights the brand’s longstanding history of supporting the women’s game and creating opportunities that extend way beyond products. 

PING’s founder, the late Karsten Solheim and his wife Louise, believed female professionals were not receiving the same recognition as their male counterparts, and this led PING to sponsor various LPGA events as far back as 1975. When the opportunity arose to sponsor a Ryder Cup-like event for women, the couple embraced it wholeheartedly, and the first Solheim Cup match took place in 1990 at Lake Nona.. 

John Solheim, who succeeded his father as Chairman and CEO of PING, knows his parents would have been immensely proud of how the Solheim Cup has evolved into one of the most fiercely contested events in world sport. Most importantly, it continues to uphold the company’s ethos of doing things the right way, played in the spirit they envisioned - with integrity, sportsmanship, and passion.

Ahead of the 19th edition of the match at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia, Solheim said, “The events leading up to the first tee shot always create such an exciting buzz and I know this year will be no different. I always stand on the first tee the day to wish the players well and interact with the fans. It brings a twinkle to my eye just like my dad always had when he was at the event and I know he would love to see how it has evolved over the years.”

As a natural extension to the Solheim Cup, John Solheim proposed the PING Junior Solheim Cup, to help give talented young female golfers a platform to advance their careers by competing at the highest level against their peers from across the Atlantic.  

The first match took place in 2002, and the event has achieved its purpose. In total 35 former PING Junior Solheim Cup players have gone on to compete in the Solheim Cup and forge successful professional careers including PING ambassadors Azahara Muñoz, Caroline Masson, Leona Maguire, Linn Grant, and Maja Stark.

“The PING Junior Solheim Cup is very special to me. It was a natural extension of the event and one that continues to grow every time it is played,” says Solheim. “It’s very gratifying to watch the players as juniors and then see them earn their way onto the team as professionals. It gives us a glimpse into the future of women’s golf and adds another level of excitement to the week.”

The Solheim Cup and the PING Junior Solheim Cup are a testament to PING's unwavering commitment to elevating women's golf. As the official apparel supplier for the European Solheim Cup team, PING ensures that players have access to the best gear to perform at their peak. Additionally, the company supplies golf bags and apparel for both the USA and European teams in the PING Junior Solheim Cup, further supporting the next generation of female golfers as they compete on an international stage.

Over the years, PING has earned a reputation as a dedicated champion of women's golf, consistently supporting the sport at all levels. However, maintaining the loyalty of its customers requires the company to continually meet and exceed expectations. This commitment is evident not only in the way PING supports and stages the Solheim and Junior Solheim Cup but also in the quality and innovation of its golf clubs and apparel. 

PING’s apparel line continues to expand, while G Le3 is the latest range of custom-made clubs specifically designed for female golfers. As a strong advocate of custom-fitting - a concept pioneered by PING over 45 years ago - the company uses insights from product design and custom-fitting techniques to create equipment that makes the game easier and more enjoyable for women of all skill levels, not just for tour professionals.

Kartsen Solheim’s enduring legacy reflected in both competitions and PING’s products is a reminder of the profound influence one person can have in shaping the future of a sport, in particular women’s golf.