The Caecilius Cup competition officially started in 1998, with a tour to Rich River GC on the Murray River.  However, its origins date back to the mid 1980’s when a group of mates from Melbourne decided to arrange a yearly event to the best golf real estate and surroundings Australia had to offer.  Courses visited prior to the competition commencing were Yarrawonga, Corowa, Cape Schanck, Flinders, Cobram Barooga and Shepparton. 

The competition is held in February to April each year at some of the most highly rated courses in Australia and the world.  The Caecilius Cup travelled to New Zealand in 2015 on its first overseas tour.  The winner is determined by aggregating two rounds of Stableford Points over 2-3 rounds of golf. 

The Caecilius Cup is an invitational event, named after Lucius Caecilius Iucundus, a banker who lived in the Roman town of Pompeii around 20-62 AD.  His house still stands and can be seen in the ruins of the city Pompeii.  It was partially destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.  

The rationale for the naming rights and connection to our unknown, but upstanding example of Roman civilisation, relates back to the impeccably Vesuvial-encrusted journals of Caecilius, who enjoyed nothing more than heading off to the Roman wine regions with his best mates to imbibe the best culinary fare and refreshment the Roman Empire had to offer. The chance to escape the clutches of his wife, Metella, for a few days and nights of revelry, laughs, and profanity always recharged his energies for the year ahead.   

The Caecilius Cup signifies tradition, resilience, integrity, mateship and in time, historical significance.

Several other awards have been born from Caecilius Cup Tours.  The Quo Vadis Shield is a team’s event, awarded each year, which was named after the Quo Vadis Restaurant in Swan Hill on the 2004 Tour.   The Quo Vadis Italian Restaurant was the scene of one of the most memorable dining experiences in Caecilius Cup tour history. 

A new award was started on the 2016 Tour, the Mangrove Jack Award.  The Mangrove Jack is awarded to the most ordinary individual act or event on Tour and is named after Mangrove Jacks Restaurant in Coffs Harbour in 2013.  Mangrove Jacks is considered to be the worst dining experience in Caecilius Cup tour history, rivalled only by takeaway fish and chips from the Bridport Fish & Chip shop, which was devoured in a motel room, washed down with VB cans, in front of the NAB Cup on the Barnbougle Dunes Tour of 2005.