Lahinch Golf Club: Under the Spotlight

Located between Galway and Limerick on the Atlantic Coast is the classic links of Lahinch Golf Club. While there are two golf courses at the club, the Old Course is one of the finest layouts in the whole of Ireland.

The golf club opened in 1892, but the links course that stands today was built in 1894, and designed by Old Tom Morris. Some would argue that the Old Course is the finest natural links course you will find anywhere in the world due to the unique layout which offers something different on each hole including two blind holes.

Couple this with the pure links conditions and the panoramic scenery makes Lahinch a course you definitely need to play on your trip to Ireland.

In 1927, Dr. Alister MacKenzie was commissioned to build a second course on the Lahinch property which is now the Castle Course at Lahinch. While the course is an easier test than the Old Course, it still presents its own challenges. Situated across Liscannor Road from the Old Course, the Dough Castle ruins sit between the 7th green and 8th tee making it the signature landmark of Lahinch. The course is a par-69 and plays less than 5,500 yards from the furthest tees.

For the yardage of the Old Course, it will play between 5,500 and 7,060 yards depending on which of the tees you play. For the layout, holes 1-8 and 11-13 play on or near the coast whilst the remaining holes play inland. Liscannor Road separates the Old Course from the Castle Course with the Old Course playing on the coastal side of the road. Golfers will tee off in front of the clubhouse on the opening hole and finish the round between the first tee box and the road. The course plays in basically two directions, parallel and perpendicular to the road and coast. Holes 1-3, 7-10, and 14-18 play parallel to the road with the rest playing in the opposite direction.

The course itself boasts massive coastal dunes which makes finding a flat lie very hard. You will experience elevation changes throughout the course due to the amount of dunes that carve out the course. While bunkers are prevalent throughout, they are strategically placed, primarily around the greens with only two of the greens void of bunkers. The fairways offer generous landing areas, but tighten up as you get closer to the green. The signature hole is the par-3 5th hole which is a blind shot over a massive dune to a 31-yard-wide green.

For those looking to do a golf tour of the south west area of Ireland, Lahinch pairs extremely well with Doonbeg 35 minutes south and Ballybunion, Tralee, and the other courses in the Killarney area about a two hour’s drive further south.

For accommodation in the area, we would recommend staying in Lahinch or Doonbeg. In terms of accommodation, the Lahinch Coast Hotel is your best bet in the Lahinch area, or the Trump International Hotel Doonbeg 30-minutes south.

• 4 nights accomodation at the Lahinch Coast Hotel
• 3 rounds of golf at; Old Course at Ballybunion Golf Club, Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club and Trump Doonberg Links

View package - 4 nights 3 rounds in Lahinch

Location

• County Clare, Ireland
• 175 miles from Dublin Airport
• 35 miles from Shannon Airport