Team Europe's dominance of Vagliano Trophy has surely earned them the right of a separate match against the USA?

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Six Vagliano Trophy wins in a row over Great Britain and Ireland has, in my opinion, earned the Continent of Europe women's amateur team a higher place in the pecking order of women's international golf.
I am not suggesting, as some do, that the Curtis Cup format should be changed so that the United States play an all-Europe team, i.e. one chosen from the ranks of both Great Britain and Ireland, and the Continent of Europe.
What I would like to see is a new women's international trophy match introduced to the golfing calendar, namely the Continent of Europe versus the United States.
The stumbling block is that the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy matches are played in alternate years which means there is no room to introduce a third, separate contest as I have outlined.
One idea I had - and I am never short of them! - is that GB and I, the USA and the Continent of Europe could play the Curtis Cup, the Vagliano Trophy and the "New Trophy Match" in an intermingled six-day bonanza of international quality amateur women's match-play golf. The Curtis Cup would still feature GB and I v the USA, and the Vagliano Trophy would still be GB and I v Continent of Europe but the third contest on a six-day programme would be the USA v the Continent of Europe, each team having a rest day after two consecutive days of play.

Richard Heath, General Secretary of the European Golf Association, has this to say on the subject:
"Both the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy are steeped in history and we do enjoy the opportunity the latter presents us in terms of a match against GB and I as a ladies’ equivalent of the Jacques Léglise and St Andrews Trophies.
"There is little doubt regarding the strength of ladies’ elite amateur golf on the Continent and I think that we could field a team to well-challenge the United States. However, the EGA does offer both the GB and I and the Continental players the opportunity to be selected to play for Europe in the recently-inaugurated Patsy Hankins Trophy vs Asia-Pacific.
"For the younger players, there is the chance for Junior Solheim and Junior Ryder Cup selection.
"With regard to your concept of a six-day programme featuring GB and I, the Continent of Europe AND the United States,  I think that the rather disjointed programme would dilute the interest. Following the third day, a team may choose to focus on one particular match and “conserve energy” on another. 
"Also, how would it look if: Europe defeated USA, GB and I defeated Europe, USA defeat GB and I – who then really wins with such bittersweet results?"

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Six Vagliano Trophy wins in a row over Great Britain and Ireland has, in my opinion, earned the Continent of Europe women's amateur team a higher place in the pecking order of women's international golf.
I am not suggesting, as some do, that the Curtis Cup format should be changed so that the United States play an all-Europe team, i.e. one chosen from the ranks of both Great Britain and Ireland, and the Continent of Europe.
What I would like to see is a new women's international trophy match introduced to the golfing calendar, namely the Continent of Europe versus the United States.
The stumbling block is that the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy matches are played in alternate years which means there is no room to introduce a third, separate contest as I have outlined.
One idea I had - and I am never short of them! - is that GB and I, the USA and the Continent of Europe could play the Curtis Cup, the Vagliano Trophy and the "New Trophy Match" in an intermingled six-day bonanza of international quality amateur women's match-play golf. T
The Curtis Cup would still feature GB and I v the USA, and the Vagliano Trophy would still be GB and I v Continent of Europe but the third contest on a six-day programme would be the USA v the Continent of Europe, each team having a rest day after two consecutive days of play.

Richard Heath, pictured right, the Switzerland-based secrtary of the European Golf Association, has this to say on the subject:
"Both the Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy are steeped in history and we do enjoy the opportunity the latter presents us in terms of a match against GB and I as a ladies’ equivalent of the Jacques Léglise and St Andrews Trophies.
"There is little doubt regarding the strength of ladies’ golf on the Continent and I think that the Continental ladies could well-challenge the United States. However, in terms of “stepping-up”, the EGA does offer both GB and I and Continental players the chance to be selected to play for Europe in the recently-inaugurated Patsy Hankins Trophy vs Asia-Pacific.
"For the younger players, there are the Junior Solheim and Junior Ryder Cups.
"There will also be a ladies match: US vs “The World” in a new version of the Arnold Palmer Cup.
"With regard to your concept of a six-day programme featuring GB and I, the Continent of Europe AND the United States,  I wonder how the rather disjointed programme would be received; i.e., playing one team for one trophy one day and then another team for another trophy the next. Following the third day, a team may choose to focus on one particular match and “conserve energy” on another. 
"Also, how would it look if: Europe defeated USA, GB and I defeated Europe, USA defeat GB and I – who then really wins with such bittersweet results?"