Hole 2 Par 5
534 Blue
523 White
This is just a great Par 5 in my view, and a factor that I think makes Lahinch stand out amongst the top Irish links. Many circa 1900 links have quite short, tame Par 5s that add nothing to the experience. Lahinch has the best set I have played, trouncing the venerable Royal County Down. The mix of this, the Klondyke, and the 12th is nothing short of world class in my biased opinion!
The line off the tee is at the bunkers on the right and to try and turn it over. This is a great fairway as there is a good slope from right to left, and also affords a turbo boost if you can carry it approx 220 yards.
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2A-TeeShot.jpg)
A better look at the tee shot: (prize for picking out my house)
From Beside the bunkers on the left, ~220 off the tee & 300 to the green:
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2B-300out.jpg)
Just short of the fairway bunkers on the right. The raised lips impede your view to the green, and making commitment to the shot all important. Note how balls will trickle into them - narrowing the mowing lines would make this hole play a lot easier!
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2B-BunkersOffTeeRight.jpg)
The site of an ideal lay up, taking the bunkers out of play and leaving around 100 yards in. This hole gives me fits, because after a good drive I am generally left with 250 in. I cant quite reach, yet I still cant bring myself to hit 8 iron down and then a flip wedge on. Time and time again, I try to hit 3 wood onto the front, and invaribably end up in one of the bunkers lurking left and right, or leave myself with an awkward pitch to a great/crazy green.
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2B-110out.jpg)
This is a view from inside the 2nd bunker short of the green. Note there is a good 20 yards of fairway before one gets to the green. It definitely plays tricks with your perception of the hole, and if you end up in one - a par is a good score.
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2C-BunkersFrontRight.jpg)
This is one of the hardest greens to get an approach shot close. I tried to give you an idea of the slopes/contours in these 2 pictures. IMHO this is an example of Hawtree's best work on the course (the previous green had been flattened some 50 years previously and was very out of character with any of MacKenzies work I have seen before/since)
![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2C-GreenFrontRight.jpg)
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![](http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb178/pxexg101/Lahinch2C-GreenFrontRightB.jpg)