Pádraig Harrington joins €7m Seapoint Links redesign as 2027 closure is confirmed

A new chapter for an Irish links

Seapoint Golf Links in County Louth, Ireland, is preparing a €7 million redevelopment that will reshape its 18-hole layout and renew critical infrastructure. Three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington is collaborating with architect Giulia Ferroni of Leeds Golf Design and golf development specialist Roddy Carr. The initiative was announced on 5 October 2026 and is outlined in detail on the club’s official redevelopment website.

The programme goes far beyond routine bunker maintenance. On a links property of approximately 220 acres, the team plans four new holes, seven new green complexes, substantial alterations to existing holes, reworked bunkers and natural sandy areas, expanded irrigation and a new halfway house. The aim is to improve the experience of everyday rounds while reinforcing what makes Seapoint a distinctive coastal course.

How the routing may change

According to the club’s published plans, the existing tenth will be rerouted and developed into a new first hole, introducing links-style golf immediately at the start of a round. A proposed new 15th–17th sequence should make fuller use of the property’s natural contours; adjustments around the 17th tee are intended to frame coastal views towards the Mourne Mountains. The closing 18th is also set for redesign.

The architectural challenge is not merely to toughen the course. Club officials emphasise consistency between the two nines, variety for players of different abilities and respect for Seapoint’s natural setting. Improving the long-term performance of playing surfaces and water infrastructure is another central part of the investment.

Dates and access: what golfers should know

Construction is expected to start in early January 2027. Seapoint plans a complete temporary closure rather than a prolonged sequence of partial shutdowns. Its target reopening is spring 2028, subject to weather and the grow-in of the new playing areas. As of 25 October 2026, that remains a projected timetable rather than a confirmed opening day.

The club is discussing alternative playing arrangements with nearby facilities for its members during the closure. Future subscription terms and post-reopening tee-time arrangements have not yet been finalised. Visitors considering a golf trip to County Louth in 2027 should verify course availability directly before making plans.

A significant assignment

Seapoint is located at Newtown, Termonfeckin, County Louth, Ireland, A92 RV08, close to Drogheda and neighbouring County Louth Golf Club. Originally designed by Des Smyth and Declan Branigan, the links opened in 1993 and has staged important Irish amateur and professional events. The project marks Harrington’s first full 18-hole course design assignment and could reshape the playing experience at one of the county’s established visitor links.

Sources: Seapoint Golf Links’ official redevelopment update; the €7 million investment and 5 October announcement are corroborated by a Genesis Links Limited statement reported by Irish Golfer on 6 October 2026.

Image: archival photograph of Pádraig Harrington at Valderrama in 2008; it does not depict Seapoint or the proposed works. Photograph: Pablo Herrero, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.