Des Smyth
"When I am at home, I know my game is in great shape if I play well at Seapoint" (Des Smyth)
Seapoint has a long, proud association with Des Smyth. This remarkable golfer played a major role in the creation of the Club in the 1980's and today can often be found playing Seapoint when not on the Seniors Tour.
Des started playing golf at the age of 6 and over the years has established himself as one of the leading golfers ever to have come out of Ireland.
Having turned professional in 1977, Des won 8 tournaments on the European Tour across four different decades, finishing 7th in the Order of Merit in 1988. In his 28th Season, he broke Neil Cole's record as the oldest player to win a European Tour event when he claimed the 2001 Madeira Island Open at the age of 48 years and 34 days. Des also won 6 Irish National PGA Championships and represented Europe in the Ryder Cup in 1979 and 1981. More recently, he was Ian Woosnam's Vice Captain in the 2006 Ryder Cup.
Since turning fifty in 2003 Des has had a successful career in Senior Golf, winning tournaments on both the Champions Tour and the European Seniors Tour. In 2005 Smyth had a major scare - he was rushed to hospital to have an operation relating to his heart. However, in the spirit of the true golfer he was back on the course 5 days later!