Paul O’Brien, a senior member of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, died on Dec. 20 after a protracted illness.
O’Brien began his career in golf as an intern with Jeff Howes in 1997. Prior to that he had graduated with a degree in geography and economics and qualified as a Geodetic (Land) Surveyor.
O’Brien credited Howes with igniting his passion for golf course architecture, and he stayed at Jeff Howes Golf Design for 16 years before joining (re)GOLF as a partner in 2013.
“It was clear from the very first time I met Paul that he loved the game of golf and had a fantastic sense of humor,” Howes said in a memoriam statement on the EIGCA website. “Those attributes never waned, in good times and bad. Dear Paul, I do hope for God’s sake, that when you play golf up there you get relief when you land in a divot.”
O’Brien’s design achievements include Gowran Park in County Kilkenny and Naas Golf Club in County Kildare. Gowran Park was his first foray into the golf course design business back in 2001, when he was an on-site design coordinator. Naas Golf was the first project he undertook as (re)GOLF.
O’Brien was an active EIGCA member.
“We have lost a friend and a true professional, but more importantly, as Paul was a true family-man his family has lost a caring father and husband. It is a massive loss to us as Paul always strived to make us better and more professional,” said Jeff Lynch & Christian Lundin, EIGCA members and colleagues from (re)GOLF. “We are honored to have him as a founder of our company but more importantly that we have been fortunate enough to call him our friend.”