Peter Lawrie will hang up his spikes at the end of the season and join Luttrellstown Castle Resort as its Director of Golf.
The 42-year old former Spanish Open Open champion, who has made over 400 European Tour appearances since 1997, has fallen from a career high of 105th in the world to 948th and made just four cuts from nine starts this year.
He earned his European Tour card via the Challenge Tour at the end of 2002, winning the Grand Final to finish fourth in the rankings before going on to make history in 2003 by becoming the first Irish golfer to win the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award.
“I have enjoyed my years on the tour and have made many great friends and contacts,” said UCD graduate Peter Lawrie, who beat Garth McGimpsey 3 and 2 to win the Irish Amateur Close at Royal County Down in 1996 before grinding for six years to make it to the main European Tour.
“I hope to build on my relationships to promote Luttrellstown Castle Resort as the top class venue it is in Ireland.
“I am very excited by this new role. I know the course well and look forward very much to working with the team.”
His greatest achievement as a professional came in 2008 when he won the Open de España, defeating Ryder Cup player and home favourite Ignacio Garrido in a play-off at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
Capped at boys, youths and national level, he played in Asia and Florida in his early days, winning a mini tour event in Florida before eventually graduating from the Challenge Tour.
Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley paid tribute to Lawrie, who will remain on as a member of the European Tour Player’s Committee and join a Luttrellstown Castle team led by General Manager, Anthony Smiddy.
“I wish Peter the very best of luck in this new role at Luttrellstown,” McGinley said. “Peter brings great energy, enthusiasm and professionalism with him and is always a great ambassador for golf in Ireland and internationally.”
Lawrie, who holds a BComm from University College Dublin, won over €5.8m in prize money on the European Tour.
Colm Hannon, Chief Executive of Adare Manor and Luttrellstown Castle Resort — both of which are owned by the Limerick business JP McManus — said in a statement: “We are delighted that Peter is joining the team at Luttrellstown Castle.
“Peter has had a successful professional career and brings over 20 years of golfing experience with him, including professional playing, and golf mentoring and tuition for juniors and aspiring golf professionals.
“Peter has also worked closely with the European Tour on a range of initiatives, including coaching programmes and developing relationships with new promoters for the sport.
“Peter was also elected onto the Player’s Committee, which is responsible for creating and updating rules, regulations and business policies on the Tour.
“Peter has extensive experience in organising and participating in many high profile tournaments and events throughout the world, which will be invaluable to his new role maintaining Luttrellstown Castle Resort as the premier golf club in the Dublin area.”
Runner-up after a play-off in the 2003 Spanish Open, Peter Lawrie had three more runner up finishes in the three years immediately after his 2008 Spanish Open win, losing two more playoffs..
In 2009 he lost out in sudden death in the KLM Open (with Peter Hedblom to Simon Dyson) while in 2010 he fell alongside Gary Boyd to Peter Hanson in Czech Open. He was also joint second in the 2011 Volvo China Open to Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts.
Lawrie has worked with the Confederation of Golf in Ireland in developing national junior golf camps, which will be rolled-out in the spring and summer of 2017 under the brand “Fairways – national junior golf camps.”
As a businessman, he oversaw the development and promoted the GreenI Technology application for use by both players and patrons to track on-course groupings at the BMW Championship at Wentworth and the season ending Race to Dubai Championship.
He also runs the annual Peter Lawrie Golf Classic in aid of the charity RESPECT.
Luttrellstown Castle Resort is situated within the 567 acre walled estate of Luttrellstown Castle, only 20 minutes’ drive to the centre of Dublin City and Dublin Airport.
The 18-hole championship parkland course has undergone a complete redevelopment – all of the 18 holes has been modified and enhanced.
The golf club is located on the eastern side of the estate and is bounded by mature woodlands.
The natural contours of the land have been cleverly used to maintain the integrity of this ancient landscape.
The course measures over 7347 yards from the championship tees, making it a worthy test for golfers of the highest standard.
Educated at Terenure College and a native of Rathfarnham in Dublin, Peter Lawrie now lives near Luttrellstown Castle with his wife Philippa and four children.
