Liscannor Rd,
Lahinch, Co. Clare
Office
+353 (0)65 708 1003Pro shop
+353 (0)65 708 1003Fax
+353 (0)65 708 1592Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Donal McSweeney (PGA, Head Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Original layout by Old Tom Morris. Significant later modifications by Dr Alister MacKenzie (1920s); MacKenzie left untouched Morris's best holes (e.g. par-5 4th, par-3 5th). Further enhancements by Martin Hawtree (2003).
Above distances are for Old course. Also at Lahinch is the 18-hole Castle Course (par-70; 5,594 yds from back tees).
52.936172
-9.346446
71 km NW of Limerick
From Ennis take the N85 north, direction Ennistimon. After approx 26 km, in Ennistimon, turn left onto N67, direction Lehinch. After 4 km, just before entering centre of Lahinch (Lehinch in Irish), turn right onto the R478 direction Liscannor. After 220 m golf is on your left. (Allow about 45 minutes drive time Ennis to Lahinch).
Lahinch (Old)
Lahinch Golf Club (Old course): Here on the edge of Lahinch Bay is one of Ireland's best known and best loved links golf courses. The Old course at Lahinch is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Inagh River, the town of Lahinch and a small local road. Inside these bounds, you'll discover towering dunes, fabulous ocean views and a thoroughly absorbing layout, first conceived by Old Tom Morris, and then perfected by the great Alistair MacKenzie.
The Old course occupies as perfect an environment for seaside golf as can be found anywhere. Threading through the impressive sandhills, are crisp-turf rolling fairways and an abundance of links-style pot bunkers, all with more "gathering" ability than their size suggests. Nestling amongst the dunes are fast-paced greens, full of mesmerising slopes.
On your first visit, taking a caddie is probably the smartest move you can make. Most greens are home to roller-coaster slopes, unfathomable to all but the trained eye.
From almost every part of this most memorable course, and not just from its higher elevations, there are spectacular views to enjoy. Across the road is the club's Castle course, not as highly-rated or as long as the Old course, but also worth playing if you have time.
Pick of the holes: much revered (and maybe feared) at Lahinch are its two infamous "blind" holes. The short par-5 4th (Klondyke) requires a good length drive, before going up and over a 35-foot dune that straddles the fairway; the hope is that your second shot gets you close to the blind green somewhere in the distance. Old Tom has you guessing again at the 5th (Dell). At this world famous short par-3, a long shallow green sits snuggly between two 30-foot high sand dunes, completely out of sight from the tee.
Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details, discounts, day & combination tickets, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Lahinch's Old and Castle courses are walking-only course. Caddies available. Golf carts (buggies) are not available. Visitors playing the Old course must take at least one caddie in each flight.
Good
In March 1892 Alexander Shaw, Richard Plummer and a number of officers from the British Army's Black Watch Regt went in search of sand dunes suitable for the creation of a golf course. They discovered Lahinch. The first game of golf was played at on Good Friday 1892 (April 15) between Lt William McFarlane of the Black Watch and William F. McDonnell, a Limerick businessman. Feathers and sticks were used to mark out the course.
In 1894 Lahinch Golf Club's founder Alexander Shaw invited Old Tom Morris to design a new links golf course. Old Tom commented that Lahinch was “the finest natural course he had ever seen”.
"Lahinch" is the anglicised form of Leath Inse, which means peninsula.
Lahinch is the annual venue for the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, among whose illustrious past winners are: Darren Clarke (1990), Paul McGinley (1991) and Graeme McDowell (2000). Padraig Harrington was twice the runner-up (1994, 1995).
Old course:
Ireland's 5th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 18th best course (Golf World, 2022).
World's 37th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 31st best public access course (Golf World, 2023).
Lahinch, Co. Clare
+353 (0)65 708 2800
Visit websiteMoy House was originally built in the mid-18th century as home to Sir Augustine Fitzgerald. The house enjoys breathtaking views over Lahinch Bay, and is set on 15 acres of grounds adorned by mature woodland and a picturesque river. Major restoration work has transformed this country house in keeping with present day expectations, yet preserving its unique character, style and ambiance.
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