Lahinch Golf Club is located on the edge of the small seaside resort of Lahinch in County Clare, on the Atlantic coast of Ireland.

The culture of the sport so imbues the town of Lahinch that it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the town and the golf course.

Unspoiled beauty

To present golfers with a combination of unique golfing challenges to add to the enjoyment of one of the most unspoiled parts of Ireland, Lahinch Golf Club provides two 18-hole links courses, the Castle Course and the famous Old Course, the gem of Irish golf courses.

The club was founded in 1892, due to the fortuitious cooperation between officials of the Limerick Golf Club and officers of the Black Watch Regiment, then stationed in Limerick.

Lahinch soon took its place as one of the premier links courses of Ireland.

Mecca for golfers

Lahinch Golf Links has the distinction of being a MacKenzie course, a mecca for keen golfers.

The club was conceived in 1892, as reported in the Clare Journal of April 11, of that year.

The club had started when on March 26, 1892, Alexander W. Shaw and Richard J. Plummer, two prominent officials of Limerick Golf Club, went to the west coast of Clare.

They had heard a casual rumour that, somewhere between Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay, there was suitable ground for a golf course.

Natural terrain

While travelling from Ennistymon they passed what was then a dreary desolate piece of land, a mass of sandhills.

As a result of further visits to this area, Lahinch Golf Club was born.

The naturally existing sand-dune terrain was turned to good advantage by Dr Alister MacKenzie when he modelled the course in the 1920s.

A major project begun by Martin Hawtree in 1999, and now successfully completed, has been restoring the MacKenzie characteristics lost by subsequent alterations over the years.

Also contributing to the characterful nature of the Old Course are two holes which still survive from the input made by Old Tom Morris in 1894 - No.4 The Klondyke' and No.5 The Dell'.

Championships

A highlight of Ireland's golfing calendar is the South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Begun in 1895, the South of Ireland still has its home at Lahinch's Old Course, and is keenly contested by Ireland's amateur golfers.

Old Course rates are stable all year and start from 155 euros (approx £123) per round, while the second round on the Old Course if taken the same day is 40 euros (approx £32).

Fixed rates

But to take advantage off this offer, the second round must be booked on the day of play.

Castle Course rates are also fixed all-year-long. These start from 50 euros (approx £40) per round and the second round is 40 euros (approx £32), if it is taken on the same day.

One round taken on both courses during the same day is 195 euros (approx £155). Players can rent golf clubs from the pro shop for 30 euros (approx £24) per set.

Caddies and carts

The club does not allow golf carts on the course but pull carts are available for four euros (approx £3) each.

Caddy rates are as follows, but may alter: Senior Caddies are 40 euros (approx £32) per bag per round; Intermediate caddies are 30 euros (approx £24) per bag per round; and Junior caddies are 25 euros (approx £20) per bag per round.

For more information contact: The Secretary/Manager, Lahinch Golf Club, Lahinch, County Clare, Ireland. Tel: (065) 7081003. Fax: (065) 7081592. E-mail: info@lahinchgolf.com Website: www.lahinchgolf.com