Lahinch Golf Club
One of the country’s most renowned and historic golf courses. Known as the “St. Andrews of Irish golf,” it was established in 1892 and has since become a premier destination for golfers worldwide. The course is celebrated for its stunning coastal views, challenging links layout, and rich history, hosting many prestigious events, including the Irish Open. Lahinch offers a true test of golf
Established
Lahinch Golf Club was established in 1892. It has since become one of Ireland's most famous and historically significant golf courses.
Course Layout
Lahinch's 18-hole course features a mix of traditional links holes and signature features such as the "Dell", a distinctive par-3 5th hole played from an elevated tee. The course’s routing utilizes the natural terrain, offering both stunning views and testy challenges for golfers of all levels. With undulating fairways, deep bunkers, and challenging green complexes
Location & Conditions
Lahinch, a small seaside village in County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. The club sits right along the Atlantic Ocean, which plays a significant role in both the beauty and challenge of the course. It is about 40 miles (64 km) south of Galway and 15 miles (24 km) from the Cliffs of Moher, a major natural landmark in the region. Lahinch’s conditions are typical of a traditional links golf course, characterized by natural dunes, coastal winds, and often unpredictable weather. The course can be challenging year-round due to the strong winds, wet winters, and dry summers.
Course Overview
Lahinch is a small seaside village on the Atlantic coast in Co. Clare. 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. One of the traditional features of Lahinch is the manner in which the golf club and village go hand in hand. As the first time visitor or long standing member clears the hill between Ennistymon and Lahinch and casts an eye over the golf courses to the right, the houses straight ahead and the broad Atlantic Ocean beyond, they know that a special place lies in wait.Lahinch is a key destination on the Wild Atlantic Way, located on the edge of the Burren National Park (UNESCO recognised 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.
Lahinch has worked with some of the games outstanding designers from its inception through to modern times; Old Tom Morris, Dr. Alister MacKenzie and Dr. Martin Hawtree.
In 1894, Old Tom Morris was commissioned to make full use of the natural links terrain, especially the giant sand dunes at Lahinch. Old Tom believed that Lahinch was the finest natural links course that he had seen. Two of Morris’s creations were the famous Klondyke (4th) & Dell (5th) holes, which are still in play today.
In 1927, one of the greatest golf architects of the 20th century, Dr. Alister MacKenzie, was invited to submit a design for a new layout. The re-design work took one year to complete and featured undulating triple tiered greens.
In 1999, the famous British golf architect, Dr. Martin Hawtree, who has re-designed several British Open links for the R&A, brilliantly modernised the links golf course at Lahinch creating an outstanding challenge – even in the modern era. He re-routed 4 holes and added 2 new par 3′s, the 166-yard 8th and the 170-yard 11th, both set deep in the impressive sand dunes.