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Curtis Cup8 Curtis Cup MatchMatch HistoryOfficially named “The Women’s International Cup,” the cupfor the Curtis Cup Match was officially presented in 1932by Harriot and Margaret Curtis, sisters who won the U.S.Women’s Amateur four times between them. The cup, a silverbowl of Paul Revere design, is inscribed “To stimulate friendlyrivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” The cup wasfirst presented in 1927 to give momentum to the proposedcompetition, but play didn’t begin until 1932, largely becauseof financial reasons.As beloved as the Curtis Cup Match is among those who havebattled for it, no other USGA competition has had such problemsgetting off the ground.The Match has its origins in an informal match played in 1905.Frances Griscom of Philadelphia, the 1900 U.S. Women’sAmateur champion, suggested that it would be fun for agroup to play in the British Ladies Open Amateur, at Cromer,England. Eight Americans made the trip to play, includingGriscom, Georgianna Bishop, the 1904 Women’s Amateurchampion, and Harriot and Margaret Curtis.An informal match developed between the Americans anda team from Britain. Although the USA was soundly beaten,the exhilaration and goodwill established by their visit alwaysstayed with the competitors, particularly with Margaret andHarriot Curtis.Interest in an international match was revived at a 1924 meetingof the Women’s Eastern Golf Association and became a subjectof discussion among the Association, the British Ladies’ GolfUnion and the French Golf Union over the next five years. In1927, the Curtis sisters gave the idea another push by donatinga cup for an international match. Fanny Osgood of Boston wasappointed to again take up the matter with the LGU.A match was tentatively planned for 1928, but financial obstaclesmade it impossible.In 1928, the USGA Women’s Committee appointed a subcommitteeto consider an international match, but the ideawas stymied by the usual lack of funding. In 1930, the greatAmerican amateur Glenna Collett Vare took matters into herown hands and arranged for a group of her countrywomen toplay in Great Britain.In 1931, the LGU agreed to regular matches with the UnitedStates. The USGA then decided to finance the American Teamand administer the competition. The Curtis Cup was acceptedthat same year as the official trophy.The series began the following year with the United Statesopposing Great Britain, with a proviso that France might join inwhenever it was able to do so. While it was hoped that manynations would eventually join in the Match, the Curtis Cup hasremained a two-sided competition.The first Curtis Cup Match was played in 1932 at WentworthGolf Club in England. Marion Hollins captained the AmericanTeam, which consisted of Vare, Maureen Orcutt, VirginiaVan Wie, Opal Hill, Helen Hicks, Leona Pressler Cheney andDorothy Higbie. The team representing Great Britain andIreland was made up of Joyce Wethered, the famous Englishchampion who also served as captain, Wanda Morgan, EnidWilson, Molly Gourlay, Doris Park, Diana Fishwick, Elsie Corlettand Mrs. J.B. Watson. The Americans prevailed, 5 1 ⁄2 to 3 1 ⁄2.The 2008 Match at St. Andrews marked a change in format.The Match changed to a three-day format, featuring threefoursomes and three four-ball (better-ball) matches on thefirst two days. On the final day, there are eight singles matches,meaning all eight players from each side compete in singles.The true meaning of the Curtis Cup Match has never beenovershadowed by the results and the Match has always beenregarded as a vehicle of international friendship and understanding.