The 2010 Curtis Cup is coming to Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, on June 11-13, and the event only adds to the amazing history of this classic, New England style course.
Essex CC opened in 1893 and became the sixth member club to join the United States Golf Association. The U.S. Women’s Amateur was held there in 1897 and 1912, and famed golf course architect Donald Ross spent three years there as the club professional. During his time, he redesigned almost all of the holes and lived in a house just beyond the second hole, which still stands today.
The Curtis Cup is a biennial USGA event contested by women amateur golfers, one eight-woman team from the United States and the other from Great Britain/Ireland. It is the women’s equivalent to the men’s 
Walker Cup competition.
The cup for the Curtis Cup, a silver, Paul Revere Bowl design, was officially introduced in 1932 by Harriot andMargaret Curtis, sisters who were members at Essex CC and between them won the U.S. Women’s Amateur four times (including Margaret’s triumph at Essex CC in 1912). Its inscription reads “To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands”
and was presented to give momentum to the competition following the event’s first matches in 1932.
The 1938 Curtis Cup was held at Essex CC, as well as the 1995 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. This year’s Curtis Cup will be the 5th USGA championship contested at Essex CC.
“A Donald Ross course and the Curtis Cup is an amazing fit for us,” said Annie Barton, co-chair of the event. “From the home of golf (2008 Curtis Cup held at St.Andrews, Scotland) to the home of the Curtis sisters, we will continue to make history with the Curtis Cup.”
“For fans, it’s a dream for anyone who has young golfers,” added Barton. “You’re walking with the future stars of the LPGA. Michelle Wie, Julie Inkster, Beth Daniel, Dottie Pepper, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer – they all played in the Curtis Cup.”
Val Somers, the other co-chair of the event, said the club entered into an agreement with the Renaissance Group in 2000 with a master plan to restore Essex CC to its original Ross course design.
“The greens and tees become smaller because of the mowing patterns, and we’ve taken down thousands of trees,” said Somers. “Holes 1, 2, and 3 resemble more of a links course.”
“It’s taken a lot to bring back Donald Ross’ original vision,” said Eric Richardson, only the sixth course superintendent in the 117-year history of Essex CC. “Essex truly is a special place. It’s rich in history.”
The Curtis Cup is also a homecoming for Noreen Mohler, who was named captain of Team USA in February, 2009. A Woburn, MA native and former member of Andover CC, the 56-year-old Mohler was a member of USA’s victorious 1978 Curtis Cup team at The Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y. Mohler was a semifinalist in the 1975 U.S. Women’s Amateur and also played in five U.S. Women’s Opens before stepping away from golf for several years to raise her family and concentrate on business affairs in Bethlehem, PA.
She returned to the game of golf in 2006, reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur and semifinals of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, and then played in last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur as the oldest player in the field.
“When you are an amateur golfer, the Curtis Cup is your goal,” said Mohler. “It was the highlight of my amateur career, and being named captain takes it over the top. This is the highest honor that I have ever received in my golfing career. When I got the call to become captain, I cried. It was the thrill of a lifetime to play in the Curtis Cup, and I am sure that it will be a life-changing experience as a captain. I look forward to coming home.”
In addition to guiding a team of five teenagers and three women in their early 20′s, Mohler will also feel some addition pressure. She’s scheduled to throw out the first pitch at the Red Sox-Royals game on May 27.
“I need more practice for that than swinging a golf club,” kidded Mohler.
As if Richardson didn’t have enough to worry about readying for the event, the heavy rain/wind storms in March produced 15 inches of water that damaged crossing bridges and uprooted 30 trees, which made for even more work to be done.
“We’ve crossed most of the hurdles and will be ready for the tournament,” said Richardson.
“Essex is a challenging course – New England style,” added Mohler, a former three-time Mass. Women’s Amateur champion. “I love the grass, and it’s a compact, walking course. The greens will be tricky, so it’s definitely a placement course. You want to keep the ball out of the heather.”
Tickets for the 36th Curtis Cup on June 11-13 are now available. Single-day tickets cost $30 each and a three-day pass is $75. To order tickets, visit www.2010curtiscup.com.
(Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for The Enterprise in Brockton, MA,and a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly and he is also a member of the International Network of Golf)
