THE owners of The Oxfordshire are set to launch a bid to host the Solheim Cup in 2011.

Leaderboard Group, which bought The Oxfordshire in 2002, hope the course's championship pedigree will see it land the 'women's Ryder Cup'.

The Europe versus USA matchplay contest began in 1990 and, if successful, would be the highest profile event hosted by the course near Thame.

The Oxfordshire's roll of honour includes the Benson & Hedges International Open from 1996-9, the Anderson Consulting World Championships and the English Ladies' Open.

Martin Harris, The Oxfordshire's general manager, said they would make an official bid in 2008, but was not yet sure who their rivals might be.

He added: "What we feel we need to do to compete with some of the others is to have accommodation.

"If you look at many of the top venues, they have accommodation on site, so we are putting in for planning permission in March for 60 bedrooms.

"Everything is here for championship golf. All the infrastructure is on site and ready to go and it's in a good location."

Course designer Rees Jones said: "It has wonderful golf holes and is an ideal course to stage a big matchplay event such as the Solheim Cup because of his quality and the fact that its many ridges provide perfect viewing for spectators."

Swede Helen Alfredsson has been named European captain for 2007 when the cup will be contested in her home country, but England's Laura Davies could be in the frame for 2011.

And having won the English Ladies' Open at The Oxfordshire in 1996, she would surely relish a return to the course.