Lahinch Golf Club

Lahinch Golf Club
Lahinch Golf Club is located in Ireland
Lahinch Golf Club
Location in Ireland
52°56′10″N 9°20′46″W / 52.936°N 9.346°W / 52.936; -9.346
Club information
LocationLahinch, County Clare, Munster, Ireland
Established1892, 134 years ago
Typelinks
Total holes36
TournamentsSouth of Ireland Championship (annual)
Jacques Léglise Trophy (2003)
Irish Open (2019)
Arnold Palmer Cup (2024)
Walker Cup (2026)
Websitelahinchgolf.com
Old Course (Championship)
Designed byOld Tom Morris (1892)
Alister MacKenzie (1927)
Martin Hawtree (2003)
Par72
Length6,950 yards (6,355 m)
Course record60 – Robert Rock (2019)[1]
Castle Course
Designed byJohn D. Harris
Par69
Length5,488 yards (5,018 m)
Golf at Lahinch, c. 1897

Lahinch Golf Club is a links golf course in western Ireland, in the town of Lahinch on the northwest coast of County Clare in northern Munster. It is situated approximately thirty-two kilometres (20 mi) northwest of the town of Ennis. In 2024, Golf Digest ranked the Old Course at Lahinch #27 on their list of the world's greatest golf courses.[2]

History

Lahinch Golf Club was founded 134 years ago in 1892 by Alexander W. Shaw and Richard J. Plummer, officials of Limerick Golf Club. They laid out an 18-hole course, the original course had ten holes on each side of the road.[3] It has been described as the "St. Andrews" of Ireland.[4]

Lahinch Golf Club

The original links was laid out by Old Tom Morris; Alister MacKenzie, who co-designed Augusta National Golf Club, redesigned the Old Course and extended the links in 1927 for a fee of £2000. Lahinch is actually two 18-hole courses, the Old Course, is between the road and the sea, situated at the opposite side of the road from the Old Course is the Castle Course. The Castle Course is a flatter links named after the ruins of a nearby castle tower that stands to the north of the course.[5]

The Old Course at Lahinch was renovated by Martin Hawtree from 1999 to 2003, during which four holes were re-routed. Two new par-3s were also added along with 16 new tees and various bunkers.[6]

Sculpture of a feral goat at Lahinch GC

One unusual feature of the Old Course is the presence of goats which are allowed to roam freely across the course. They were originally owned by a caddie who lived near the course, and in 1956 a goat was incorporated into the club's logo.[7] As part of the club's celebrations for its 125th anniversary, a bronze statue of the "Rampant Goat" was installed outside the clubhouse in June 2017. It was created by sculptor Seamus Connolly.[8]

Green fees generated €4.2 million in revenue for Lahinch Golf Club in 2025, which was 65% of the club's total revenue that year. The green fee was €450 in 2026 and set to rise to €500 in 2027. Annual membership was €950 and the club had 2,500 members as of 2026. Club captain John Gleeson said to The Irish Times that new membership was mostly limited to family of existing members and this made it "nigh on impossible" for outsiders to join.[9]

Events hosted

Lahinch Golf Club is home to the South of Ireland Championship, an amateur golf tournament which began in 1895. Notable winners include Joe Carr in 1969, Darren Clarke in 1989, Paul McGinley in 1991 and Graeme McDowell in 2000. Ireland's Pádraig Harrington finished runner up on two occasions.

As part of the 2019 European Tour schedule, Lahinch Golf Club hosted the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July. The tournament was hosted by Paul McGinley and won by Jon Rahm.[10] During the tournament, Robert Rock broke the course record with a 60 in the third round. He had an eagle putt on the par-5 18th to shoot 59, but narrowly missed.[1]

Lahinch also hosted the Arnold Palmer Cup in 2024,[11] and is scheduled to host the 2026 Walker Cup.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Irish Open 2019: Course and tournament record smashed at Lahinch as Robert Rock is inches away from elusive 59". Irish Independent. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  2. ↑ Duncan, Derek (10 July 2024). "World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses". Golf Digest. Condé Nast. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "Lahinch Golf Club History". Lahinchgolf.com. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "About Lahinch Golf Club". Lahinchgolf.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010.
  5. ↑ "Courses at Lahinch Golf Club". Lahinchgolf.com. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Lahinch record on the line at the South". www.irishexaminer.com. 23 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "The Goats of Lahinch". Lahinch Golf Club. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "€115,000 ensures Lahinch celebrations go with a swing". Irish Independent. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lahinch Golf Club prepares to host the Walker Cup: 'It's an unbelievable course'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "'I love this tournament' - Spain's Jon Rahm wins his second Irish Open following a round of 62 at Lahinch". Irish Independent. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Lahinch the big winner as USA singles firepower proves enough to retain Arnold Palmer Cup". Irish Independent. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "The 51st Walker Cup to be played at Lahinch in 2026". R&A. Retrieved 10 July 2023.


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