The LPGA has apologized after fans had to wait hours for a bus to take them from the parking lot to the golf course due to logistical issues. Frustrated fans had to wait hours to get a bus to take them from the parking lot to the golf course.
The Solheim Cup, the LPGA’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, is a biennial competition that pits a team of American golfers against a European team. This year’s Solheim Cup is being held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia.
Due to a lack of parking at the club, attendees were invited to park at Jiffy Lube Live, a nearby outdoor concert venue, and take a shuttle bus. However, things didn’t go as planned: attendees were reported waiting in line for hours in a line more than a mile long. Many fans, despite arriving at the parking lot more than an hour before the first tee time of 7:05 a.m., did not arrive at the field until after 9:00 a.m. NBC Sports.
Around that time, the LPGA launched a statement on social media, apologizing to fans who were left stranded.
“We acknowledge and apologize to all fans affected by the transportation issues from the parking lot to the golf course,” the LPGA wrote. “We have made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues going forward and are working on ways to express our regret to those affected.”
We acknowledge and apologize to all fans affected by the issues with transportation from the parking lot to the golf course. We have made significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues in the future and are working on ways to express our regret to those affected.
— LPGA (@LPGA) September 13, 2024
The problem, according to attendees, was that there simply weren’t enough buses to transport fans the five miles to the golf course. One woman said NBC Sports said he opted to park in a different spot and walk two miles to the club rather than deal with the wait times.
The stands were relatively empty at the start time, with hundreds of spectators still stuck waiting for the bus. Beth Ann Nichols of GolfweekFans also had to wait for the shuttle for hours after the event’s opening ceremony.
Lexi Thompson is on the tee to cheer on fans who made it through the gates. Eventually, this place will be packed. But how many fans will say never again? People waited hours to catch a bus yesterday after the opening ceremonies. image.twitter.com/reliFPhoUl
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) September 13, 2024
Finally, the crowd was able to arrive and fill the stands to watch Friday’s foursomes competition. After the first day, the United States now leads Europe 6-2, with three of the four American pairs winning the match.
The three U.S. couples to win were Nelly Korda and Megan Khang, Andrea Lee and Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin and Sarah Schmelzel. Europe earned its only points of the day with a convincing win over Alison Lee and Lexi Thompson.
Day 2 of the competition will begin tomorrow with a new quartet. boardEurope won the competition in 2019 and 2021, and retained the title after a draw in 2023. Now, just a year later, the United States is off to a strong start and hopefully fans will be able to watch it without any further issues.