
The Curtis Cup is a biennial golf tournament that pits teams of amateur women golfers from the United States against those from Great Britain and Ireland. The competition is named after American sisters Margaret and Harriot Curtis, who were early golf champions and advocated for an international competition. The Curtis Cup is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and The R&A and has been played since 1932. The competition involves various match play matches between players selected from two teams of eight, either singles, foursomes, or four-ball matches. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with half a point for any match that is tied after 18 holes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of competition | Match play |
| Teams | 2 |
| Team size | 8 players each |
| Team representation | United States and Great Britain & Ireland |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| First played | 1932 |
| Format | Singles, foursomes, or fourball |
| Scoring | Winner of each match scores a point for their team; 1⁄2 a point each for any match that is tied after 18 holes |
| Venues | Alternates between courses in the United States and Great Britain & Ireland |
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What You'll Learn
- The Curtis Cup is a biennial amateur women's golf tournament
- It was first played in 1932 and pits teams from the US and GB&I
- The cup was donated by Harriot and Margaret Curtis, early women golf champions
- The competition includes singles, foursomes, and four-ball matches
- It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and The R&A

The Curtis Cup is a biennial amateur women's golf tournament
The Curtis Cup is a match-play competition, with each hole a mini-contest. The teams are made up of eight players each, and over three days, they compete in a series of foursomes, four-ball matches, and singles. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with half a point each for any match that is tied after 18 holes. If the entire match is tied, the current holder retains the cup.
The Curtis Cup is the most prestigious team trophy for women amateur golfers. The competition is fierce, and the opportunity to represent one's country is an honour. It is also about forging friendships and building connections across the Atlantic. Many women who have gone on to become stars of women's professional golf have played in the Curtis Cup.
The Curtis Cup alternates between courses in the United States and Great Britain and Ireland, showcasing some of the finest and most iconic golf courses in the world. The event has been played annually since its inception, with the exception of the years 1940 to 1946, due to World War II.
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It was first played in 1932 and pits teams from the US and GB&I
The Curtis Cup is a biennial golf tournament that pits teams of women amateurs from the United States and Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) against each other. It was first played in 1932, though the idea for the tournament was conceived several years earlier.
The Curtis Cup is named after American sisters Margaret and Harriot Curtis, who were early golf champions and advocates of an international competition. The sisters donated a trophy for a regular series of matches between teams from the two countries, with the aim of promoting international friendship in women's golf. The cup is inscribed with the words: "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands."
Discussions about the tournament began as early as 1924, and the Curtis sisters donated their trophy in 1927 to help spur these discussions along. However, it wasn't until 1931 that the US Golf Association (USGA) and the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) agreed to co-sponsor the event. The first match was played in May 1932 at the Wentworth Club in England and was won by the American team.
The Curtis Cup has become the most prestigious team trophy for women amateur golfers. The competition involves match play between players selected from the two teams of eight, in formats including singles, foursomes, and four-ball. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with half a point each for any match that is tied after 18 holes. If the entire match is tied, the previous cup holder retains the cup. The event alternates between courses in the United States and Great Britain & Ireland, showcasing some of the most iconic and historic golf venues.
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The cup was donated by Harriot and Margaret Curtis, early women golf champions
The Curtis Cup is a biennial golf tournament that pits teams of women amateurs from the United States against those from Great Britain and Ireland. It is the most prestigious team trophy for women amateur golfers. The cup was donated by early women golf champions and sisters, Harriot and Margaret Curtis, in 1927. The Curtis sisters were among a group of eight American women golfers who travelled to play in the 1905 British Ladies Amateur Championship. While there, an informal match was played between the American and British teams, which inspired the Curtis sisters to lobby for a formal USA vs GB&I team competition.
The Curtis sisters were visionaries who wanted to create a platform for top female amateur golfers to compete and build friendships across the Atlantic. They donated the trophy to help spur the USGA and Ladies Golf Union (LGU) to establish such a competition. The trophy was inscribed with the words, "To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands." The first match organised by the USGA and LGU was played in May 1932 at the Wentworth Club in England, with the American team emerging as the winners. However, this match was not played for the Curtis Cup, as the LGU had initially declined to accept the cup for the contest. It was not until November 1932 that the LGU changed their minds and accepted the trophy.
The Curtis Cup has been played since 1932 and is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and The R&A. The competition involves various match play matches between players selected from the two teams of 8, including singles, foursomes, and four-ball matches. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with 0.5 points awarded to each team in the event of a tie after 18 holes. If the entire match ends in a tie, the current holder retains the Cup. The Curtis Cup stands as a testament to the ideals of connection and sportsmanship, bringing together the best amateur talent from both sides of the Atlantic.
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The competition includes singles, foursomes, and four-ball matches
The Curtis Cup is a biennial golf tournament that pits teams of women amateurs from the United States against those from Great Britain and Ireland. The competition includes singles, foursomes, and four-ball matches, with players selected from two teams of eight. Each match comprises a series of 18 holes, and the winner of each match earns a point for their team. If a match ends in a tie, each team receives half a point. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins the Curtis Cup.
The singles matches are standard match play competitions between two golfers from opposing teams. These matches are a test of individual skill and strategy, as players compete head-to-head to win each hole.
The foursomes matches involve two teams of two golfers, with golfers on the same team taking alternate shots throughout the match, using the same ball. Each hole is awarded to the team that completes it in the fewest shots, making it a true test of teamwork and strategy.
The four-ball matches, introduced in 2008, also feature two teams of two golfers. However, in this format, all four golfers play their own ball throughout the round. The team whose individual golfer has the lowest score on each hole wins that hole. Four-ball matches offer a blend of individual skill and team strategy, as players must coordinate their efforts to achieve the best overall score.
The Curtis Cup is more than just a golf tournament; it's about connection, sportsmanship, and fostering international friendships among women golfers. The competition is fierce, and the venues are iconic, making the Curtis Cup a prestigious and highly sought-after achievement for aspiring young golfers.
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It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and The R&A
The Curtis Cup is a biennial golf tournament that pits teams of amateur women golfers from the United States against those from Great Britain and Ireland. It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The R&A (formerly known as the Ladies Golf Union or LGU). The tournament has been played since 1932, with the first match taking place at the Wentworth Club in England, won by the American team.
The idea for the Curtis Cup originated with American sisters Harriot and Margaret Curtis, who were early golf champions and advocates of international competition. They donated a trophy to promote friendship and rivalry among women golfers from different countries. The USGA and LGU agreed to co-sponsor the event in 1931, and the first official Curtis Cup was played in 1932, although the trophy was not awarded until the second edition in 1934.
The Curtis Cup is highly prestigious and has served as a launchpad for many female golfers who have gone on to achieve success in professional golf. The competition involves match play in formats such as singles, foursomes, and four-ball matches. Each match win scores a point for the team, with half a point for tied matches. The venues for the Curtis Cup are iconic and steeped in history, alternating between courses in the United States and Great Britain and Ireland.
The USGA and The R&A play crucial roles in organising the Curtis Cup, ensuring the tournament's smooth operation and upholding its traditions. They work together to select venues, set competition formats, and promote the event to golfers and enthusiasts worldwide. Their collaboration has been instrumental in maintaining the Curtis Cup's status as a premier women's amateur golf competition, fostering international friendship and rivalry in the spirit envisioned by the Curtis sisters.
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Frequently asked questions
The Curtis Cup is a golf trophy for women amateur golfers. It is awarded biennially to the winner of a match played between teams from Great Britain and the United States.
The Curtis Cup is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland". Each team consists of six players, two alternates, and a captain.
The competition involves various match play matches between players selected from the two teams, either singles, foursomes, or fourball. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, with 1/2 a point each for any match that is tied after 18 holes.
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. However, this first match was not played for the Curtis Cup as the LGU initially declined to accept the cup for the contest. The Curtis Cup was officially introduced in November 1932.











































