I was just flipping through Doak/Scott/Haddock's "Life and Work of Dr. MacKenzie", when I came across the little gazetteer in the back listing the par-3 11th at Lahinch as one of the Good Doctor's all-time finest one-shot holes. I made my first visit to Lahinch back in April and played this hole to the new green, which I would imagine is one product of Mr. Hawtree's renovation a couple of years ago.
Fortunately the original MacKenzie green still exists (see below), while the new green pushes out even closer to the strand and offers even bigger views of Liscannor Point.
So, a veritable train wreck of questions come to mind:
For those familiar with the "old" Lahinch--how did the original #11 play? Where was the tee? If this hole could take its place alongside the likes of the 16th at CPC and the Gibraltar hole at Moortown, what on earth was the motivation to discontinue use of the original hole? The members I played with that day said that the links had gained 2-3 shots of difficulty since the Hawtree reno--is this one of those places? And regardless of whether it is or is not, does this constitute an improvement?
(PS: I liked the #11 I played, but passing by that terrific, undulating old green I couldn't help wonder about all of this....)
Thanks!
Tom