Opening Golf to the World
Curtis Cup
Coulter relishing Curtis Cup return under Matthew at Bel-Air
10 Jun 26
6 mins
Under the heat of the Los Angeles sun, Beth Coulter is ready to shine for Great Britain and Ireland again.
From progressing through the amateur ranks since her early teens, the 22-year-old now finds herself as an experienced member of this week’s GB&I side bidding to retain the Curtis Cup on American soil at Bel-Air. One of only two members of the GB&I line-up who featured in the 2024 victory over the United States of America at Sunningdale, Coulter plans to turn professional this summer. Signing off in style with more team success would only widen the smile of the bubbly Irishwoman. “It would be amazing to win going into the pro ranks,” she said. “To do it once is pretty good, but to do it twice would be incredible.” The Arizona State University graduate has a wealth of team experience, having played in the Vagliano Trophy, World Amateur Team Championship, European Team Championship and Home Internationals, in addition to her successful Curtis Cup debut two years ago.Passing on advice
Weeks like this make her tick, get the juices flowing and under sun-kissed blue skies on America’s west coast, she is relishing her role in Catriona Matthew’s side for the 44th staging of the premier women’s amateur team contest. “I’ve definitely been passing on tips,” added Coulter, joined by England’s Patience Rhodes as the returning players from the thrilling one-point win in 2024. “It’s a tough week. It's overwhelming, it's long, and, of course, it's very, very fun. But I think being able to take that familiarity from last year into this year and pass it on even to the younger girls, like Charlotte (Naughton) coming up, she's a good bit younger than us, and putting an arm around her is important. “I know that's what Mimi (Rhodes), Sara (Byrne), Aine (Donegan) and Lottie (Woad) and those older girls did for us, and obviously having Catriona and (assistants) Kathryn (Imrie) and Karen (Stupples) back is pretty cool, it's pretty special. They're pretty good at getting us riled up and instilling that belief in us.”
Beth Coulter will tap into her experiences from 2024.
Coulter, who reached the quarter-finals of The Women's Amateur Championship in 2023 and has been a runner-up in the Irish Women's Amateur Open, Irish Women's Close Championship and multiple collegiate events in America, was part of a GB&I group that visited Bel-Air under Matthew’s watch last November.
Continuing to learn
The Kirkistown Castle player has enjoyed growing her knowledge of the esteemed venue early this week. “It’s been really, really good,” she said. “I think it's probably a little different than what it was in November, but it’s been great to be back here, really nice over the last couple days to practice and really get ready. “I think the greens are probably a little different to what I’ve played at college, a little firmer. I think it's probably a little bit trickier, even the front to the back is kind of a little different. The back's a little bit more intricate, you can't really stand up with smashed drivers. There are a couple more wedges to use on the front, but the course is absolutely insane. The greens are really fast, even today, and we're really excited.” GB&I retained the Curtis Cup after a draw Stateside in 1994, but haven’t managed to win away from home since the talented team under Diane Bailey’s leadership in 1986 at Prairie Dunes.Going for glory
Matthew, who enjoyed a glittering professional career, is no stranger to team success after back-to-back victories as Solheim Cup Captain, the first European to do so. The Scot guided Europe to a thrilling 14.5–13.5 win at Gleneagles in 2019, followed by a 15-13 victory on American soil at the Inverness Club in 2021. After Sunningdale success two years ago, can she deliver yet again? Coulter said, “I think it's just the way Catriona talks, it's her positivity. It's the belief that she instils in you. It’s so cool to be around someone like her, and she's so good at passing it on. I think that was one of the things that happened at Sunningdale. We all came in a little bit timid and the Americans on paper were a lot better. I think our belief grew and grew as the week went on, and I think there's a little bit of that this week.” “To make the team was obviously the goal for me,” Coulter continued. “It’s such a nice thing to do, being able to do that before I turn pro this summer, and we’ve got a great bunch of girls. We're all really close, really good friends, and, obviously, Catriona, Kathryn and Karen are back, so they'll be looking to do it again. “They're just so good at what they do and to be around them and to learn from them is incredible. To be able to get this done on American soil would be pretty cool.”
Beth Coulter is hoping for more celebrations in Bel-Air this week.