18th hole to be named after padraig Harrington

Dundalk Golf Club are to mark the 30th anniversary of Padraig Harrington winning the Dundalk Scratch Cup by renaming the 18th hole after the three-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Fame inductee.

The announcement was made this evening at a reception to mark the 120th anniversary of Dundalk Golf Club and the launch of the 2025 Scratch Cup. It was also announced that Golf Ireland has awarded Dundalk the All-Ireland Mixed Fourball and Mixed Foursomes finals which will be held in September while the PGA are to stage the final round of the Callaway Chrome Tour PGA Open Series in Dundalk the same month.

Among those in attendance at the reception were Michael Evans, President, Golf Ireland; Harry McAlinden, Chair, Leinster Golf; Conor Dillon, Manager, The PGA in Ireland; and Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach, Dundalk Municipal District; along with past captains, lady captains, presidents and lady presidents of Dundalk Golf Club.  

Captain Gerry McDermott said that renaming the hole was a fitting way to mark Harrington’s achievements in the game.

“It is a source of great pride to everybody in our club that Padraig Harrington is a former winner of our Senior Scratch Cup. Those who were there in 1995 still talk of how he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the 18th hole in the final round.

“But few remember how he bogeyed the 18th in 1990 to lose the Irish Youths Championship by one shot and don’t realise the lesson he learned that day would eventually help him to win his first Open title at Carnoustie in 2007.”

Harrington’s Dundalk story will be put on display in the Clubhouse  and on the club’s website whilst a sign will be erected on the 18th tee box to mark its change of name from Ceann Scribe or “Journey’s End” to “Harrington’s Challenge”. 

Lady Captain Sally McDonnell said: “Padraig Harrington has been a wonderful inspiration to everybody in Irish golf so it is nice to mark the special association he has with Dundalk Golf Club. Hopefully the story behind “Harrington’s Challenge” will inspire future generations.”

​In a message, which was read out at the launch, Padraig Harrington said he was honoured that the 18th hole has been named after him. He said: “I am delighted to be associated with the renaming of the 18th hole at Dundalk Golf Club, which was the setting for a milestone in my golfing career, one that was pivotable in helping shape my mindset by encouraging me to start working with a sports psychologist, Aidan Moran. The 18th hole showed me very distinctly the highs and lows of golf, how shots can be assessed internally, but judged completely differently by the outside world.”

“2025 is going to be a busy year for Dundalk Club,” said Manager Leslie Walker. “The staging of the Golf Ireland finals and the PGA event in September is recognition of the standard of our course and our facilities and we will be doing our very best to make those events, and the Scratch Cup, memorable occasions for everybody involved.”