Involved in course architecture. His first course, Pinnacle Point, opened in late 2006 near Mossel Bay in the southern Cape of South Africa. Other designs include Castle Dargan and Moyvalley in Ireland and the Angus in Scotland. In 2002, formed the Darren Clarke Foundation to help Irish junior golf and discover the Irish stars of the future. "I have a debt to Irish golf, and I wanted to give something back to the Golfing Union of Ireland and golf in this country."

Winner of the 1989 East of Ireland Amateur.

In 1990, captured the Spanish Open Amateur Championship, Irish Amateur Championship, North of Ireland Amateur and the South of Ireland Amateur.

Made his European Tour debut, at the Carroll's Irish Open, finishing T50.