The visit to Lahinch had been much anticipated by all. Unfortunately the weather gods did not share our enthusiasm. On most days we have had some poor weather to deal with. Either very strong winds, a downpour or two of rain, or consistent drizzle. Well we got the worst of it all.
Torrential rain, and 60kmh winds meant that most rounds were abandoned before the completion of nine holes.
Even the local goats were hiding.
Prior to departure on Friday, I had some spare time, and the weather was perfect (of course it was when we were not playing), so the club allowed me to go back and take a few photos.
In March 1892 Alexander Shaw, Richard Plummer and a number of officers from the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army went to the west coast of Clare in search of sand dunes that would be suitable for the development of a golf course. They discovered Lahinch and during a second visit in early April, laid out a links golf course.
Lahinch carries many of the characteristics of classic old world design, that make playing it and courses like it so much fun. The above shot is at the tee of the par five 4th hole. You drive in between the dunes, and are confronted by a another dune directly in front of you. You must play over this dune (aiming at the marker on the hill) to the green.
After dealing with that, you walk to the left, and are faced with another dune. This hole however, is a par three. Again you select your club, and fire at the white marker on the hill. (you can see the marker on the left side of the picture above).
The view from behind left of the 5th green, showing the obstacle that you hit over.
It was in 1894 Alexander Shaw invited Old Tom Morris, the celebrated Scottish golfer, to design a new links golf course. Old Tom Morris placed great emphasis on the sandhills side of the links. He said Lahinch was “the finest natural course he had ever seen”. These two holes are Old Tom Morris holes.
In 1926 the services of world renowned Golf Course Architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie were sought and plans for a new 18 hole course were agreed. In his report to the Committee, Dr. MacKenzie stated that, “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular golf course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed.” The cost of the development was set at £2,000.
In 1999, the famous British golf architect, Dr. Martin Hawtree, who has re-designed several British Open links for the R&A, modernised the links. 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. In all, 16 tees were re-built and 14 greens completely re-shaped, restoring them to their original character conceived by MacKenzie. Hawtree wisely left the magical “Klondyke” (4th) and “Dell” (5th) holes alone.
The view from the tee on the par three 8th, showing the extent of the use of the natural dunes.
The green at the 8th.
The Club crest embracing the thistle and the goat was approved by the Committee in the early 1950’s. The thistle represented the Scottish element in the founding of the Club, and the goat symbolised the weather.
The barometer at the Club was not functioning properly in the 1960's and the Secretary / Manager wrote on it's face; “See Goats”. When the weather was wet and the forecast poor, the goats were usually seen hovering around the clubhouse – in fine weather they made their way out to the far regions of the golf links. The barometer is still there, with this message.
As I mentioned earlier, the goats were not near the clubhouse. When I asked one of the members about it, I was told "they have been tied up out on the 9th, if we are getting that wet, so are they!". This was not true, but I understood the sentiment.
The green site at the par three 11th.
This is what you see when you get to the tee on the par five 12th. A stunning view with the Inagh River to the left, and the ruins of the Dough Castle in the distance.
The view from behind the 12th green.
Looking back down the par four 13th, from behind the green.
The Dough Castle in the distance is next to the green on the second course here, the aptly named "Castle Course". The Castle was built in 1306 and in 1654, Colonel Stubber, a Cromwellian Officer, saved the Castle from the “Commissioners for overthrowing and demolishing Castles in Connaught and Clare”.
It was described in 1675 as a tall battlemented tower with a two-storied dwelling house attached to one side.
The present ruin is the result of poor foundations (mainly sand) rather than the ravages of war. The building collapsed at various times, mainly during the nineteenth century. Only one wall now remains of Dough Castle.
The great bunkering approaching the green on the par four 17th.
At the final hole you again see some more old school quirkiness. The view here does not look like anything special, but it is the fact that you need to drive over both the 5th and 4th holes to get to the fairway, that makes it quite unique. I love it.
I am glad I got back so that I could share some pictures.
Noeleen Hayres won our prize today.
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