John O'Connor has hit his final drive but his vision will be his legacy

John O’Connor’s vision of a premier golf course paid off, says Dan Buckley

FOR something which he later acknowledged was bought on a whim, the transformation of the Old Head of Kinsale into one of the world’s great golf links was either John O’Connor’s finest hour or a community and environmental disaster.

Up to the day he died, the man from Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, was in no doubt about the answer. From the moment the course opened in 1997, he knew what he wanted. “We are aiming at the international, serious, travelling golfer. Our aspiration is to rank among the 10 best courses, and, ultimately, to become the premier club in the world. We’re aiming at the top end of the market — and I make no apology for that.”