Curtis Cup Preparations: A Q&A with Co-Chair Beth Post
Officials at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., have put nearly four years of planning into preparing for the 40th Curtis Cup Match, which takes place June 8-10. In this Q&A, Curtis Cup co-chair Beth Post shares insight on a variety of behind-the-scenes aspects for the biennial team competition between women's amateurs from the United States, and Great Britain & Ireland.
Related: Volunteer Information, Application
After being announced as host in 2014, what were some of the earliest priorities for Quaker Ridge in terms of planning?
Quaker Ridge’s Board and staff embraced the early planning stages by appointing General Co-Chairs (Beth Post, Marc Friedman), hiring a professional Match Director (Laura Zidar), and meeting with the USGA personnel in charge of the Curtis Cup Match. (Shannon Rouillard, Andrew Liao.) Some of us traveled to St. Louis to see the 2014 match at St. Louis Country Club and learn all we could. There is a lot more to this USGA Match than the golf itself. When we returned, we formed a Finance Committee and started fund raising efforts. The MGA was a big part of this effort, as the MGA Foundation became our charitable partner. We also developed a logo for the 2018 Curtis Cup Match in 2014. We made arrangements to publish our match program. In addition, we secured the host hotel. Those were the major early initiatives.
Now just a few months out, what aspects are really coming together or being finalized? Are there any critical deadlines approaching?
Our most important efforts at this time is recruiting volunteers and raising awareness of the matches. We are hoping area residents are looking forward to spring, green fairways, and very talented female amateur golfers. It has been gratifying that all the local golf organizations have sent out information to their members and sent them to 2018CurtisCup.org/volunteer to register. The MGA, WMGA, and many local women’s golf groups have emailed their members to sign up. We have met our deadlines for busing and parking, menu planning, clubhouse usage, television area for Fox Sports, and off site golf for guests. Thank you to our fellow clubs in the area – Century, Fenway, Stanwich, and Winged Foot- that have agreed to host official guests from all over the USA and Great Britain and Ireland We are keeping on top of the details with weekly internal meetings and monthly joint meetings with the USGA.
Do you have an estimate on how many total volunteers will be used for the Curtis Cup?
We will need around 150 volunteers. We need ambassadors at the host hotel, Renaissance Westchester Hotel, to make sure the guests get acclimated to the area. There will be hospitality volunteers at the clubhouse to show the general public where to go and direct invited guests into the clubhouse. We will have marshals, forecaddies, walking scorers; standard bearers, status board and score board volunteers, and helpers at Volunteer Headquarters. Quaker Ridge staff will fill other positions in the security, parking, and ecology and evacuation.
What would you want spectators to know about the Curtis Cup and opportunity to watch high-caliber golf up-close?
The Curtis Cup is a premier international team match for female amateurs. Francis Griscom had been trying to start an international match since 1905. It is officially named “The Women’s International Cup.” Harriot and Margaret Curtis, sisters who won the U.S. Women’s Amateur a combined four times donated a silver bowl of Paul Revere design. It is inscribed, “To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” The cup was first presented in 1927 to give momentum to the competition, but play didn’t begin until 1932, largely due to financial reasons. In the world of women’s sport, it is a testament to the perseverance of golfers like Frances Griscom, Harriot and Margaret Curtis, and Glenna Collette to keep the idea alive. Then in 1931, the USGA agreed to fund and administer the match. That is many years prior to Title IX, so it was quite an accomplishment for the golfing pioneers, and an important step for women in sport.
It gives young female golfers the opportunity to set a goal to play for their country. Golf is intrinsically an individual sport, so the combination of playing for your country and playing on an elite team is very appealing to an athlete.
The USGA’s International Team Selection Committee selects the eight person USA Team, and for the first time this year, the GB&I Team will be selected by The R&A. Previously, it was selected by the Ladies Golf Union, which merged with The R&A in January 2017. The Match is conducted every two years, alternately in the USA and in Great Britain and Ireland. This will be the 40th Curtis Cup Match.
The first Curtis Cup Match was played in 1932 at Wentworth Golf Club, in England. Marion Hollins captained the American team, while the team representing Great Britain and Ireland was led by playing captain Joyce Wethered. The Americans prevailed, 5½ to 3½. The USA Team currently leads the series 28-8-3.
The friendships made during the Curtis Cup last a lifetime. People who love golf come together in the spirit of friendly rivalry. In addition to the elite group of past players and captains, the USGA Women’s Committee and their counterparts in the Royal & Ancient renew friendships every two years and cheer on the current team.
In addition, the Curtis Cup is a launching pad for many amateur golfers to play in the LPGA. It is a real test of an individual’s golf ability against the best in the sport. If you come to Quaker Ridge you may see a future star of the LPGA.
Viewing this match will be a treat. You can walk on the fairways behind the players and get a great view of every swing. It will be inspirational to see swings like these. Most club golfers compete in match play, so it is a great opportunity to watch match play at the highest level. If you have played Quaker Ridge, it will be fun to see the landing zones of these players versus your own ball.
Although it has been more than 20 years and a lot has changed, are there aspects that the club can use or look back to from hosting the Walker Cup?
There are many aspects of hosting the two matches that are similar. The Curtis Cup Match and Walker Cup Match are basically the same except for the gender of the players. From the Walker Cup we were familiar with much of the formats. There are the traditions of the Opening and Closing ceremonies with bag pipers and national anthems and flags. We were aware of the need for general spectator parking and busing. We were also aware of the social aspects of the match and entertaining the invited guests from the USGA and R&A. The Walker Cup had two days of competition while the Curtis Cup has three days of competition. The Curtis Cup has 8 players while the Walker Cup has 10.
The biggest change since 1997 and our Walker Cup is technology. We are able to use email to communicate with members, volunteers, and staff. Today’s golfers will use 2018CurtisCup.org website to access information before the match and then use the USGA website during the match.
What does it mean for Quaker Ridge to become just the third US club to host both the Walker Cup & Curtis Cup?
Quaker Ridge is very proud to be chosen to host the Curtis Cup and Walker Cup. We feel it distinguishes our golf course and club in a major way. The USGA had the confidence in our performance in 1997 to select our club again. It shows that the investment in our golf course with Gil Hanse’s restoration and renovation kept the Tillinghast design top notch. It also shows that Quaker Ridge takes such pride in our course that we want to share it with golfers worldwide as we give back to the game. Golf is full of tradition and history and Quaker Ridge has made a place for itself.
What is the club most looking forward to in hosting the Curtis Cup?
Quaker Ridge is looking forward to showing golf enthusiasts a Tillinghast gem while watching 16 of the most talented female amateur golfers show their skills. Our golf course is an outstanding collection of 18 unique holes and we want to show golfers how fair, yet challenging this course plays. A close second is our wish to give our invited guests from the USGA and the R&A, the volunteers, and general public a fantastic time. We will have pomp and circumstance in the Opening Ceremony, great hospitality, and convenient up close and personal viewing. We have done a lot of planning to make sure everyone who comes will enjoy his or her time at Quaker Ridge.