lahinch golf course

Golf at Lahinch goes back to 1892, when officers of a Scottish regiment, ‘The Black Watch’ stationed in Limerick city were out exploring the Co. Clare countryside when they came upon the sand dunes. They marked out an 18 hole course which was further enhanced by Old Tom Morris when he came to visit in 1894. On completion of the course layout Old Tom said “I consider the links as fine a natural course as it has ever been my good fortune to play over”.

In 1928 the links was extensively revised by Dr. Alaistair MacKenzie who declared “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed”. High praise from the man who went on to create Cyprus Point, Royal Melbourne and Augusta National among others. There is a second course called the Castle Course built on the flatter land across the road.

The South of Ireland Open Amateur Championship is held at Lahinch every year since 1895. It attracts the best amateur golfers from around the globe. In Lahinch everybody is a golf fan, with the town growing up around the golf course it is often mentioned that Lahinch is the St. Andrews of Ireland.

The finger print of Old Tom Morris still exists after all the tweaks to this great course down through time. Untouched is the 6th hole, The Dell, a Par 3. it’s a hole that frustrates and excites all at the same time every time you play it, the best pictures are often on radio it is said when playing a blind golf shot. The green is completely guarded front and back by two large dunes, with the green hidden in the middle the golfer aims for the white stone on the front hill which indicates the pin position, all you have to do is pull the trigger, its that easy!