Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)

Lahinch Golf Club

Liscannor Rd,

Lahinch, Co. Clare

  • Office

    +353 (0)65 708 1003
  • Pro shop

    +353 (0)65 708 1003
  • Fax

    +353 (0)65 708 1592
  • Golf pro

    Donal McSweeney (PGA, Head Professional).

About the course

  • 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).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6950
6611
5502
Par
72
72
74
SSS or slope
74
73
74

At the same location:

Above distances are for Old course. Also at Lahinch is the 18-hole Castle Course (par-70; 5,594 yds from back tees).

Location

Latitude:

52.936172

Longitude:

-9.346446

How to get there:

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 Golf Club (Old course)

5-star: Fabulous – courses don’t get much better than this.

Est. 1892

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.

List of courses: Ireland - West
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)
  • Photo of Lahinch Golf Club (Old course)

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays; more restricted on weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes on the Old Course in high season (mis-April thru' Sept) (all days): €275. Castle course €60.

Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, day & combination tickets, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

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.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

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).

Published ranking

Old course:
Ireland: 5th best course in Ireland (Golf World, 2023).
GB&I: 18th best course in Britain & Ireland (Golf World, 2022).
World: 36th best course in the world (GOLF magazine, 2021/22).

Where2Stay

  • Moy House4-star

    Lahinch, Co. Clare

    +353 (0)65 708 2800

    Visit website

    Moy 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.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Lahinch

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Doonbeg

  • Vaughan Lodge4-star

    Lahinch, Co. Clare

    +353 (0)65 708 1111

    Visit website
    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 10 km:

      Lahinch

    • Golf within 30 km:

      Doonbeg

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