Lahinch this Friday

[Richard Pennell]

After spending several holidays in County Clare in the past, this Friday I finally get to play the Old Course in the company of a good friend and lifelong matchplay adversary. I remember reading somewhere that they'd taken an architect on to make a few changes a couple of years back but I can't recall who or what. Any information that will helpme make the most of my trip will be greatly appreciated.
I will be packing some waterproofs.

Cheers

Richard

[Jason Topp]

Richard:

Here is an old thread with some photographs and discussion of the changes.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=17985;start=msg318660#msg318660

Have fun!

[Richard Pennell]

Perfect, thank you Jason

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Richard,  Please share with us your thoughts after playing there.

[mike_malone]

 As I think about Lahinch , I wonder whether there are other courses that have the impact that this course has with its dunes. You hit up to that #3 fairway and enter  an elevated playing area for several holes. While Klondike brings you back down to sea level , you are back again in a few holes.

  This creates an  otherwordly feeling to me. I am transported to a very different golfing place.

   I love Ballybunion the best , but my feeling there is playing through the dunes. Lahinch has a specialness about it that comes from playing within that duneshill for so many holes.

[Don Dinkmeyer]

Have an awesome time!

Look for goats, please - i was told the past 3 years the goats were no more - and did not see them.

Now someone else has gone in August and remembers goats...what's the real story!  

[Richard Pennell]

Wow, what a golf course. I don't know where to start. Obviously the location is fantastic, with the wind howling across the dunes off the Atlantic. I loved the way the course winds through some pretty large dunes, so you could see other holes as you worked your way round, but without being too close to any other groups. On the exposed bits all you hear is the wind, then drop a few yards into a valley and the place is so peaceful and quiet. I loved the challenge of the blind and semi-blind teeshots, all of which seemed to be into or across the wind! I loved the unexpected or hidden features, like the enormous hollow and fairway bunker as you turn the corner of the 6th, or the hidden depression short of the 14th green. The contouring on and around the greens was stunning and pretty severe in places, while never looking contrived. The conditioning was as good as I've seen, just about perfect, and still playing fairly firm after buckets of rain. I've not had masses of experience of links golf - I played Royal Portrush and County Down last year, and Nefyn in North Wales a few years back, but I can't imagine many prettier or more interesting courses than Lahinch. It was even better than the Dunluce links for me, and I loved that.

We played matchplay, and I lost 5 and 4, and still enjoyed it more than any other course I've played this year. Thanks for helping me prepare, here are a few photos. Cheers


The 4th fairway from wide right


5th green from the back


6th green from right


Original 11th green (we played the alternate)


13th green


14th green and the hollow that can't be seen from 200 yards out


The short 16th


This one was taken in sunshine! I can't work out what green this is, but I'm sure someone will help me out.

ps Don - i didn't see any goats  

[mike_malone]

 My guess is #12 with the inlet along the left (unless they changed the hole #'s on the back as well )

[Brendan Dolan]

Richard thanks for the great photos.  Glad to hear that you enjoyed it.  I also really enjoyed it when I got the chance to play it.  Some really great, corky, and fun holes to play.  Thanks for the photos.  

[Andy Doyle]

Richard:

Thanks for the anniversary memories - I played Lahinch for the first time almost exactly a year ago - my first experience with Irish links golf.  I loved it and can't wait to go back.  You took some great pictures - thanks for posting them.

... my feeling there is playing through the dunes.

And over! - i.e. Klondyke and the Dell.  The angle of your photo of the Klondyke fairway reinforces my perception of just how little area there is to land your drive.

I saw 1 goat ambling across the 9th fairway when I played and the houses behind #16 were there last November (clutters a pretty hole).

Andy

[Jack_Marr]

Lahinch is better than Ballybunion, in my opinion. It's a course I hope to join if the membership opens up again. Indeed, my father was a member there for many years.

Anyway, it was my first links experience. I can think of few courses better than it.