The Curtis Cup is the best known biennial team trophy for women amateur golfers and earlier this year, the winning team in 1988 held a reunion Royal St George's Golf Club in Kent.
The Curtis Cup is the best known biennial team trophy for women amateur golfers and is contested by teams representing Great Britain and Ireland and the United states of America. Earlier this year, the GB&I team that beat the US side in 1988 by 11-7 at Royal St George's Golf Club in Kent, held a reunion - 25 years after their splendid feat.
Of course, the obvious venue was Royal St George's and the club was most generous in their hospitality and support of such an event. A Curtis Cup team is made up of eight players and from the winning 1988 side plus the Captain and Vice-Captain, eight were in attendance including Sue Shapcott (who initiated the reunion), Jill Thornhill, Julie Otto, Claire Dowling, Shirley Lawson, Diane Bailey, Liz Boatman and Linda Bayman.
A dinner was held on Saturday evening during which there were plenty of laughs when the ladies watched original match videos and shared memorabilia. On Sunday morning the ladies had courtesy of the course, were received by the club Captain and even Shirley Dawson's match caddy turned up. In perfect weather, they all knocked the ball round admirably, but it was Julie Otto who scored best, posting a 71 off the men's tees.
Linda Bayman said: "For my part, it was wonderful, I had not seen Shirley Lawson since 1990 although I keep in touch with the other players through the Curtis Cup Society."
All the team agreed that it was a great occasion and they have vowed to do it again in 2038 to celebrate the 50th anniversary, although as Linda pointed out:
"I will be 90 by then and Jill 96, so some zimmer frames may be required!"
