Already gearing up for Solheim Cup -- in 2009

Talk about planning ahead.

Few can top the folks at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. They held a media day this week to trumpet how well things are going in preparation for hosting the 2009 Solheim Cup.

Mind you, this is two weeks before the 2007 Cup even takes place.

It just shows how pumped up course owner and designer Jerry Rich and the gang are over hosting the event, which is the women's version of the Ryder Cup and pits the best women golfers America has to offer against the best from Europe.

Before making the trip across the pond to Sweden for the 2007 Cup, team captain Betsy King, along with assistant captain Beth Daniel and LPGA Commisioner Carolyn Bivens, flew to Chicago to sing the praises of Rich and his beautiful baby.

"I might want to switch (venues) from 2007 to 2009 after seeing the facilities here," said King, a Hall of Famer and five-time Solheim Cup participant. "It's going to be great for the players and the captains."

And it just shows how much the event has grown since its inception in 1990 in Orlando, Fla.

"There wasn't any television for that event; they just put together a highlight package afterward."

Said King, chuckling at the memory: "The highlight of the week was we got to go to Universal Studios for a private party.

"It's grown into such a competition. There's much more interest, more television coverage, the last few have been sold out. … From a players viewpoint, the pressure has gone up as well."

The heavy rains of the past few weeks did little harm to the gorgeous beast that is Rich Harvest Farms, a course that Daniels, one of just a handful of club members there, knows will provide a heck of a test for the top women in the world.

"I don't think I've ever shot par or under here," said Daniel, a veteran of eight Solheim Cup teams. "But match play is different; you can go for it. It will allow for more birdies than one might expect. This golf course really lends itself to this format.

"It's a very difficult, challenging golf course. You have to bring your best game to play it well. It's one of those golf courses where the more you play it, the more you understand the strategy."

According to planners, the Rich Harvest Farms layout will allow for 40,000 spectators who can purchase one of two types of ticket plans for the Aug. 17-23, 2009 event.

The weekly grounds ticket ($125) includes admittance and access to concessions and bleachers.

Tickets for the PING Pavilion ($350) features VIP parking and admittance to the (climate-controlled)

PING Pavilion hospitality tent located near the 17th green. A maximum of 2,000 PING Pavilion tickets will be sold.

Both ticket packages are valid Tuesday through Sunday and include three practice days, the opening ceremonies on Thursday, three days of competition, and the closing ceremonies on Sunday.

According to Kelly Hyne, executive director of the Solheim Cup, hospitality packages are already 65 percent sold out.

Fans can purchase their Cup tickets and make hotel reservations by visiting solheimcup.com or by calling (866) 848-4639.

Regardless of what package fans ultimately decide on, Daniel doesn't think anyone will walk away from Rich Harvest Farms disappointed.

"Every time I come here, I fall in love with it even more," she said. "It's unbelievable."