Main changes Cups & Shields 2018
Caddies
In additions to Caddies already being prohibited in GUI All Ireland Four-Ball – Provincial Section known
as Michel Cashman Munster Club Four-Ball, from 2018 they are now also prohibited in the
AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield and AIG Pierce Purcell Shield. Please note carefully the condition and
penalty for breach of the caddie rule in the above events prior to play.
AIG Pierce Purcell Shield
The format of this tournament is no longer Foursomes, it is now Scotch Foursomes, i.e. both
players may hit a Tee Shot and they complete the play of the hole in foursomes thereafter.
Please note the condition regarding what to do should both Tee Shots be lost or hit Out of
Bounds carefully.
i) The rules and penalties governing foursomes as a form of play prescribed in Rule 29 of the Rules of Golf
shall apply, except that at the start of each hole, both members of a side shall play from the tee and shall
select at their discretion one of the two balls which shall remain the ball in play until the conclusion of the
hole. (Note exception to this procedure in ii below)
ii) In applying Rule 29-1 (ie, where penalty strokes do not affect the Order of Play), the player who
played first from the tee shall play the next stroke, with the appropriate penalties applying, where
either
– play of a provisional ball is necessitated following the play of both members of a side from the tee,
or
– play under stroke and distance is required in the event that both players’ balls from the tee are
either lost or out of bounds.
Handicap Eligibility
The ADMs of the four provinces last November passed into effect for 2018 considerable
amendments to the handicap limit eligibility requirements for the AIG Junior Cup, AIG Jimmy
Bruen, AIG Pierce Purcell and All Ireland Four-Ball. The new handicap limits which apply are as
follows:
AIG Junior Cup
That the lower handicap limit of the AIG Junior Cup be reduced from 5 to 4 effective 2018, i.e.
No player shall be eligible to compete in this Tournament whose playing handicap was less than four
during the preceding calendar year.
AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield
Lowest individual reduced from 6 to 5; Lowest combined reduced from 17 to 15 , i.e. No player
shall be eligible to compete in this Tournament whose playing handicap was less than five during the
preceding calendar year. The combined lowest playing handicap of each pair during the preceding calendar
year shall not be less than fifteen.
AIG Pierce Purcell Shield
Lowest individual reduced from 12 to 11; Lowest combined reduced from 27 to 25, i.e. No player
shall be eligible to compete in this Tournament whose playing handicap was less than 11 during the
preceding calendar year. The combined lowest playing handicap of each pair during the preceding calendar
year shall not be less than 25.
GUI All Ireland Fourball – Provincial Section known as Michel Cashman Munster Club
Four-Ball
Lowest individual reduced from 16 to 15; Lowest combined reduced from 36 to 34, i.e. No player
shall be eligible to compete in this Tournament whose playing handicap was less than 15 during the
preceding calendar year. The combined lowest playing handicap of each pair during the preceding calendar
year shall not be less than 34.
4-Card Rule & Lowest Handicap Previous Calendar Year
Please note that the 4-card Rule and Lowest Handicap in previous Calendar year applies to
ALL Adult Inter Club Events with the exception of AIG Senior Cup and AIG Barton Shield.
Sudden Illness/Other Emergency requiring change to Team
This rule has been updated to read:
a) No alteration may be made in the list handed in – either in the matter of players or the order of
play – except in the case of sudden illness or other emergency deemed sufficient justification for
such an alteration by the Championship Committee.
Note: ‘Handed In’ also covers Exchanged by Team Captains.
b) A Team Captain may nominate two reserves. Reserves taking the place of players after the
team has been submitted, shall be placed in the same position in the team as that occupied by the
player who has taken ill or has been withdrawn. Alternatively, in competitions covered by this rule
involving pairs, a nominated reserve pair may be placed in the same position in the team as that
occupied by the pair, one of whom has taken ill or has been withdrawn.
c) Any competitor who is unable to continue a match will forfeit the remaining holes to be played.
d) Penalty for Breach = Disqualification of the team concerned.
Euro prize limit reduced in Ireland for amateur golfers
Following requests from affiliated golf clubs in Ireland, the Amateur Status Prize Limit in the Euro
area in Ireland has been lowered from €750 to €575 and takes effect from 1 February 2018.
The move, which is supported by The R&A following requests for consideration by the Golfing
Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, will ensure that the Prize Limit for amateur golf
is now better aligned to the Sterling Pound limit of £500 and continual review of this will be
undertaken by both Unions to assess the impact of this change.
New Local Rule excluding additional penalty under exception to Rule 6-6d
Adopted for Cups & Shields and all Union/Provincial Championships
The Exception to Rule 6-6d is modified as follows:
If a competitor returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken due to failure to include one
or more penalty strokes that, before returning his score card, he did not know he had incurred,
he is not disqualified. In such circumstances, the competitor incurs the penalty prescribed by the
applicable Rule, but there is no additional penalty for a breach of Rule 6-6d. This Exception does
not apply when the applicable penalty is disqualification from the competition.
