Dundalk Golf Club rename 18th hole after Padraig Harrington as 2025 Scratch Cup launched
The announcement was made last Wednesday 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, Chairperson, 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.
Dundalk 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 eighteenth hole in the final round.
'But few remember how he bogeyed the eighteenth 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 eighteenth 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 eighteenth hole at Dundalk Golf Club, which was the setting for a milestone in my golfing career, one that was pivotal in helping shape my mindset by encouraging me to start working with a sports psychologist, Aidan Moran. The eighteenth 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.'
The 63rd Dundalk Senior Scratch sponsored by One Finance will take place on Sunday, May 18, having moved from the September date it has occupied for the last few years. It remains a 36-hole event with a shotgun start for both rounds at 9am and 2pm.
Defending champion Caolan Rafferty will go in search of a sixth title on home turf and a second back-to-back triumph having successfully defended the title back in 2019.
Rafferty, who will defend his East of Ireland title over the June Bank Holiday weekend, said he was looking forward to the challenge of mounting a successful defence of the Carroll Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the Scratch Cup.
'A lot of lads will be looking for a good competitive golf test, especially with the East taking place a few weeks later. It was great to win it again last year and I want to keep on winning it for as long as I can,' said Rafferty, who was on the GB&I Walker Cup team in 2019.
Martin McDonnell, Managing Director of One Finance, said they were delighted to continue their sponsorship of the Dundalk Scratch Cup: 'This is the ninth year we have been associated with the Scratch Cup and we hope those taking part will take inspiration from following in the footsteps of Padraig Harrington who won it 30 years ago.'
Entries are now being accepted for the Dundalk Scratch Cup through the Pro Shop which can be contacted at teetimes@dundalkgolfclub.ie or 042-9322102. The Entry fee is €50 which includes soup and sandwiches between rounds and the handicap limit is three.
'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.'
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