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 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, 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. 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.
Harriot and Margaret Curtis later donated a trophy for a 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.
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. 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.
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. It was not until November 1932 that the LGU changed their minds and accepted both trophies. 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, a feat equalled by Bronte Law in 2016, Kristen Gillman in 2018, and Farah O'Keefe in 2026. The scheduled 2020 event was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format 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 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 with 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 played over two days. The early matches were played over 18 holes but from 1950 matches were over 36 holes. In 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 Year Winning team Score Losing team CaptainsVenue2026 United States137 Great Britain & Ireland Meghan Stasi Catriona MatthewBel-Air Country Club(Los Angeles, California)2024 Great Britain & Ireland109 United States Meghan Stasi Catriona MatthewSunningdale Golf Club(Sunningdale, Berkshire, England)2022 United States154 Great Britain & Ireland Sarah LeBrun Ingram Elaine RatcliffeMerion Golf Club(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)2021 United States127 Great Britain & Ireland Sarah LeBrun Ingram Elaine RatcliffeConwy Golf Club(Conwy, Wales)2018 United States173 Great Britain & Ireland Virginia Derby Grimes Elaine Farquharson-BlackQuaker Ridge Golf Club(Scarsdale, New York)2016 Great Britain & Ireland118 United States Robin Burke Elaine Farquharson-BlackDun Laoghaire Golf Club(Enniskerry, Ireland)2014 United States137 Great Britain & Ireland Ellen Port Tegwen MatthewsSt. Louis Country Club(Ladue, Missouri)2012 Great Britain & Ireland109 United States Pat Cornett Tegwen MatthewsNairn Golf Club(Nairn, Scotland)2010 United States127 Great Britain & Ireland Noreen Mohler Mary McKennaEssex County Club(Manchester, Massachusetts)2008 United States137 Great Britain & Ireland Carol Semple Thompson Mary McKennaSt Andrews Links(St Andrews, Fife, Scotland)2006 United States116 Great Britain & Ireland Carol Semple Thompson Ada O'SullivanBandon Dunes Golf Resort(Bandon, Oregon)2004 United States108 Great Britain & Ireland Martha Kirouac Ada O'SullivanFormby Golf Club(Merseyside, England)2002 United States117 Great Britain & Ireland Mary Budke Pam BenkaFox Chapel Golf Club(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)2000 United States108 Great Britain & Ireland Jane Bastanchury Booth Claire DowlingGanton Golf Club(Ganton, England)1998 United States108 Great Britain & Ireland Barbara McIntire Ita ButlerThe Minikahda Club(Minneapolis, Minnesota)1996 Great Britain & Ireland116 United States Martha Lang Ita ButlerKillarney Golf & Fishing Club(Killarney, Ireland)1994 Great Britain & Ireland99 United States Lancy Smith Elizabeth BoatmanHonors Course(Chattanooga, Tennessee)1992 Great Britain & Ireland108 United States Judy Oliver Elizabeth BoatmanRoyal Liverpool Golf Club(Hoylake, England)1990 United States144 Great Britain & Ireland Leslie Shannon Jill ThornhillSomerset Hills Country Club(Bernardsville, New Jersey)1988 Great Britain & Ireland117 United States Judy Bell Diane BaileyRoyal St George's Golf Club(Sandwich, Kent, England)1986 Great Britain & Ireland135 United States Judy Bell Diane BaileyPrairie Dunes Country Club(Hutchinson, Kansas)1984 United States98 Great Britain & Ireland Phyllis Preuss Diane BaileyMuirfield(Scotland)1982 United States143 Great Britain & Ireland Betty Probasco Maire O'DonnellDenver Country Club(Denver, Colorado)1980 United States135 Great Britain & Ireland Nancy Roth Syms Carol ComboySt Pierre Golf & Country Club(Chepstow, Wales)1978 United States126 Great Britain & Ireland Helen Sigel Wilson Carol ComboyApawamis Club(Rye, New York)1976 United States116 Great Britain & Ireland Barbara McIntire Belle RobertsonRoyal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club(Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England)1974 United States135 Great Britain & Ireland Sis Choate Belle RobertsonSan Francisco Golf Club(San Francisco, California)1972 United States108 Great Britain & Ireland Jean Ashley Crawford Frances SmithWestern Gailes Golf Club(Ayrshire, Scotland)1970 United States116 Great Britain & Ireland Carolyn Cudone Jeanne BisgoodBrae Burn Country Club(Newton, Massachusetts)1968 United States107 Great Britain & Ireland Evelynn Monsted Zara BoltonRoyal County Down Golf Club(Newcastle, Northern Ireland)1966 United States135 Great Britain & Ireland Dorothy Germain Porter Zara BoltonThe Homestead(Hot Springs, Virginia)1964 United States107 Great Britain & Ireland Helen Hawes Elsie CorlettRoyal Porthcawl Golf Club(Porthcawl, South Wales)1962 United States81 Great Britain & Ireland Polly Riley Frances SmithBroadmoor Golf Club(Colorado Springs, Colorado)1960 United States62 Great Britain & Ireland Mildred Prunaret Maureen GarrettLindrick Golf Club(Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England)1958 Great Britain & Ireland44 United States Virginia Dennehy Daisy FergusonBrae Burn Country Club(Newton, Massachusetts)1956 Great Britain & Ireland54 United States Edith Flippin Zara BoltonPrince's Golf Club(Sandwich, Kent, England)1954 United States63 Great Britain & Ireland Edith Flippin Dorothy BeckMerion Golf Club(Ardmore, Pennsylvania)1952 Great Britain & Ireland54 United States Aniela Goldthwaite Katharine CairnsMuirfield(Scotland)1950 United States71 Great Britain & Ireland Glenna Collett Vare Diana CritchleyCountry Club of Buffalo(Williamsville, New York)1948 United States62 Great Britain & Ireland Glenna Collett Vare Doris ChambersRoyal Birkdale Golf Club(Southport, England)1940–1946: Not played due to World War II1938 United States53 Great Britain & Ireland Frances Stebbins Margaret Wallace-WilliamsonEssex County Club(Manchester, Massachusetts)1936 United States44 Great Britain & Ireland Glenna Collett Vare Doris ChambersKing's Course(Gleneagles, Scotland)1934 United States62 Great Britain & Ireland Glenna Collett Vare Doris ChambersChevy Chase Club(Chevy Chase, Maryland)1932 United States53 Great Britain & Ireland Marion Hollins Joyce WetheredWentworth Club(Wentworth, England)
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 2028 – Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland 2030 – National Golf Links of America, Southampton, New York 2034 – Pine Valley Golf Club, Pine Valley, New Jersey 2038 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon 2042 – Cypress Point Club (Pebble Beach, California) 2046 – Seminole Golf Club (Juno Beach, Florida)
See also List of American Curtis Cup golfers List of Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup golfers
Notes and references
External links Official site