Dilemma, but a good one:

The USGA has received too many invitations for international matches against individual countries to possibly be able to attend them all.

January, 1958:

The USGA Executive Committee, discussing yet another of these generous invitations – this time from Japan – proposes that it's time an international team competition be established so that all countries can take part in these types of events.

March, 1958:

Representatives from the USGA go to Scotland to discuss the idea with representatives from the R&A.  The concept is enthusiastically received.

May, 1958:

Representatives from 35 countries meet in Washington, D.C., hosted by the USGA and the R&A, to establish the World Amateur Golf Council, so that it may conduct the World Amateur Team Championship.  The meeting is arranged through cooperation with Pan American Airlines and the U.S. Department of State, and the trips of all attendees are funded by an anonymous group, the Friends of American Golf.  President Dwight D. Eisenhower welcomes the group in the White House Rose Garden.  The Council is begun with 32 Member Organizations and governing Articles are established.

October, 1958:

The first Championship is hosted by the R&A on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland.  The Australian team defeats the U.S. team in an 18 hole playoff by two strokes.  Bobby Jones is the Captain of the U.S. team.

With the permission of the President of the United States of America, the competition is played for the Eisenhower Trophy, which is inscribed, “To foster friendship and sportsmanship among the Peoples of the World,” the Council's guiding principle.  The trophy is presented to the USGA and the R&A by the Friends of American Golf.

September, 1960:

The second Championship is hosted by the USGA at Merion Golf Club (East Course) in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  Although the original 1958 Delegates envisioned that the Championship would probably be match play by this year, it has remained at stroke play through the present day.  Jack Nicklaus's 72 hole record of 269 still stands today.  (Ben Hogan won the 1950 U.S. Open at Merion with a 287.)

1964:

The French Golf Federation proposes that the U.S. Curtis Cup Team stop by France for an informal match after that year's Curtis Cup Match in Wales.  The USGA accepts the invitation but also suggests inviting other nations to create a women's counterpart to the World Amateur Team Championship.  The French are delighted to do so.

Vicomtesse de Saint Sauveur (known to many of you readers as Lally Segard), of France, and Mrs. Henri Prunaret, of the United States of America, planned the Championship. In addition, Vicomtesse de Saint Sauveur had the idea to ask her friends from Portugal if they would be willing to donate a trophy she'd heard they had in their possession.

Ricardo and Silvia Espirito Santo confirmed they had a gold plated Cup, originally owned by Nicolas II, the Tsar of Russia, which was purchased in an auction after the Russian Revolution of 1917. The Espirito Santos had originally intended the trophy for a Portuguese International event that was no longer being played, and were delighted to give the Cup for the benefit of a World Championship.

October, 1964:

The French Golf Federation holds the first Women's World Amateur Team Championship. Twenty-five teams compete. France beats the USA by one stroke.

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