Interclub Golf Guide

What is Interclub Golf?

Interclub competitions let you represent your club against other clubs. It's team golf at its best — playing for your club, your teammates, and club pride.

Golf Ireland Competitions

Club Golf supports the full Golf Ireland interclub catalogue, with the right formats, allowances, and handicap ranges built in for each competition.

Senior Cup

The premier national singles competition for the club's lowest-handicap players. Scratch play — no handicap strokes given.

Barton Shield

A prestigious foursomes (alternate shot) competition for low-handicap pairs. Played over 36 holes aggregate in national rounds.

Jimmy Bruen Shield

Named after the legendary Irish amateur, this foursomes competition is for mid-range handicap pairs — combining skill with team spirit.

Pierce Purcell Shield

A foursomes competition for higher-handicap pairs, giving more players the chance to represent their club.

Junior Cup

A singles match play competition for mid-handicap players — a stepping stone towards senior interclub competition.

Intermediate & Minor Cups

Singles match play competitions for mid-to-high and higher-handicap players, welcoming more golfers to interclub golf.

Mixed Foursomes & Mixed Four-Ball

Mixed pairs (one man, one woman) play either alternate shots with one ball (foursomes) or their own balls with the better score counting (four-ball).

Match Day Preparation

Be ready before you leave home: confirm your tee time and meet-up time with your team, arrange travel and car-pool with teammates, wear your club colours with pride, arrive 30–45 minutes early to warm up, check in with your team manager, and switch your phone to silent before play.

Match Play Rules

Winning a Hole

A player wins a hole by completing it in fewer strokes than the opponent, when the opponent concedes the hole, or when the opponent gets the general penalty (loss of hole). (Rule 3.2a)

Winning the Match

A match is won when a player leads by more holes than remain to be played. A "4&3" result means the winner was 4 holes ahead with 3 left to play. If tied after the final hole, play continues hole by hole until one side wins. (Rule 3.2a)

Concessions

A player may concede the opponent's next stroke, the hole, or the match at any time. A concession may not be refused or withdrawn, and the ball is treated as holed. (Rule 3.2b)

Handicap Strokes

Handicap strokes are given hole-by-hole using the stroke index on the scorecard. Scratch competitions such as Senior Cup and Barton Shield give no strokes. (Rule 3.2c)

Order of Play & Foursomes

The ball farther from the hole is played first. In foursomes, partners alternate shots — one tees off on odd holes and the other on even holes throughout the round. (Rules 6.4a, 22.3)

Glossary of Terms

Match Play

A format where you compete hole by hole against an opponent. Win more holes than remain to win the match.

Foursomes

Also called "Alternate Shot" — two players share one ball, taking turns to hit. One tees off on odd holes, the other on even holes.

Four-Ball

Two players play their own balls, and the better score of the pair counts for that hole.

Dormie

When you're up by the same number of holes remaining — you can't lose, only win or halve.

All Square (A/S)

The match is tied - neither player is ahead.

Concession

Giving your opponent a putt or stroke. Once given, it cannot be taken back!

Honour

The right to tee off first, usually earned by winning the previous hole.

4-Card Rule

You need 4 qualifying competition scores on the Golf Ireland CDH to be eligible.

Handicap Index

Your portable Golf Ireland handicap number. Eligibility is usually based on your index on 1 January (or current if lower/higher per competition rules).

Course Handicap

Your Handicap Index adjusted for the course difficulty (Slope Rating). This is what you play off on a given course.

Playing Handicap

Course Handicap multiplied by the handicap allowance set in the active Golf Ireland Competitions Handbook for the format being played (see each competition card for the current percentage).

Scratch

No handicap strokes given - used in senior competitions like Senior Cup and Barton Shield.

Stroke Index

The order in which handicap strokes are received, shown on the scorecard (1 = hardest hole).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get selected for a team?

First, check your eligibility in the Eligibility section. If you're eligible, register your interest (opt-in) for the competition. Managers will then consider you when building the team based on handicap, availability, and form.

What if I can't make a match after being selected?

Contact your team manager as soon as possible. They need time to find a replacement. Last-minute withdrawals can leave the team short!

What should I bring on match day?

Your clubs, plenty of balls (especially for away matches), tees, a ball marker, your club jumper/colours, waterproofs, snacks, and water. Check the weather forecast!

What's the difference between home and away matches?

Home matches are at your own club where you know the course. Away matches mean travelling to the opponent's club - arrive extra early to familiarize yourself with the layout.

How do handicaps work in interclub?

Eligibility is based on your Handicap Index on January 1st (or current if lower/higher depending on the competition). For scratch competitions (Senior Cup, Barton Shield), no handicap strokes are given. For handicap competitions, strokes are calculated from Course Handicap multiplied by the allowance defined in the active Golf Ireland Competitions Handbook for that format — see each competition card for the current percentage. Strokes are received on holes per the Stroke Index on the scorecard.

What happens if a match is tied after 18 holes?

In match play, you continue playing sudden-death holes until one player wins a hole. Stay focused - the match isn't over until someone is ahead!

What is the 4-card rule?

Score-history eligibility requirements (including any card rules) are set by Golf Ireland and can change year to year. For the definitive, up-to-date requirements always refer to the current year's Golf Ireland Annual Handbook or visit the official Golf Ireland Interclub Hub at golfireland.ie/inter-club.

Can I concede a putt to my opponent?

Yes! In match play, you can concede any stroke to your opponent at any time. Once conceded, it cannot be refused or withdrawn. The ball is considered holed. Use concessions wisely - they can speed up play and show good sportsmanship.

What's the dress code for interclub matches?

Wear your club colours/jumper when available. Smart golf attire is expected - collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts (not denim), and golf shoes. Check with your manager for specific requirements, especially for away matches.

How do mixed foursomes pairings work?

In mixed foursomes, one male and one female golfer form a pair, playing alternate shots with one ball. The man tees off on odd-numbered holes and the woman on even-numbered holes (or vice versa as decided). Combined handicap allowances apply.

What if I'm running late on match day?

Contact your manager immediately! Golf Ireland rules require players to be ready at the starting time. Being late can result in loss of holes or disqualification. Always aim to arrive 30-45 minutes before your tee time.

Can I opt out of interclub competitions?

Yes, you can opt out of any competition through the Eligibility section. If you want to opt out of all interclub entirely, there's an option for that too. You can always opt back in later if your circumstances change.

Is my data in the team chat secure?

Yes. Team chat messages are stored securely and are only visible to team members and managers. Messages are retained for 2 years per our privacy policy. You can request access to or deletion of your data - see our Privacy Policy for details.

Who can I contact about interclub queries?

Your competition manager is your first point of contact for team-related queries. For general interclub questions, contact the club administrator. Golf Ireland contact details for specific competitions are available to managers in the Managers Hub.