EDDIE HACKETT, who died peacefully yesterday morning, made an incalculable contribution to Irish golf over the last 30 years. Indeed, there are many splendid facilities throughout the country that simply wouldn't exist but for the efforts of this remarkable man.
Despite fragile health from an early age, he remained extremely active until his death, at 86. Indeed only two months ago, he travelled to Wentworth to be awarded with a silver medal from admiring peers in the British Institute of Golf Course Architects.
From a career as a club professional, in which he was assistant to Henry Cotton at Royal Waterloo and preceded Harry Bradshaw at Portmarnock, Hackett found his true metier in golf course architecture. He was prompted in that direction by Bill Menton, the then general secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland, who recognised the potential expansion in the game, sparked by the staging of the Canada Cup at Portmarnock in 1960.
When I joined him at the opening of West Waterford a few years ago, he gently informed me that it was his 100th creation. Since then, he got involved in further work, including the spectacular Carn links at Belmullet and most recently, in designing a third nine at Connemara where he did the original layout.
His finest effort, however, was unquestionably the majestic links at Waterville where, to a demanding brief from the owner John A Mulcahy, he produced a wonderful layout, worthy of the terrain. He was also justifiably proud of the Murvagh links in Donegal and of Enniscrone, overlooking Killala Bay.
Hackett was a great advocate of option design, whereby the player is offered a difficult line off the tee, followed by a more gentle approach, or vice versa. Generally, he avoided the more penal elements of modern golf course architecture, such as long carries over water and cavernous bunkers.
On the occasions that I wrote about Eddie's work, I came to expect a follow-up phone call from him before the piece was "put to bed". Invariably it had to do with his concern that nobody should be offended through omission. That was his way - always the complete gentleman.
He had a deep knowledge of the game and its exponents, which was reflected in a letter I received from him in May of last year, concerning his work at Rosapenna. In it he wrote: "It is wonderful for me to be included in the same breath as Tom Morris, Harry Vardon and James Braid." That was a reference to earlier work at Rosapenna by those celebrated exponents of the Royal and Ancient game.
Eddie Hackett gave his life to golf and no Irishman has left a richer legacy to the game. A caring, kindly man, he will be remembered with great affection by those of us who were privileged to know him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
