At Irish Golfer Events for 2026 we already split our open competitions into four different categories to try keep players of similar handicap abilities competing against each other:
Cat 1 – Men up to 11 playing handicap / Cat 2 – Men from 12-24 playing handicap / Cat 3 – Women up to 36 playing handicap / Cat 4 – iGolf up to 24 playing handicap men or 36 playing handicap women. We also offer a Best Gross prize.
We have also set a maximum playing handicap upper limit of 24 for men and 36 for women at our events. Players with handicaps in excess of these limits are welcome to play but will be reverted back to the maximum handicap limit for their category.
With over €5000 of prizes available across the categories at every event, the category splits and handicap limits have been a huge success to date but to ensure continued fairness for all participants we have updated the modified local rule that was already in place. This modified local rule (MLR) applies on all playing handicaps at Irish Golfer Events for 2026 and beyond and is only applicable on scores posted in the prize-winning positions.
Below is a table where we have outlined the odds of shooting a net differential equal to or better than your handicap. The values in the below table were derived from an analysis of over 10 million scores posted by players with a Handicap Index globally.
For 2026 and beyond, if a player registers a prize-winning score in the red zone shown above at an Irish Golfer Event, it will be classed as an exceptional score for the purposes of Irish Golfer Events. If the same player has another prize-winning exceptional score in the same season (at another Irish Golfer Event) this would indicate that statistically that player has a better ability than their playing handicap.
This part of the MLR ONLY applies to any player who posts a second or subsequent exceptional score round in an Irish Golfer Event in any one season. If a player achieves a score for the second time in the red zone, their returned score on Golf Ireland for handicap purposes will remain as returned on the day but the score for that specific Irish Golfer Event and the Flogas Order of Merit for Irish Golfer events will be adjusted back out of the red zone.
WINNING A CATEGORY PRIZE = Handicap Cut for Irish Golfer Events
Any player who wins a prize in their category at an Irish Golfer Event while shooting in the red zone (39 points or above) may also be in line to receive a cut to their playing handicap for the next and any subsequent Irish Golfer Events for 12 months. These cuts will be applied on a case by case basis and apply to any scores returned. The player will be advised of the applied cut which may be restrospective should they produce another exceptional score.
In addition to the above, all players are limited to three category prizes in a 12-month period. If you feature in the prizes on a fourth or subsequent occasion in that time your score will count for your handicap and for the Flogas Order of Merit, but you will be removed from the prizes for that Irish Golfer Event. This does not apply to on-course prizes such as nearest the pin etc.
All prize winners must have 20 registered scores with Golf Ireland and a full up to date Handicap Index.
The MLR is open to adjustment during the year at the Tournament Directors discretion.
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