National Matchplay Championship 2026
The entry sheets for the 2026 National Matchplay Championship are now available in the download section & online
The qualifying for the Gents National Matchplay Championship will be as follows:
- The Gents National Matchplay qualifying has been regionalised.
- The format will be 36-hole Strokeplay.
- The Leinster qualifying will take place in Royal Meath on the 17th of May.
- The Munster qualifying will take place in Larkspur Park on the 16th of May.
- The qualifying slots will be split 50/50 between Leinster and Munster.
Automatic Slots
- A total of 12-14 Automatic slots will be awarded to players before qualifying takes place.
- Only players who have entered the National Matchplay by the closing date and have paid their entrance fees are eligible for an automatic slot.
- Automatic slots will be awarded to the finalists and semi-finalists from the 2025 championship.
- A further 8 automatic slots will then be allocated to the 8 highest ranked players as at the closing date that have not yet qualified automatically through the 2025 championship.
- There are two automatic slots on offer for the winners of the Senior Provincial Matchplay Championships. If a Provincial Matchplay winner has already been awarded an automatic slot for the finals, then that slot will go back to the regional qualifying pool.
Gents Intermediate & Junior National Matchplay Championships
- The qualification format for Intermediate & Junior Gents will remain as matchplay qualifying within their own counties.
- There are two automatic slots on offer for the winners of both the Intermediate & Junior Provincial Matchplay Championships. Only players who have entered in their grade by the closing date and have paid their entrance fees are eligible for an automatic slot.
- Qualifying will take place over the weekend of the 16th & 17th May.
- A drawsheet for qualifiers will be published on the PPI website after the entry date has closed.
- County Boards will set the day/days to be used for qualifying and will set the tee times.
Ladies National Matchplay Championship
- The Ladies National Matchplay will remain the same as in previous years.
- Qualifying will only be required if there is a large number of entrants.
- From 2026, there will now be a Ladies Intermediate National Matchplay Championship and a Ladies Junior National Matchplay Championship.
- Qualifying for the Ladies graded championships will only be required if there is a large number of entrants.
N.B. Please note that both Intermediate and Junior Gents & Ladies can enter the National Matchplay Championship ( Day Cup for Gents & Elvery Cup for Ladies) . If a player chooses to enter the overall championship, then they cannot enter a graded championship.
For further enquiries, please contact the National Coordinator Darren O’Connell by email at [email protected] 
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