Draw, rules and past winners of the Central Towns Trophy.

A special thanks to Tullamore Rental Properties, (Tony Flanagan) for their continued sponsorship of this Tournament.

Congratulations to Esker Hills Golf Club on winning the Central Towns Trophy 2024 when they defeated Portarlington Golf Club in the final. Well done to all and thank you to all the teams that took part.

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Michael Lennon, Captain-Elect is the 2025 Convenor for the Tournament.

email: centraltownstrophy@gmail.com

Draw

For the first round matches the club on top of the draw play 3 matches at home.

Competition Rules

Current Holders:  Portumna Golf Club  

  1. The tournament shall be organised and run by Tullamore Golf Club and the Trophy, which is perpetual, shall be known as the “Central Towns Trophy”.
  2. A pennant will be presented to the Captain of the winning Club. The Central Towns Trophy shall be presented to the Manager of the winning team.
  3. The competing teams shall consist of five male members, playing singles scratch match play. The World  handicap index of team members shall not have been less than 11.0 on 1st January in the year of the tournament. The World Handicap index held by a player on 1st January is the operative Handicap index throughout the Tournament.
  4. A team sheet listed in order of play must be exchanged between team managers no later that fifteen minutes prior to a match commencing.
  5. A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3 of the Rules of Golf , for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.
  6. Golf Ireland’s rules of Competition will apply.
  7. All matches must be played to a finish unless an overall result has been reached.
  8. Each round of the tournament shall be played in accordance with the draw made by Tullamore Golf Club. For the Preliminary and First rounds, the Club on top of the draw shall have home advantage.  For each of the subsequent rounds, progressing teams will alternate between home /away fixtures. Should both progressing teams in a fixture, having played the previous match at home or away, then the top team in the draw will have home advantage.
  9. No person may play for more than one Club in this tournament in any one season.
  10. All matches must be played on or before the date fixed. The winning club must report the result of the match to Tullamore Golf Club immediately.
  11. It is the responsibility of the winning team manager to report the result to the competition convenor at Tullamore Golf Club within 24 hours of each match being played.
  12. Any team who successfully defends their title, will be required to replace two members of their winning team for the competition in following year.
  13. For the purposes of the tournament the area shall be divided into sections, which will be determined on general geography by the organisers.
  14. The final of the tournament shall be played on the Tullamore Golf Course, on September 6th 2025 at 2pm. The Pennant and eight(8) medals will be presented to the finalists at a reception following the final.
  15. The Trophy shall be held by the winning Club and such Club shall be responsible for the safe custody and return to Tullamore Golf Club before the final the following year.
  16. No green fees are chargeable to members of a team for practice, during the seven days prior to the match. It is suggested that one free practice round be made available to the visiting team members.
  17. The decision of the Tullamore Golf Club shall be final on any question arising out of this tournament.
  18. Entrance fee of €100 must be lodged with the tournament organiser, Tullamore Golf Club by March 21st 2025
  19. For further information email centraltownstrophy@gmail.com for the attention of
    Captain Elect/Competition Co-Ordinator Michael Lennon.

Past Winners:

The Central Towns Trophy was inaugurated by Tullamore Golf Club in 1965 and the first winners were Carlow Golf Club.   It has been a hugely popular competition.  

The following are the winners to date:

2024 – Esker Hills
2023 – Portumna
2022 – Nenagh
2020/21 -Esker Hills
2019 – Palmerstown House
2018 – Portumna
2017 – New Forest
2016 – Portumna
2015 – Portumna
2014 – Tullamore
2013 – Carlow
2012 – Carlow
2011 – Castle Barna
2010 – Naas
2009 – Cill Dara
2008 – Moate
2007 – Nenagh
2006 – Birr
2005 – Mullingar
2004 – Ballinasloe
2003 – Nenagh
2002 – Edenderry
2001 – Headfort
2000 – Templemore
1999 – Nenagh
1998 – Bodenstown
1997 – Moate
1996 – Portumna
1995 – Cill Dara
1994 – Thurles
1993 – Nenagh
1992 – Ballinasloe
1991 – Ballinasloe
1990 – Nenagh
1989 – Nenagh
1988 – Nenagh
1987 – Portumna
1986 – Thurles
1985 – Carlow
1984 – Abbeyleix
1983 – Loughrea
1982 – Loughrea
1981 – Mullingar
1980 – Nenagh
1979 – The Curragh
1978 – The Curragh
1977 – Carlow
1976 – Thurles
1975 – Thurles
1974 – Carlow
1973 – Carlow
1972 – Thurles
1971 – The Curragh
1970 – Carlow
1969 – Naas
1968 – Thurles
1967 – Birr
1966 – Carlow
1965 – Carlow