AIG Cups and Shields reverts to rotation - first stop Thurles 2018

Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) holes the putt on the 16th green final of the AIG Barton Shield at Carton House today (15/09/2016). Picture by Pat Cashman

The AIG Cups and Shields Finals are going back on the road in 2018 and Thurles is the first stop after a four-year run at Carton House.

In 2014, the Golfing Union of Ireland broke new ground with the AIG Cups and Shields and took up a four-year residence for the finals at Carton House. As that agreement reached its final year, the GUI began a review process, consulting with clubs and officials to determine the future direction of the AIG Cups and Shields Finals.

Provincial rotation emerged as the favoured view and from 2018 onwards, the finals will rotate among the provinces. Next year the AIG Cups and Shields Finals move south to Munster with Thurles set to stage the biggest event in club golf.

Mark Wehrly, Championships Manager with the GUI spoke highly of Carton House and the return to provincial rotation: “We’ve been very lucky over the last four years to have had the AIG Cups and Shields at Carton House.

"The club members and staff have been very accommodating of our needs, facilitating the teams superbly and providing those in attendance with an excellent experience both on and off the golf course.”

“While the AIG Cups and Shields are moving away from Carton House, we continue to work with the club on the World Amateur Team Championships which take place next summer over both the O’Meara and Montgomerie courses.”

Having listened to the feedback from member clubs, the GUI has returned the week-long festival of golf to rotation.

“Our member clubs, however, favour the rotation of the finals and while we have enjoyed the four years at Carton House we now look forward to bringing the biggest event of its kind in Europe back to the provinces," said Wehrly.

"The finalists next year are assured of a very warm welcome at Thurles and the golf course will provide everyone with a fitting test of golf on what is a fine venue to stage the finals."

The 2017 instalment of the AIG Cups and Shields Finals take place at Carton House from 20-23 September.

Full details of the AIG Cups and Shields Finals for 2017 can be found at https://www.golfnet.ie/aigcups-shields