Region: West
Course Name: Lahinch Golf Club
Address: Dough, Lahinch, Co.Clare
Web Address: https://lahinchgolf.com/
At a Glance
Located 45 minutes from Shannon International Airport, Lahinch is famous throughout the world of golf since the 1890’s while, in more recent years, it has become a very popular international surfing destination.
Lahinch is a key destination on the Wild Atlantic Way, located on the edge of the Burren National Park (UNESCO recognized Global and European Geopark) and only 10km from one of the world’s great natural wonders, the Cliffs of Moher, while the Aran Islands can be accessed by ferry from Doolin.
Founded: 1892
Type: Links
Par: 74
Length: 6,950 yards/ 6,355 metres
Holes: 18
Designer: Martin Hawtree and Old Tom Morris
Played by all the Greats
Golf in Lahinch dates back as far as 1892 but the course we know and love today was introduced to the world as we entered the 21st century. In the latter end of the 1990s the west coast of Ireland was inundated with golf tourists from every corner of the earth. With the latest developments in golf technology and equipment it was decided that if Lahinch was going to be a main feature in visitors’ itineraries, it needed to be modernized. The club enlisted Martin Hawtree in 1999 to oversee the redesign. Hawtree continued with Old Tom Morris and Alister MacKenzie’s vision and ensured that the natural landscape dictated what the golfer had to do on each shot.
The course has been played and praised by many of the greats in the game both past and present.
But we are here for the golf...
The course plays over and through excellent links terrain. Two of golf’s finest blind shots exist on the front nine. On the par-5 4th hole, after you tee through the dunes, you are forced to take your second shot out over an enormous dune before continuing with the hole. If you think that is tough – the blind tee shot on the next hole, the par-3 5th, is something else. This short hole forces you to take your ball over a 30ft dune to find the green. Trouble is, you cannot go long because what rests at the back of the green is, you’ve guessed it, another 30ft dune. The course is set up to bring the dunes and the Atlantic breeze into play and that is where Hawtree has really captured Morris and MacKenzie’s vision. The advice on such a course would usually be to keep the ball low, but Lahinch forces you to hit high on many shots which is not the normal state of play on a links course. This is a course you will not forget anytime soon!
Local Attractions
- Cliffs of Moher
- Lahinch Town
- Tralee
- Wild Atlantic Way
- Aran Islands
Our Guests Say:
This is one of the finest links courses in Ireland and is one to be included into a dream itinerary for golf in Ireland.
Our Verdict:
This course is fast and hard. Every club in your bag will be used though some will be used sparingly. Having successfully hosted the Irish Open in 2019, and having received rave international reviews, Lahinch’s popularity is soaring right now!
