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.23
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, 10–5.456 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.78
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.910 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, 23–7.111213 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 19½–10½.141516
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 6–4.1718 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 17½–12½.1920 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.2122
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.23 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.24 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.2526 The 1978 event was held on 4 and 5 August at Club zur Vahr in Bremen, Germany. Britain won comfortably by a margin of 20½–9½.2728 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 19½–10½.2930
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.31 On the second day they halved both the sessions and won 14–10.32 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.3334 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 9–3.35 The Continent won the second-day foursomes but Britain again won the singles for a 14½–9½ win.36
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, 15½–8½.3738
The 2020 match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.39
The following are those who have played in at least one of the matches.
"Venues announced for R&A Amateur Championships and international matches in 2025". The R&A. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024. https://www.randa.org/en/articles/venues-announced-for-r-a-amateur-championships-and-international-matches-in-2025 ↩
"British Golf supremacy over Rest of Europe". The Times. 22 October 1956. p. 4. ↩
"British Isles' Big Win over Rest of Europe". The Glasgow Herald. 22 October 1956. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6GpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rpsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5298%2C6052644 ↩
"British Isles Golf Team Finish Five Ahead". The Times. 4 October 1958. p. 10. ↩
"British Amateurs Lose Only One Foursomes". The Glasgow Herald. 3 October 1958. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NzY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MqYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4120%2C4018731 ↩
"Fine Play by Britons". The Glasgow Herald. 4 October 1958. p. 7. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NzY1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=MqYLAAAAIBAJ&pg=3115%2C4179228 ↩
"Excellent Golf at Berkshire". The Times. 5 September 1960. p. 6. ↩
"British Isles easily beat Europe". The Glasgow Herald. 5 September 1960. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=23ZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6201%2C539487 ↩
"Murray Man of Match". The Times. 13 August 1962. p. 3. ↩
"British Isles's victory over Europe". The Glasgow Herald. 13 August 1962. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=65tAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3019%2C5476516 ↩
"Muirfield Victory Little Help to Selectors". The Times. 3 August 1964. p. 2. ↩
"British Team's Big Advantage". The Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1964. p. 5. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nW5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2033%2C45198 ↩
"Easy Victory over Continentals". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1964. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nm5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1916%2C157172 ↩
"British Isles save best until last". The Times. 1 August 1966. p. 5. ↩
"Britain Lead at Bilbao". The Glasgow Herald. 30 July 1966. p. 5. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qH9AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2870%2C4444782 ↩
"British Team defeat Continental". The Glasgow Herald. 1 August 1966. p. 10. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=33hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x6MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1380%2C108914 ↩
"Britain build up a big lead". The Times. 3 August 1968. p. 5. ↩
"Selectors given no help". The Times. 5 August 1968. p. 10. ↩
"Britain spurred back to form". The Times. 3 August 1970. p. 9. ↩
"Pirie undefeated in Britain's victory over Continent". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1970. p. 5. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hJFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-6QMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1923%2C229383 ↩
"Continent make Britain work hard". The Times. 5 August 1972. p. 5. ↩
"Fast play sets valuable example". The Times. 7 August 1972. p. 7. ↩
"Europeans lead British". The Glasgow Herald. 3 August 1974. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uJRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=96QMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4599%2C525250 ↩
"Europeans' first trophy victory". The Glasgow Herald. 5 August 1974. p. 4. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uZRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=96QMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5365%2C726554 ↩
Jacobs, Raymond (31 July 1976). "British golfers hold the edge". The Glasgow Herald. p. 12. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FZRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B6UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2409%2C6084546 ↩
Jacobs, Raymond (2 August 1976). "Brian shows the critics". The Glasgow Herald. p. 12. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nZFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_6QMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5696%2C157250 ↩
"Britain leads after lapses". The Glasgow Herald. 5 August 1978. p. 14. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FbdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tKUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4688%2C1161682 ↩
"Brodie unbeaten in trophy win". The Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1978. p. 15. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FrdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tKUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2362%2C1402242 ↩
"Europe sunk by Britons". The Glasgow Herald. 28 June 1980. p. 12. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Iu49AAAAIBAJ&sjid=yUgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5764%2C6235715 ↩
"Britain ease off after victory is won". The Glasgow Herald. 30 June 1980. p. 14. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I-49AAAAIBAJ&sjid=yUgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5969%2C6493928 ↩
"Irishmen gain only points in singles". The Glasgow Herald. 26 June 1982. p. 17. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5vQ9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_EgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3533%2C5531972 ↩
"Continentals hang on for win overall". The Glasgow Herald. 28 June 1982. p. 16. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5_Q9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=_EgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2604%2C5747936 ↩
"McEvoy helps Britain to lead". The Glasgow Herald. 31 May 1984. p. 15. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2QI-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=WEkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5439%2C6940137 ↩
"Hawksworth adds final touch to last-gasp victory". The Glasgow Herald. 1 June 1984. p. 31. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v8BAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2aUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1851%2C338472 ↩
Jacobs, Raymond (28 June 1986). "Hole in one caps Garrick victory". The Glasgow Herald. p. 19. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xrZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3634%2C7206426 ↩
Jacobs, Raymond (30 June 1986). "British labour to victory in Sweden". The Glasgow Herald. p. 10. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x7ZAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uKUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3048%2C7393950 ↩
"Europe laid low by Britons become too single-minded". The Glasgow Herald. 30 June 1986. p. 22. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fas1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=0aULAAAAIBAJ&pg=2237%2C8405632 ↩
"Europe's attack is foiled as O'Connell, McEvoy stroke back". The Glasgow Herald. 1 July 1986. p. 38. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fA01AAAAIBAJ&sjid=nqULAAAAIBAJ&pg=1982%2C416213 ↩
"St Andrews Trophy Cancelled". The R&A. 22 April 2020. https://www.randa.org/en/news/2020/04/st-andrews-trophy-cancelled ↩