The St Andrews Trophy is a biennial men's team golf tournament contested between teams of amateur golfers representing Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. It takes its name from St Andrews in Scotland.
It was first played in 1956 and takes place in even-numbered years; Great Britain & Ireland plays in the United States in the Walker Cup in odd-numbered years. In 2025 the St Andrews Trophy will move to odd-numbered years and the Walker Cup will be played from even-numbered years from 2026. The St Andrews Trophy is staged alternately in Great Britain & Ireland and on the Continent, and is organised by The R&A (an offshoot of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) and the European Golf Association. The St Andrews Trophy itself was presented by the Royal and Ancient Club in 1963.
The event is played on two consecutive days. On both days there are four morning foursomes followed by afternoon singles, eight on the first day and nine on the second.
History The first event was held at Wentworth on 20 and 21 October 1956 and followed a similar format to that used for the Joy Cup which featured professional golfers. The teams were called the British Isles and the Rest of Europe. There were five foursomes on the first day and ten singles on the second. All matches were over 36 holes. The British Isles used the same ten players on both days, while the Rest of Europe used a total of twelve players. The British Isles won all five matches on the first day and finished 12½–2½ winners.
The second event was held at Golf de Saint-Cloud in France on 2 and 3 October 1958, retaining the same format as in 1956. Britain used 11 players while the Rest of Europe used 12 as they had in 1956. The British Isles won four of the five foursomes on the first day and, although the Rest of Europe won four singles, Britain won comfortably, 10–5. In 1960 it was held at the Berkshire Golf Club on 3 and 4 September. With 12 players from the Rest of Europe attending, it was decided to extend the format to include six foursomes and twelve singles, all 12 in each team playing both days. Britain won the foursomes 5–1 and the singles 8–4 to win convincingly.
The 1962 event was held at Halmstad GK in Tylösand, Sweden on 11 and 12 August. Matches were reduced to 18 holes with five foursomes and ten singles on each day. Teams were standardised to 11 players. Great Britain and Ireland won the foursomes sessions 4½–½ and 4–1 and, although the Continent of Europe tied the first-day singles and won the second set of singles 5½–4½, Great Britain and Ireland won 18–12 thanks to their domination of the foursomes. The next tournament was held on 31 July and 1 August 1964 at Muirfield and was the first time the St Andrews trophy was contested. Great Britain and Ireland led 12–3 and won by a large margin, 23–7. The 1966 event was held at Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri near Bilbao, Spain on 29 and 30 July. Although Great Britain and Ireland won the first-day foursomes 4–1, the singles and the second-day foursomes were both tied. The Continent of Europe could have won the match with a good final session but they lost the first seven singles matches and the final result was 19½–10½.
Portmarnock Golf Club in Ireland was the host for the 1968 match, held on 2 and 3 August. The match was very one-sided with Great Britain and Ireland leading 12½–2½ after the first day and winning 20–10, despite losing the final singles 6–4. The 1970 event was held at Royal Zoute Golf Club, Belgium on 1 and 2 August. Great Britain and Ireland won all five foursomes on the first morning but after the Continent had won the singles and the second-day foursomes, Britain only led 10½–9½. The Continent were however only able to win three second-day singles and Britain won 17½–12½. The Berkshire was the venue for the 1972 match, played on 4 and 5 August. The Continent won the first set of foursomes 3–2 but Britain won the singles 8½–1½ and the second-day foursomes 4–1 to take a convincing lead. The second set of singles was tied to give Great Britain and Ireland a 19½–10½ win, their ninth successive victory.
The Continent of Europe had their first success on 2 and 3 August 1974 at Golf Club Punta Ala on the Tuscan coast in Italy. On the first day the foursomes were tied but the Continent won the singles and led 8–7, the first time they had been ahead after the first day. On the second day the Continent won the foursomes 3–2 and with 5 wins in the singles they took the trophy by a 16–14 margin. The Old Course at St Andrews hosted the 1976 match, played on 30 and 31 July. Although the Continent lost 18½–11½, it was their best performance on British soil. The 1978 event was held on 4 and 5 August at Club zur Vahr in Bremen, Germany. Britain won comfortably by a margin of 20½–9½. Royal St George's Golf Club hosted the 1980 match, played on 27 and 28 June. Great Britain and Ireland led 12–3 after the first day and had ensured success after leading 16–4 after the second-day foursomes. The Continent won the second-day singles session, Britain winning by a score of 19½–10½.
The format was revised in 1982 with only four foursomes and eight singles on each day. Teams were reduced from 11 to 9. The Continent of Europe gained their second success. The match was played at Rosendaelsche Golfclub, Arnhem in the Netherlands on 25 and 26 June. The Continent led 8–4 after the first day. On the second day they halved both the sessions and won 14–10. The 1984 match, played on 30 and 31 May at Saunton Golf Club, was the first time the Continent came close to winning in Britain. Great Britain and Ireland led 6½–5½ after the first day and 8½–7½ after the second-day foursomes. In the afternoon five of the eight singles went to the final green with Britain winning two of these and halving the other three, giving Britain a close 13–11 win. Halmstad hosted the event for the second time on 27 and 28 June 1986. The Continent had an immediate disadvantage when Anders Haglund, who had the inaugural European Amateur earlier in the year, had to withdraw because of illness. This meant that the same eight players had to play in each session. Britain won the first-day singles 7–1 to lead 9–3. The Continent won the second-day foursomes but Britain again won the singles for a 14½–9½ win.
The 1988 match was held at St Andrews on 29 and 30 June. Great Britain and Ireland led 7½–4½ after the first day and won easily, 15½–8½.
The 2020 match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Results Year Venue Winning team Captain Score Losing team Captain 2025 Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Spain Great Britain & Ireland Dean Robertson 16½ 8½ Continent of Europe Carlos de Corral 2024 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Wales Continent of Europe Carlos de Corral 16 9 Great Britain & Ireland Dean Robertson 2022 Penati Golf Resort, Slovakia Great Britain & Ireland Stuart Wilson 14½ 10½ Continent of Europe Yves Hofstetter 2020 Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Wales Cancelled 2018 Linna Golf, Finland Continent of Europe Yves Hofstetter 15½ 9½ Great Britain & Ireland Craig Watson 2016 Prince's Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland Craig Watson 12½ 12½ Continent of Europe Yves Hofstetter 2014 Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Sweden Great Britain & Ireland Nigel Edwards 14 10 Continent of Europe Alexis Godillot 2012 Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland Continent of Europe Alexis Godillot 12½ 11½ Great Britain & Ireland Nigel Edwards 2010 Golf Club Castelconturbia, Italy Continent of Europe Alexis Godillot 14 10 Great Britain & Ireland Nigel Edwards 2008 Kingsbarns Golf Links, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland Colin Dalgleish 13½ 10½ Continent of Europe Alexis Godillot 2006 Royal Golf Club Mariánské Lázne, Czech Republic Great Britain & Ireland Colin Dalgleish 15 9 Continent of Europe Wolfgang Wiegand 2004 Nairn Golf Club, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland Garth McGimpsey 17 7 Continent of Europe Wolfgang Wiegand 2002 Golf Club de Lausanne, Switzerland Great Britain & Ireland Garth McGimpsey 14 10 Continent of Europe Wolfgang Wiegand 2000 Ailsa Course, Turnberry, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland Peter McEvoy 13 11 Continent of Europe Gonzaga Escauriaza 1998 Golf Villa D'Este, Italy Continent of Europe Gonzaga Escauriaza 14 10 Great Britain & Ireland Peter McEvoy 1996 Woodhall Spa Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland Clive Brown 16 8 Continent of Europe Piero Cora 1994 Golf de Chantilly, France Great Britain & Ireland George Macgregor 14 10 Continent of Europe Santiago Fisas 1992 Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland George Macgregor 14 10 Continent of Europe Santiago Fisas 1990 Campo de Golf Parador El Saler, Spain Great Britain & Ireland 13 11 Continent of Europe 1988 Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland 15½ 8½ Continent of Europe 1986 Halmstad Golfklubb, Sweden Great Britain & Ireland 14½ 9½ Continent of Europe 1984 Saunton Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland 13 11 Continent of Europe 1982 Rosendaelsche Golfclub, Netherlands Continent of Europe 14 10 Great Britain & Ireland 1980 Royal St George's Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland 19½ 10½ Continent of Europe 1978 Club zur Vahr, West Germany Great Britain & Ireland 20½ 9½ Continent of Europe 1976 Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland 18½ 11½ Continent of Europe 1974 Golf Club Punta Ala, Italy Continent of Europe 16 14 Great Britain & Ireland 1972 The Berkshire Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland 19½ 10½ Continent of Europe 1970 Royal Zoute Golf Club, Belgium Great Britain & Ireland 17½ 12½ Continent of Europe 1968 Portmarnock Golf Club, Ireland Great Britain & Ireland 20 10 Continent of Europe 1966 Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri, Spain Great Britain & Ireland 19½ 10½ Continent of Europe 1964 Muirfield, Scotland Great Britain & Ireland 23 7 Continent of Europe 1962 Halmstad Golfklubb, Sweden Great Britain & Ireland 18 12 Continent of Europe 1960 The Berkshire Golf Club, England Great Britain & Ireland 13 5 Continent of Europe 1958 Golf de Saint-Cloud, France Great Britain & Ireland 10 5 Continent of Europe 1956 Wentworth, England Great Britain & Ireland Gerald Micklem 12½ 2½ Continent of Europe Jacques Léglise
Future venues 2027 - TBA
Appearances The following are those who have played in at least one of the matches.
Great Britain and Ireland
Neil Anderson 1988 Harry Ashby 1974 James Ashfield 2024 Michael Attenborough 1966, 1968 Sam Bairstow 2022 Peter Baker 1986 Roger Beames 1996 John Beharrell 1956 Peter Benke 1970 Warren Bennett 1994 Peter Berry 1972 Jack Bigham 2024 Findlay Black 1966 Warren Bladon 1996 Michael Bonallack 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 David Boote 2016 Wallace Booth 2008 Jamie Bower 2016 Gordon Brand Jnr 1976, 1978, 1980 Paul Broadhurst 1988 Allan Brodie 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980 Colin Brooks 1986 Michael Brooks 1996 Sam Brough 1960 Barclay Brown 2022 Raymond Burns 1992 Alan Bussell 1956, 1962 James Byrne 2010 Ian Caldwell 1956, 1960 Jonathan Caldwell 2008 Hugh Campbell 1964 Laurie Canter 2010 David Carrick 1986 Joe Carr 1956, 1968 Iain Carslaw 1978 Jim Carvill 1990 Paul Casey 2000 Craig Cassells 1990 Seb Cave 2024 Brian Chapman 1962 Roger Chapman 1980 Ashley Chesters 2014 Martin Christmas 1960, 1962, 1964 Darren Clarke 1990 Clive Clark 1964 Gordon Clark 1964, 1966 Graeme Clark 2002 Todd Clements 2018 Dominic Clemons 2024 Andrew Coltart 1990 Lee Corfield 2004 Tom Corridan 1984 Gordon Cosh 1966, 1968 Tom Craddock 1958, 1966, 1968 Bruce Critchley 1970 David Curry 1986, 1988 Paul Cutler 2010 Colin Dalgleish 1982 Archie Davies 2022 John Davies 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978 Rhys Davies 2006 Robin Dawson 2018 Peter Deeble 1978 Robert Dinwiddie 2006 Luke Donald 1998, 2000 Jamie Donaldson 2000 Nick Dougherty 2000 Paul Downes 1980 Bradley Dredge 1994 Alan Dunbar 2012 George Duncan 1956 Paul Dunne 2014 Simon Dyson 1998