Players gush over Rich Harvest Farms as Solheim site

One of the biggest events in women's golf, the Solheim Cup, is coming to Rich Harvest Farms next year, and the excitement has already begun.

On Monday players from the American and European teams received a sample of what's to come in August 2009 at the Jerry Rich-owned course in Sugar Grove.

U.S. captain Beth Daniel and European captain Alison Nicholas were in attendance. Daniel is an eight-time Solheim Cup team member and played in the first-ever tournament in 1990.

The two women sure liked what they saw of Rich Harvest Farms.

"This is very exciting for all of us," Daniel said. "The Solheim Cup is unlike any other competition - normal tournaments are quite boring compared to the Solheim Cup."

"The location is superb, and I think I've died and gone to heaven," Nicholas added. "It's absolutely fantastic."

The Solheim Cup is a competition featuring the best U.S.-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the best European members from the Ladies European Tour. The American team leads the competition 7-3 and has never lost the Solheim Cup on home turf. The Americans hope to keep their flawless home record alive next year.

In a short exhibition, Americans Angela Stanford and Pat Hurst defeated Europeans Carin Koch and Louise Friberg on Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 18.

Hurst called the course "nice" and "a hidden gem." She also enjoyed the competition.

"Today was more of a fun type thing," Hurst said. "It gave everyone a little taste of what we go through out there."

The full squads come together in 13 months, Aug. 21 to 23.

"It's going to be a great venue and a lot of fun," Hurst said.