LADIES European Tour golfer Sophie Walker has a double dream – to be part of the 2015 European Solheim Cup team and for the prestigious event to take place at her 'home' course, Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort.
The Humberston pro tees-off her 2011 Ladies European Tour campaign today at the ISPS HANDA Women's Australian Open in Melbourne, having enjoyed her best ever season last year.
The 26-year-old earned more than 50,000 euros in prize money in 2010, battling it out with some of the biggest names in women's golf across the globe to finish 41st on the Order of Merit.
And Walker, who is affiliated to Forest Pines, believes the North Lincolnshire course would make a fantastic venue for the biennial clash between the top women's golfers from Europe and the US.Forest Pines has already won the right to be the preferred venue for a UK bid to host the event – the women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup – and is now battling it out with courses around Europe for the right to stage the tournament.
Walker told the Telegraph: "It would be absolutely amazing if we could bring something like that to this area. It is something I really want to push for.
"I think it's the best hotel-course I've played in Britain. The facilities, the hotel and the course there are amazing.
"We're obviously up against tough competition but I think the way English golf is going we deserve a Solheim Cup – the girls are doing well and the guys are doing even better."
The tournament, which takes place at Killeen Castle in Ireland this year, is expected to attract more than 100,000 spectators and could boost the local economy by anything between £20 million and £50 million.
The Solheim Cup Committee will be making inspection visits to the candidate courses this month and the winning venue could be announced as early as March.
"It would definitely get the crowds in," agreed Walker. "We don't get to see a lot of golf in Lincolnshire but we produce some really good golfers so it would be nice to host something as big as that.
"Having seen the Ryder Cup and what that does for the host course, I know that a Solheim Cup here would be brilliant."
On her own chances of making the event, Walker added: "Obviously getting into the European team would mean having to win events, so that's a bi-product of playing well and winning tournaments on the Tour and that's what I'm aiming to do anyway.
"That would be fantastic and I do miss team golf a lot because we don't get to play it that often."
Forest Pines general manager Chris Cottam feels the course has a great chance of hosting the event.
"The one thing I believe we need is to be able to showcase what great facilities we have," he said.
"There are great opportunities and vast areas for development, to reduce unemployment and increase prosperity. We want to give the children ambition."
Walker tees-off in Melbourne at 9.10am local time this morning, playing in a group with Australia's Bree Turnbull and America's Irene Cho. Read the Telegraph over the next few days for updates on her progress Down Under.