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Lahinch Old Course
Lahinch is often regarded as the St.Andrews of Ireland. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris and later re-designed by the legendary Dr Alistair Mackenzie.
“It will make the finest and most popular course that I or I believe anyone else has ever constructed” Dr Alistair Mackenzie
Lahinch is loaded with blind tee shots, stunning ocean views, and incredible memorability. This is a pure and traditional Irish links experience that is one of the finest in the world.
Lahinch is a course that you will find yourself grinning at while you are playing and you’ll look back with an even bigger smile.
The Course
The Old Course is a typical link in that it has 9 holes out and 9 back. Starting and finishing in the town. The course is full of quirks and holes of real excellence just as you would expect from an Alistair Mackenzie design. The camouflage is unbelievable, and the blind shots are advantageous when bravery and decent ball striking are achieved. Mackensie didn’t like to over complicate things and was renowned for using the land’s lie to design great golf holes. Lahinch proves that the best architect will always be Mother Nature.
There are many standout holes on offer. However, the most famous and unconventional sit back to back. Klondyke and Dell are two golf holes that defy most principles and primary laws of excellent golf course architecture.
Klondyke (4th Hole) is short par 5 at a little over 440 yards and is an original Tom Morris hole that has been tweaked by Mackenzie. A truly outstanding and quirky golf hole. A Tight tee shot in between huge mounds to a narrow landing area leaves you with a decision to make.
Lay up before the huge 35-foot dune in the centre of the fairway or try to get one over the top and rolling down to the blind green with out of bounds behind the green. There will be a marshal on top of the mound holding a red flag and a green flag that will signal you when you are clear to take a blind stroke at the green.
Signature Hole
The Signature Hole at Lahinch Old is the Par 3 5th Hole (Dell). The par three of 154 yards is played entirely blind. A stone will be placed on top of a giant mound to give you the pin’s line. You have to trust your yardage. With a mound at the back of the green and of course the one to carry, you will find that hitting the number is the great test here.
These are two holes that would never be dreamt of being designed in the modern game, making them all the more fun and unique.
Lahinch will not beat you up but will make you think before every golf shot.
A truly magical golf course.
In 2019, John Rahm shot a final round of 62 to take the Irish Open title.
