Few of those who have taken part in the Walker Cup for either team can have experienced a high like Gary Wolstenholme, the Englishman who is the all-time leading points-scorer for the Great Britain and Ireland side.

Wolstenholme's six appearances in the Walker Cup to date have seen him beat Tiger Woods in the singles on his debut at Royal Porthcawl and as if that wasn't enough, in 2005 he beat Anthony Kim at Chicago Golf Club.

Irishman Joe Carr played 10 times for the Britain and Ireland side between 1947 and 1967 as part of an astonishing amateur career.

Carr won the Amateur Championship three times - in 1953, 1958 and 1960 - and was runner-up in 1968. He was a semi-finalist at the US Amateur in 1961 and was leading amateur at the Open Championship in both 1956 and 1958 (finishing eighth overall in 1960).

In 1961 Carr received the Bob Jones Award, the USGA's highest honour, which is given for "distinguished sportsmanship in golf". He was the first non-American to win the award.

More recently, the four youngest golfers to represent the Great Britain and Ireland side Ronan Rafferty, Oliver Wilson, Justin Rose and Peter Baker have all gone on to enjoy successful professional careers.

Rose, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2008, cited his Walker Cup selection in 1997 as a particularly valuable experience. "That was one of the most nervous things I have ever done but I ended up having a fantastic week," he said.