Golf Tournaments Ireland 2026 - Calendar & Championships

The AIG Cups & Shields represent the pinnacle of Irish club golf. These team matchplay competitions pit clubs against each other across Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht provinces, with provincial winners advancing to all-Ireland finals in August. Teams are organized by handicap categories - for more on how the handicap system works, see our World Handicap System guide.

AIG Senior Cup

The Senior Cup is Irish golf's most prestigious inter-club competition. Scratch teams of five players compete in foursomes and singles matchplay format. Provincial qualifying begins in May, with provincial finals in June-July and the all-Ireland final at a championship venue in August.

The 2026 competition begins with Leinster qualifying in May. Past champions include Royal Portrush, Lahinch, Royal Dublin, and Cork Golf Club - Ireland's most storied clubs dominate Senior Cup history.

Format: Five-man teams play foursomes morning rounds (three matches) and singles afternoon rounds (five matches). Teams need 4.5 points from eight matches to advance. Home advantage alternates, with drawn matches replayed at neutral venues.

AIG Barton Shield

The Barton Shield is Ireland's premier foursomes scratch competition. Four-man teams compete in foursomes format only - two matches per tie. Provincial qualifying runs May-June, with all-Ireland finals in August.

The competition rewards strong partnerships - teams that play together regularly dominate. Foursomes golf demands strategy, communication, and precise shotmaking under pressure.

AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield

The Jimmy Bruen Shield is Irish golf's flagship mid-handicap foursomes event. Teams comprise four players with combined handicaps between 18-24. Provincial qualifying begins in May.

Named after Jimmy Bruen, the legendary Cork amateur, the competition gives mid-handicap club golfers the chance to represent their clubs at the highest level. The Jimmy Bruen rewards consistency - teams that avoid big numbers and halve difficult holes progress.

AIG Pierce Purcell Shield

The Pierce Purcell Shield is the mid-handicap singles equivalent of the Senior Cup. Five-man teams (handicaps 5-9) compete in singles matchplay. Provincial rounds run May-July, with finals in August.

The competition showcases emerging talent - many current Senior Cup players developed through Pierce Purcell teams. Singles matchplay demands mental toughness and course management under pressure.

AIG Junior Cup

The Junior Cup features teams of players aged under 18 competing in foursomes and singles matchplay. The competition mirrors Senior Cup format but for junior golfers. Provincial qualifying runs June-July.

The competition identifies Ireland's next generation of elite amateurs. Many GUI internationals and professional tour players earned their first representative honours competing for their clubs in Junior Cup.

AIG Fred Daly Trophy

The Fred Daly Trophy is the boys' equivalent of the Barton Shield - four-man teams (under 18) competing in foursomes only. Named after Fred Daly, the 1947 Open Champion from Portrush, the competition runs June-July.

The Fred Daly rewards young partnerships learning competitive golf. Success requires patience, discipline, and the ability to recover from mistakes - lessons that translate to individual competitive golf.

AIG Mixed Foursomes

The AIG Mixed Foursomes features two-person teams (one man, one woman) competing in foursomes matchplay. Provincial qualifying runs June-July with all-Ireland finals in August.

The competition combines GUI and ILGU members in Ireland's premier mixed-gender team event. Strong partnerships built on complementary skills dominate - combining length off the tee with precision iron play and solid putting.

For draws, results, and live scoring from inter-club competitions, visit our live golf scores page.

Ireland's scratch cup circuit features prestigious 36-hole strokeplay events at clubs across the country. These competitions attract Ireland's best amateur golfers competing for individual honours at championship venues.

Mullingar Scratch Trophy

The Mullingar Scratch Trophy is Ireland's most prestigious scratch cup. The 36-hole strokeplay event at Mullingar Golf Club typically takes place in mid-to-late July, attracting a field of Ireland's elite amateurs, GUI internationals, and touring professionals during the summer.

Past champions include Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne, and Padraig Harrington - many went on to successful professional careers.

Entry requirements: Handicap of 2.0 or better (men), 4.0 or better (women). For more on handicap calculations and how to improve your index, visit our World Handicap System guide. The 36-hole strokeplay format rewards consistency - players who avoid big numbers and convert birdie chances contend. Mullingar's parkland layout demands accuracy off the tee and precise approach play into small, elevated greens.

For live Mullingar Scratch Cup scoring and results, check our live golf scores page throughout the tournament weekend.

Dundalk Scratch Cup

The Dundalk Scratch Cup at Dundalk Golf Club is one of Ireland's oldest scratch events. The 36-hole competition in June attracts a strong field competing on Dundalk's links layout overlooking Dundalk Bay.

The links test rewards wind players who flight shots low and manage their game conservatively in coastal conditions. Past winners often contend at provincial championships later in the season.

Cork Scratch Cup

The Cork Golf Club Scratch Cup features 36 holes of strokeplay at Cork's Little Island parkland course. The summer event attracts Munster's best amateurs plus visiting players from across Ireland.

Cork's tree-lined layout demands accuracy - players who find fairways consistently score well. The competition serves as ideal preparation for the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch in July.

Women's Scratch Cup Circuit

Ireland's women's scratch cup circuit features prestigious 36-hole events at championship venues across the country. These competitions identify Ireland's best women amateurs and serve as qualifying opportunities for international teams.

Major women's scratch cups include:

• Woodbrook Scratch Cup: One of Ireland's most prestigious women's events. Woodbrook's parkland course in County Wicklow hosts 36 holes of strokeplay in June.
• Mabel Harrison Scratch Cup (Royal Portrush Valley): Northern Ireland's premier women's scratch cup. The 36-hole event at Royal Portrush's Valley course attracts strong cross-border fields.
• Zara Bolton Scratch Cup (Royal Portrush Dunluce): Played over Royal Portrush's championship Dunluce links. The demanding test separates contenders—only the best ball-strikers score well on Portrush's exposed layout.
• Additional 36-hole women's scratch cups: Carlow Golf Club, Royal County Down, Cork Golf Club, Lahinch, Hermitage Golf Club. Each venue offers unique challenges—from links at Lahinch and Royal County Down to parkland tests at Hermitage and Carlow.

Other Notable Scratch Cups

• Adare Manor Scratch Cup: Prestigious event at Adare Manor's championship parkland course in Limerick. The venue hosts the 2027 Ryder Cup.
• Laytown & Bettystown Scratch Cup: Links event on the east coast north of Dublin.
• Fota Island Scratch Cup: Parkland competition at Cork's Fota Island Resort.
• Hermitage Scratch Cup: Women's event at Hermitage Golf Club in Dublin.
• St. Anne's Scratch Cup: Links competition at St. Anne's Golf Club, Dublin.

Ireland's four provincial championships - South of Ireland, West of Ireland, North of Ireland, and East of Ireland - are strokeplay qualifiers followed by matchplay knockout. These historic competitions date to the 1890s and crown provincial amateur champions each summer.

South of Ireland Amateur Open

The South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch Golf Club is one of Irish golf's "Big Four" provincial championships. The week-long competition typically takes place in late July, featuring 72 holes of strokeplay qualifying (Tuesday-Wednesday) with the top 64 advancing to matchplay knockout (Thursday-Saturday).

Lahinch's links test rewards creativity and wind play - players who flight shots low and manage the course conservatively in coastal breezes contend.

Past champions include Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, and Darren Clarke. The South of Ireland Championship attracts Ireland's best amateurs, GUI internationals, and touring professionals during the summer schedule.

West of Ireland Amateur Open

The West of Ireland at County Sligo Golf Club (Rosses Point) features strokeplay qualifying followed by matchplay. The championship runs in April, opening Ireland's provincial championship season.

North of Ireland Amateur Open

The North of Ireland at Royal Portrush Golf Club showcases championship links golf. Strokeplay qualifying over the Dunluce and Valley courses determines the matchplay field.

East of Ireland Amateur Open

The East of Ireland at County Louth Golf Club (Baltray) completes the provincial championship quartet. The links venue north of Dublin hosts strokeplay qualifying and matchplay finals.

For live provincial championship scoring and results, visit our live golf scores page.

Ireland's national championships crown all-Ireland champions across men's, women's, junior, and senior categories. These GUI and ILGU events represent the pinnacle of Irish amateur golf. For more on Irish golf competitions and governing bodies, see our Irish golf homepage.

Flogas Irish Amateur Open

The Flogas Irish Amateur Open is Ireland's national amateur championship. The strokeplay event typically takes place in mid-June, featuring 72 holes over three days crowning Ireland's amateur champion.

The championship attracts Ireland's elite amateurs plus international entries.

Irish Women's Open Strokeplay Championship

Ireland's premier women's strokeplay championship crowns the national women's amateur champion. The 72-hole event rotates among Ireland's championship courses.

Irish Women's Close Championship

The Irish Women's Close is an invitational matchplay championship featuring Ireland's top women amateurs. Strokeplay qualifying determines the matchplay bracket.

Irish Girls' Championships

The Irish Girls' Close Championship and Irish Girls' Under-18 Open identify Ireland's best junior women golfers. These championships serve as pathways to GUI/ILGU international teams and college golf scholarships.

Irish Senior Women's Championships

The Irish Senior Women's Open and Close Championships feature competitors aged 50+. The strokeplay and matchplay events showcase Ireland's experienced amateur competitors.

Ireland's 2026 golf tournament calendar runs from April through September, with major championships and inter-club competitions scheduled across the competitive season.

The Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg is Ireland's premier professional tournament, attracting world-class fields including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and international stars. For tournament previews, player analysis, and betting selections for the Irish Open, visit our golf betting tips page, updated throughout the season.

Ireland's tournament calendar runs from April through September, with major championships drawing the best amateur and professional talent. Many of these events also attract betting interest from Irish golf fans. For the latest odds on Irish golf tournaments, visit our golf betting odds page.