After years of uncertainty and complex negotiations, Spain—specifically the region of Catalonia—will host the Ryder Cup, one of the most iconic competitions on the global sporting calendar, not only golf, for the second time in its history. The event will be held at Camiral Resort Golf & Wellness in Caldes de Malavella, located in the province of Girona, in 2031.

The confirmation came on Tuesday afternoon from the Ryder Cup Europe headquarters, after the final political and financial issues that had prolonged the process were resolved. The official name under which the bid was presented is as extensive as it is ambitious: Camiral, Costa Brava, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. But after months of pending paperwork between Madrid and Barcelona, the decision is now final.

An edition with the scent of opportunity for the country

Every two years, the Ryder Cup pits the 12 best golfers in Europe against those in the United States and attracts hundreds of thousands of fans. In 2023, more than 270,000 people attended the edition held in Italy, a figure that suggests a major impact for Spanish and Catalan tourism.

In this context, all the administrations involved highlight the economic return of the event. The Higher Sports Council (CSD), the central government, the provincial councils of Barcelona and Girona, and the town council of Caldes de Malavella committed their contributions. All that was missing was the 40 million from the Generalitat de Catalunya, a figure that forced the search for private sponsors to complete the budget, which will ultimately not exceed 120 million euros.

From political deadlock to final agreement

The project was promoted by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and Irish businessman Denis O’Brien, although its path has been fraught with obstacles. In Madrid, negotiations progressed smoothly, but in Barcelona they slowed down, mainly due to changes in the regional government and the need to re-examine the operation after the costs associated with the America’s Cup sailing competition.

The delay was such that the 2033 venue in San Francisco was announced before the 2031 venue. Even so, consensus was finally reached. The CSD has also committed to a seven-year campaign to promote golf in Spain before and five years after the Ryder Cup in Camiral, in an attempt to bring the sport to a wider audience.

Camiral, a renovated venue

The course, formerly known as PGA Catalunya, has undergone significant changes. An ambitious real estate plan linked to a third course was ruled out, and it was decided to merge the two existing courses, the Tour and the Stadium, to create a top-level facility. There are plans to build a grandstand with a capacity for 15,000 people at the 1st hole and to reinforce safety and assistance conditions.

In addition, starting in 2026, official European Tour tournaments sponsored by Estrella Damm will begin to arrive under the label ‘Road to Ryder’, featuring international stars and amateur competitions. The goal is clear: to consolidate Camiral as a key destination for world golf and, at the same time, to popularize the sport in Spain, where it still has an elitist image that it does not have in countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States.

The second time on Spanish soil, 34 years later

Spain has only hosted the Ryder Cup once in its history, in 1997, at the Valderrama course (Cadiz), an edition still remembered for the boost it gave to sports tourism in the country. Now, the challenge seems to be similar. Will Catalonia be able to match or even surpass that legacy?

Ryder Cup Europe’s executive director, Guy Kinnings, said the announcement “honors Spanish golf’s contribution to this competition.” In his words, “the Ryder Cup has grown significantly since Spain last hosted it,” and he hopes Camiral will live up to that growth.

A new era for golf in Spain?

The president of the Catalan Golf Federation, Ramon Nogué, used a railway metaphor to describe the long process: “The Ryder Cup is like a high-speed train traveling from Madrid to Barcelona… it is already entering Sants station.” It may have seemed like a commuter train at times, but now everything is ready for Catalonia to become the world capital of golf in 2031.