The Claret Jug Tour was conceived by the R&A as a way to engage fans along the way to The Open Championship, taking the trophy around the world (what better ambassador for The Open?).
This year, the worlds oldest Major returns to Royal Portrush Golf Club, seven years after its first major return after a long absence from the Emerald Isle.
Golf Ireland announced that the 2025 Tour kicked off last Friday from Newtownards, a town in County Down, 16 kilometres east of Belfast.
The Claret Jugs travel programme from now until July is very detailed, with stops all over Ireland, with no distinction between the UK and Ireland.
The trophy that replaced the Challenge Belt in 1873 will visit community clubs in Dublin, Kildare, Offaly, Roscommon, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Limerick, Galway, Mayo, Armagh, Antrim and Donegal before finally arriving in Portrush.
We are thrilled to be partnering with the R&A to bring the Claret Jug, one of the most revered trophies in the world, directly to communities across Ireland, said Mark Kennelly, CEO of Golf Ireland
This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the passion for golf across the island of Ireland and drive community engagement as The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush.
Through The Road to the Open we are looking to generate excitement in clubs, schools and communities, ensuring the impact continues to resonate long after the tournament has finished.
The Open Championship is scheduled for July 17-20.
The Rules of Golf are a set of rules and standard procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf throughout the world, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee, made up of members of the R&A and the USGA, oversees and refines the Rules every four years. The latest revision was effective January 1, 2016. Changes to the Rules of Golf generally fall into two main categories: those that improve understanding of the Rules and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "The Rules of Golf," is published on a regular basis and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Federgolf is responsible for supervising competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R & A, checking that these rules are observed by the Clubs, Associations and their members and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
