Fans Stricken by Logistical Issues on Solheim Cup Opening Day

Fans, both frustrated and angry, took to social media Friday morning to complain about logistical issues preventing them from getting to the grounds of Robert Trent Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., for the opening day of the Solheim Cup.

They reported long lines — with waits of up to 2.5 hours — to board shuttle buses that would take them from their designated parking areas to the course. As a result, the first groups began playing at four a.m. shortly after 7 a.m., with only a few fans in the stands.

“We acknowledge and deeply apologize to all fans impacted by the transportation issues from the parking lot to the golf course,” the LPGA Tour said in a statement. “We are considering ways to make significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues in the future and express our regret to those affected.”

Golfweek senior editor Beth Ann Nichols criticized the conditions.

“Solheim is the LPGA’s time to shine. The pearl of the tour. A total disaster. “One of the worst things I’ve seen in 20 years of covering the tour,” she wrote on X.

In a follow-up post, she offered some advice to the LPGA Tour. “Someone from the Tour should be handing out water and Solheim Cup merch in the parking lot! Damn, the committee needs to get out there and talk to the fans.”

One fan in attendance echoed Nichols’ assessment.

“My son and I won tickets and arrived this morning,” Rob Huddleston, an attorney and self-described sports fan, wrote on his X-profile. “We’ve been to the Masters, PGA, US Open and many other sports and have never seen a tournament as logistically disruptive as #SolheimCup.