The Walker Cup

The USGA International Challenge Trophy

Awarded biennially since 1922

The Walker Cup Match began in the wake of World War I with a view toward stimulating golf interest on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1921, with the backing of its president, George Herbert Walker, the USGA proposed the creation of an international amateur team championship. Walker donated the USGA International Challenge Trophy, made by Tiffany and Co., which was dubbed the “Walker Cup” by the press. Later that year, the USGA invited all interested countries to compete for the trophy, but none were able to accept. In 1922, The R&A announced that it would send a team to compete in the first- ever Walker Cup Match, which was conducted at Walker’s home club, the National Golf Links of America, in Southampton, N.Y.