BAY HILL, ORLANDO, FL (June 23, 2021) — With 25 years of history behind it, the Arnold Palmer Cup comes to Golf Club de Genève from July 1–3, 2022 for the first time, bringing the world’s best collegiate golfers to Switzerland’s premiere golf destination. Co-ed since 2018, the annual Ryder Cup-style competition sees men and women from the United States playing side-by-side against their International counterparts on some of the world’s most storied courses.
“Golf Club de Genève’s beautiful setting, top conditions, and long history of supporting amateur golf makes it the perfect host for the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup,” said Amy Palmer Saunders, chair of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. “We’re honored to be celebrating the Club’s 100th anniversary with its membership in 2022.”
Founded in 1922, Golf Club de Genève features a course designed in 1973 by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and fully renovated by his son Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 2018. A par 72 that plays to 6,821 yards, the course offers views of the city, Lake Geneva, the iconic Mont Blanc and the surrounding Alps. Since 1989 this inspiring setting has hosted the Challenge Tour’s Rolex Trophy, a prize won by three Palmer Cup alumni: Alex Norén, Nacho Elvira, and Pedro Oriol. The Club also hosted the 1975 European Junior Championship, the 1982 Espirito Santo Trophy, and several Swiss International matches.
Partnering the event since 2018, Rolex has been a long-term supporter of golf with the brand’s enduring relationship beginning more than 50 years ago, in 1967, when Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees. Since then, the affiliation to the game has grown and flourished, with the Arnold Palmer Cup marking an important part of the brand’s mission to support every level of the game worldwide.
Commenting on the relationship, Arnaud Boestch, Communication & Image Director, Rolex SA , said, “Rolex is delighted to support the Arnold Palmer Cup with this prestigious event hosted in Switzerland for the first time, at the Golf Club de Genève. Rolex’s support for the game is built on a strong sense of integrity and respect for tradition and The Arnold Palmer Cup embodies these values in supporting the very best collegiate golfers and the next generation of talent.”
“We are honoured to host the 2022 edition of the Arnold Palmer Cup. Bringing Arnold Palmer’s legacy to Geneva together with our friends at Rolex is fantastic for golf in Switzerland,” said Maxime de Raemy, President of Golf Club de Genève. “We thank the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation for giving us the opportunity to host such a tremendous event and we are thrilled to welcome all the remarkable young players and their staff. Golf Club de Genève is familiar with the organization and hosting of international tournaments, and the newly renovated course is held to the highest quality standards. The club will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, and this tournament is the greatest way for all members to celebrate.”
About Arnold Palmer Cup
The Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA), and began in 1997 at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men’s and women’s university/college golfers, with a team from the United States matching up against a team of International players. The Palmer Cup has been played at some of the world’s greatest courses, including The Old Course; Royal County Down; Royal Portrush; Baltusrol; The Honors Course; and Cherry Hills. The 2018 event at Evian Resort Golf Club became the first major amateur American tournament to feature men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
Since its inception, over 125 former Arnold Palmer Cup alumni have gone on to earn cards on the PGA, European or LPGA Tours; 29 have represented Europe or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, and more than 60 have claimed over 275 victories on the PGA or European Tours, including three major championships in 2020 and two in 2021. The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 13-11-1.
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation supports the Palmer Cup, which provides a platform for perpetuating Arnold Palmer’s commitment to youth character development and the growth of amateur/collegiate golf. For more information, please visit ArnoldPalmerCup.com.
About Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
The Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation champions its namesakes' legacy through grantmaking and initiatives that support children’s health, youth character development and nature-focused wellness. Learn more at PalmerFoundation.org.
Rolex and the Arnold Palmer Cup
Through an unwavering commitment to the game of golf for more than 50 years, Rolex has developed one of the broadest and longest-standing relationships between brand and sport. These strong ties date back to 1967 when Rolex partnered with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, making him its first official Rolex Golf Testimonee. The charismatic American holds a special place in golf history thanks as much to his natural talent and successful playing career as to his pioneering role in the sport. Since that pivotal bond began, Rolex has gone on to establish partnerships at every level of the sport, including with the governing bodies responsible for advancing the sport and with the finest players, from The Big Three to the New Guard who lead today’s rankings. The decision to partner with the Arnold Palmer Cup was thus a natural progression for the Swiss watchmaker, and a tribute to Arnold Palmer’s inspiring legacy.
ABOUT ROLEX
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
About Nike
The exclusive footwear, apparel, headwear, and glove supplier of the Arnold Palmer Cup, our mission is what drives us to do everything possible to expand human potential. We do that by creating groundbreaking sport innovations, by making our products more sustainably, by building a creative and diverse global team and by making a positive impact in communities where we live and work.