Founded in 1892, Lahinch Golf Club is steeped in history. The course stands alone as the only to have been designed by both Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie. The original course was updated in 1894 by Old Tom Morris. Then in 1927, Alister MacKenzie relocated a few holes and added undulations to the greens. The result is one of the best courses in the world; with fantastic dunes and amazing views of the sea.
The first hole is great way to start a round of golf. It is slightly uphill with a large fairway, minimal bunkers and no blind shots. The 1st green is quite large and offers plenty of space to miss to the left. From here the difficulty increases!
The par 5 second hole comes back down towards the clubhouse and to the edge of town. The fairway appears wide from the tee, but the landing area narrows and is protected on both sides by a pair of bunkers. A good tee shot offers the chance at the green in two, but the approach must carry 4 bunkers that line the right side of the fairway. The green is again quite large and it tucked right up against the edge of town.
The fourth hole, name Klondyke, is probably the most recognizable hole at Lahinch. It is famous for the large dune squarely in the middle of the fairway about 300 yards from the tee. On either side of the narrow snaking fairway are large dunes. A good tee shot leaves a downhill 165 – 180 yard blind shot over the Klondyke Hill. The green is large, but not very deep and with OB long. This is a difficult shot!
The par 3 firth is one of my favorite and another famous Lahinch hole. The green, which is wide and shallow, sits tucked in tightly amongst the dunes. Only the right most edge of the green is visible from the tee. A good shot to the right of the green will see the ball funnel its way left behind the dune and out of sight.
The sixth hole is fun as it has a huge depressed waste area and bunker in the middle of the fairway. At 270-280 yards off the tee, the waste area is reachable and I can tell you it not the best place to be for a good score! The best play is a 250 yard shot short and right of it, which leaves a downhill 150 yards to the green. The wildly undulating green sits elevated from the beach and requires a precise shot. The right slopes away to a bunker.
From the 6th and 7th holes, the Cliffs of Moher are visible in the distance.
The 15th hole is a straight forward long par 4. The tee shot is difficult as the fairway tightens and a bunker on the left is to be avoided. The green is well protected with dunes behind it and bunkers left and right.
The par 3 16th is one of my favorites. From the tee the undulations of the green are clearly visible and the green is surrounded on 3 sides by deep bunkers designed to collect errant shots. Behind the green are several white and black homes offering a nice color contrast to the green course. The hole is not as protected by dunes, so a windy day can present extra challenge to the tee shot!
