Eddie Hackett 1910 – 1996

Eddie Hackett was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1910. As a boy he suffered from tuberculosis, the effects of which left him without the strength or stamina to play active sports. He began playing golf with his father, and as a teenager got a job at his hometown Royal Dublin Golf Club.

In his own words:

“I turned Professional in 1932 – on a surgeon’s advice that an outdoor life would probably help my TB – and served two years to Fred Smyth, Professional to Royal Dublin Golf Club, in order to qualify for membership of the PGA.

On completion of the two years it was on to Haughton Golf Club, Johannesburg, as assistant to Sid Brews on a three year contract. After six months with Sid a telegram arrived offering me the job as Professional to Elm Park Golf Club in Dublin. Sid, a very kind man, released me on one condition – if it did not work out I was to return to him in South Africa.

In 1939, on the death of Willie Nolan, Professional to Portmarnock Golf Club, I was appointed to replace Willie. In the 1940s, as Professional to Portmarnock, I served as Honorary Secretary and Captain of the IPGA. In 1950 I retired from Portmarnock to go into business with my bother, lately deceased.

I designed my first 18 hole golf course in 1963 at Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and over the years since my very busy designing life has brought me to every corner of Ireland. The highlights of my 33 years designing would have to be the good fortune to have been commissioned to design 10 courses on exquisite links land, extending along the West Coast of Ireland, including:

Waterville and Ceann Sibeal, Co Kerry
Connemara, Co Galway
Enniscrone and Strand Hill, Co Sligo
Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh, Co Donegal
Carrigart Hotel and Rosapenna Hotel, Co Donegal
Greenore, Co Louth
Carne Golf Club, Belmullet, Co Mayo”

Eddie Hackett died at his home in December 1996.