In 1926 he lost in a playoff for the Findlater Shield, the assistants' championship.

He had tied with Walter Thomas but lost the 18-hole playoff after a disappointing 82.

Curtis's first big success was when he won the 1936 News Chronicle Tournament.

Curtis reached the semi-final of the 1937 News of the World Match Play where he lost to Percy Alliss by 1 hole.

[2] The following year he won the Dunlop-Southport Tournament at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, beating Arthur Lees by 2 strokes and taking the £315 first prize.