Patrick Merrigan, as he was known professionally, although always as Paddy to his family, who has died aged 73, may not have been a household name, but as one of this country’s best golf course architects he was very well known both nationally and internationally to many who are, or were, household names.
These included Darren Clarke, and the late Eddie Hackett and Joe Carr, with each of whom he oversaw the development of some of this country’s signature courses, both parkland and links.
Abroad, he was a much respected member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA). Its executive officer, Julia Green, remarked of his passing that “this is more sad news for the golf course architecture world, and particularly Ireland, following so soon after the death of Christy O’Connor jnr. Patrick was a very popular member of the EIGCA and, although he retired three years ago, his memory will . . . live on.”
From a farming background at Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow, Merrigan was one of 10 children of Patrick snr and Alice (nee Byrne). He was educated as a boarder at St Peter’s College, Wexford, where he excelled at sports, particularly athletics and hurling.
After school, he graduated in agricultural science from University College, Dublin in the early 1960s and initially worked as a soil scientist.
Emigrated
In 1969, he emigrated to Australia where he lectured for three years at an agricultural college in Horsham in the state of Victoria.
On his return to Ireland, one of his first jobs was project manager for the plan by Irish-American hotelier John Mulcahy to restore the links course at Waterville, Co Kerry, to a design by the late Hackett. The work was so successful that his career as a golf course architect was effectively launched.
Thereafter, Merrigan either designed or oversaw the redesign of more than 20 courses in Ireland, including some of the country’s best-known clubs. These included the Slieve Russell in Co Cavan; Tullamore; Faithlegg House in Co Waterford; Tulfarris House; Greystones and Delgany in his native Wicklow; and Elm Park, the Grange, Rathfarnham and Sutton in Co Dublin.
In more recent years, Merrigan worked with British Open winner Clarke for his design for the major parkland course at Castle Dargan in Co Sligo.
His long-time friend and colleague, Henry Crummy, former secretary-manager of Woodenbrige Golf Club, which Merrigan redesigned from a nine hole to an 18-hole course in 1992-’94, regards his greatest achievement as the Old Head links at Kinsale, Co Cork, near where Merrigan was based for more than 30 years.
Worked closely
Merrigan worked closely with Carr from the beginning of the project, which is now regarded even globally as one of the world’s best links courses. Crummy remarks that Merrigan “had great ideas, was very meticulous and was very, very good when finishing projects, there were never any half-measures.”
Golf course architect Ronan Branigan, who worked extensively with Merrigan, told The Irish Times that although professionals like Clarke would have provided the concept for the courses, "and would give their opinions or their desire for the type of course they wanted, the reality of it was that he [Merrigan] would have done everything from start to finish".
Merrigan was nothing if not passionate about his work. “He would eat and drink a project,” remarks Branigan, “he really got into the bones of a project; nothing was done on a whim. . .” Patrick Merrigan is survived by his widow, Nicola O’Donnell, from whom he had been amicably separated for many years, their three sons, Michael, Nicholas and Richard, and by his siblings Bobby, Tommy, Gerry, Oliver, Alice, Frances, Bernadette and Lilly. His brother Johnny, a well-known horse breeder, pre-deceased him.