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Curtis Cup

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Curtis Cup
Tournament information
Location2024: Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
Established1932
Course(s)2024: Sunningdale Golf Club
FormatMatch play
Current champion
United Kingdom Great Britain & Republic of Ireland Ireland
2024 Curtis Cup

The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match. It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and The R&A and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland". The same two teams originally contested the Ryder Cup, but unlike that competition, the Curtis Cup has not widened the Great Britain and Ireland team to include all Europeans (nor has the analogous event for amateur men, the Walker Cup). Many women who have gone on to become stars of women's professional golf have played in the Curtis Cup.

History

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In 1905 an informal match had been played at Royal Cromer Golf Club between teams of American and British golfers, before the British Ladies Amateur Championship. The Amateur Championship started on Tuesday 30 May and it was originally planned to play the match on Monday 29 May,[1] with a triangular competition between England, Scotland and Ireland being held from 25 to 27 May. Eventually the Britain/America match was played on 25 May with the triangular matches played on 26 and 27 May.[2] The Britain/America match followed the same format as the triangular matches and involved seven 18-hole singles matches with extra holes played if necessary. The match resulted in a 6–1 win for the British team. Georgianna Bishop was the only American winner, beating Lottie Dod in the first match at the 20th hole. Margaret Curtis lost to May Hezlet while Harriot Curtis lost to Elinor Nevile.[2]

Harriot and Margaret Curtis later donated a trophy for an regular series of matches between teams from America and Britain, wanting to promote the international friendships in the world of women's golf. The cup was inscribed, "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands." Discussions between various golf associations had been underway since 1924—the Curtis sisters had originally donated the trophy in 1927 to help these discussions along—but it was not until 1931 that the USGA and LGU agreed to co-sponsor the event. It was hoped that the French Golf Union would participate, but that never happened, the French and British teams playing each other in a separate match, first played in 1931.[3]

An unofficial match between America and Britain was played at Sunningdale Golf Club on 1 May 1930 but was not organised by the USGA and LGU. There were five foursomes matches followed by ten singles matches in the afternoon.[4] The match was level after the foursomes, with each team winning two matches and one match halved. Britain won six of the ten singles matches to win the contest.[5]

The first match organised by the USGA and LGU was played in May 1932 at the Wentworth Club in England, and was won by the American team. This first match was not actually played for the Curtis Cup, since the LGU initially declined to accept the cup for the contest. André Vagliano, a French golfer and official, had offered the LGU a trophy for the match between France and Britain. The LGU had declined that offer and thus felt unable to accept the offer of the Curtis Cup.[6] It was not until November 1932 that the LGU changed their minds and accepted both trophies.[7][8] Even though the Curtis Cup was not actually played for in 1932, this match is accepted as the first match in the series.

In 2004, then fourteen-year-old Michelle Wie played for the U.S. becoming the youngest player in Curtis Cup history. She won both of her singles matches. In 2010 Leona Maguire became the youngest player to represent Great Britain & Ireland when she played at the age of 15. In 2008 Stacy Lewis won all her five matches,[9] a feat equalled by Bronte Law in 2016 and Kristen Gillman in 2018. The scheduled 2020 event was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Format

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The competition involves various match play matches between players selected from the two teams of 8, either singles, foursomes, or (starting in 2008) fourball. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with 12 a point each for any match that is tied after 18 holes. If the entire Match is tied, the previously current holder retains the Cup.

A foursomes match is a competition between two teams of two golfers. The golfers on the same team take alternate shots throughout the match, with the same ball. Each hole is won by the team that completes the hole in the fewest shots. A fourball match is a competition between two teams of two golfers. All four golfers play their own ball throughout the round. Each hole is won by the team whose individual golfer had the lowest score. A singles match is a standard match play competition between two golfers.

The original format was to have three foursomes matches and six singles matches for a total of nine points. In 1932 and 1936 these were played in a single day but generally they were over two days. The early matches were played over 18 holes but from 1950 matches were over 36 holes. 1964, the format was changed, with three foursomes and six singles matches each day, a total of 18 points. In 2008, the format changed to a three-day competition, with three foursomes and three fourball matches on each of the first two days, and eight singles matches on the final day, a total of 20 points. All matches since 1964 have been over 18 holes.

Results

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Year Venue Winning team Score Losing team Captains
2024 Sunningdale Golf Club
(Sunningdale, Berkshire, England)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
1012 912 United States United States United States Meghan Stasi
Scotland Catriona Matthew
2022 Merion Golf Club
(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)
United States United States 1512 412 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Sarah LeBrun Ingram
England Elaine Ratcliffe
2021 Conwy Golf Club
(Conwy, Wales)
United States United States 1212 712 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Sarah LeBrun Ingram
England Elaine Ratcliffe
2018 Quaker Ridge Golf Club
(Scarsdale, New York)
United States United States 17 3 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Virginia Derby Grimes
Scotland Elaine Farquharson-Black
2016 Dun Laoghaire Golf Club
(Enniskerry, Ireland)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
1112 812 United States United States United States Robin Burke
Scotland Elaine Farquharson-Black
2014 St. Louis Country Club
(Ladue, Missouri)
United States United States 13 7 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Ellen Port
Wales Tegwen Matthews
2012 Nairn Golf Club
(Nairn, Scotland)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
1012 912 United States United States United States Pat Cornett
Wales Tegwen Matthews
2010 Essex County Club
(Manchester, Massachusetts)
United States United States 1212 712 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Noreen Mohler
Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna
2008 St Andrews Links
(St Andrews, Fife, Scotland)
United States United States 13 7 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Carol Semple Thompson
Republic of Ireland Mary McKenna
2006 Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
(Bandon, Oregon)
United States United States 1112 612 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Carol Semple Thompson
Republic of Ireland Ada O'Sullivan
2004 Formby Golf Club
(Merseyside, England)
United States United States 10 8 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Martha Kirouac
Republic of Ireland Ada O'Sullivan
2002 Fox Chapel Golf Club
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
United States United States 11 7 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Mary Budke
England Pam Benka
2000 Ganton Golf Club
(Ganton, England)
United States United States 10 8 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Jane Bastanchury Booth
Republic of Ireland Claire Dowling
1998 The Minikahda Club
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
United States United States 10 8 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Barbara McIntire
Republic of Ireland Ita Butler
1996 Killarney Golf & Fishing Club
(Killarney, Ireland)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
1112 612 United States United States United States Martha Lang
Republic of Ireland Ita Butler
1994 Honors Course
(Chattanooga, Tennessee)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
9 9 United States United States United States Lancy Smith
England Elizabeth Boatman
1992 Royal Liverpool Golf Club
(Hoylake, England)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
10 8 United States United States United States Judy Oliver
England Elizabeth Boatman
1990 Somerset Hills Country Club
(Bernardsville, New Jersey)
United States United States 14 4 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Leslie Shannon
England Jill Thornhill
1988 Royal St George's Golf Club
(Sandwich, Kent, England)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
11 7 United States United States United States Judy Bell
England Diane Bailey
1986 Prairie Dunes Country Club
(Hutchinson, Kansas)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
13 5 United States United States United States Judy Bell
England Diane Bailey
1984 Muirfield
(Scotland)
United States United States 912 812 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Phyllis Preuss
England Diane Bailey
1982 Denver Country Club
(Denver, Colorado)
United States United States 1412 312 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Betty Probasco
Republic of Ireland Maire O'Donnell
1980 St Pierre Golf & Country Club
(Chepstow, Wales)
United States United States 13 5 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Nancy Roth Syms
England Carol Comboy
1978 Apawamis Club
(Rye, New York)
United States United States 12 6 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Helen Sigel Wilson
England Carol Comboy
1976 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
(Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England)
United States United States 1112 612 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Barbara McIntire
Scotland Belle Robertson
1974 San Francisco Golf Club
(San Francisco, California)
United States United States 13 5 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Sis Choate
Scotland Belle Robertson
1972 Western Gailes Golf Club
(Ayrshire, Scotland)
United States United States 10 8 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Jean Ashley Crawford
England Frances Smith
1970 Brae Burn Country Club
(West Newton, Massachusetts)
United States United States 1112 612 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Carolyn Cudone
England Jeanne Bisgood
1968 Royal County Down Golf Club
(Newcastle, Northern Ireland)
United States United States 1012 712 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Evelynn Monsted
Northern Ireland Zara Bolton
1966 The Homestead
(Hot Springs, Virginia)
United States United States 13 5 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Dorothy Germain Porter
Northern Ireland Zara Bolton
1964 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
(Porthcawl, South Wales)
United States United States 1012 712 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Helen Hawes
England Elsie Corlett
1962 Broadmoor Golf Club
(Colorado Springs, Colorado)
United States United States 8 1 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Polly Riley
England Frances Smith
1960 Lindrick Golf Club
(Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England)
United States United States 612 212 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Mildred Prunaret
England Maureen Garrett
1958 Brae Burn Country Club
(West Newton, Massachusetts)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
412 412 United States United States United States Virginia Dennehy
Northern Ireland Daisy Ferguson
1956 Prince's Golf Club
(Sandwich, Kent, England)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
5 4 United States United States United States Edith Flippin
Northern Ireland Zara Bolton
1954 Merion Golf Club
(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)
United States United States 6 3 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Edith Flippin
Republic of Ireland Dorothy Beck
1952 Muirfield
(Scotland)
United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
5 4 United States United States United States Aniela Goldthwaite
England Katharine Cairns
1950 Country Club of Buffalo
(Williamsville, New York)
United States United States 712 112 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Glenna Collett Vare
England Diana Critchley
1948 Royal Birkdale Golf Club
(Southport, England)
United States United States 612 212 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Glenna Collett Vare
England Doris Chambers
1940–1946: Not played due to World War II
1938 Essex County Club
(Manchester, Massachusetts)
United States United States 512 312 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Frances Stebbins
Scotland Margaret Wallace-Williamson
1936 King's Course
(Gleneagles, Scotland)
United States United States 412 412 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Glenna Collett Vare
England Doris Chambers
1934 Chevy Chase Club
(Chevy Chase, Maryland)
United States United States 612 212 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Glenna Collett Vare
England Doris Chambers
1932 Wentworth Club
(Wentworth, England)
United States United States 512 312 United Kingdom Great Britain &
Republic of Ireland Ireland
United States Marion Hollins
England Joyce Wethered

Of the 43 contests through 2024, USA have won 31 matches, Great Britain and Ireland have won 9 with 3 matches tied (1936, 1958 and 1994).

Future sites

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See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Ladies international golf". The Times. 20 May 1905. p. 13.
  2. ^ a b "American ladies v British ladies". The Times. 26 May 1905. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "2008 Curtis Cup Match History". Curtis Cup. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ "British v American women". The Glasgow Herald. 1 May 1930. p. 2.
  5. ^ "American women defeated". The Glasgow Herald. 2 May 1930. p. 16.
  6. ^ "Ladies' Golf Union and a trophy". Liverpool Daily Post. 13 February 1932. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "British Ladies' Golf Championship". Liverpool Daily Post. 19 November 1932. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Ladies' Golf Union accepts Curtis trophy for international play". Hartford Courant. 9 December 1932. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "NCAA stars help U.S. win Curtis Cup at St. Andrews". PGA Tour. Associated Press. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  10. ^ "Bel-Air Chosen to Host Three USGA Championships". USGA. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Royal Dornoch to host the Curtis Cup in 2028". The R&A. 26 August 2024.
  12. ^ Pine, Julia (25 May 2022). "NGLA Selected to Host 2030 Curtis Cup Match". USGA. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Pine Valley, the No. 1 course in the U.S., to host an elite competition for just the third time in its history". Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Bandon Dunes Golf Resort to Host 13 Future USGA Championships". Retrieved 5 July 2023.
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