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Lahinch Golf Club
Lahinch, County Clare
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| Golf at Lahinch goes back to 1892, when officers of a Scottish regiment - The Black Watch - stationed in Limerick city, out exploring the rugged countryside of County Clare happened upon the vast expanse of sand dunes that is Lahinch. Together with some native enthusiasts these Scotsmen founded Lahinch Golf Club on Good Friday, 1893. The original course was designed by the legendary 'Old' Tom Morris of St. Andrews who, on completing the layout, enthused: "I consider the links as fine a natural course as it has ever been my good fortune to play over". In 1928 the links was extensively revised by Dr. Alastair MacKenzie who was so impressed with the fine natural terrain that he declared: "Lahinch will make the finest and most popular course that I, or I believe anyone else, ever constructed". Praise indeed from a man who was responsible for such formidable layouts as Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and Augusta National. Today Lahinch boasts two 18 hole courses, the Old Course and a second, the Castle Course, which was added in 1975. Much of the pleasure of Lahinch is derived from the atmosphere that envelopes not just the golf links but the entire village which rests just above the course. For in Lahinch everybody is a golf enthusiast and this quickly transmits itself to the visitor hence the description of Lahinch as the St. Andrews of Irish Golf. Apart from the splendour of its location, Lahinch has gained world-wide recognition through its charming idiosyncrasies. The Old Course is the permanent home of the South of Ireland Open Amateur Championship, first played in 1895, and which annually attracts the cream of Ireland's amateur golfers to play for this most coveted title and the magnificent trophy which goes with it. The course also regularly hosts the Irish National Amateur and Professional Championships. Set right on the Atlantic and exposed to the ocean through all her moods, moulded and shaped over centuries by nature’s harsh elements and an occasional touch of human genius, Lahinch, with its towering sand dunes, undulating fairways and rolling greens is the perfect natural golfing terrain - a true links. |
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© 2004 Authentic Ireland Travel |
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