Lahinch Golf Club is a facility steeped in tradition and is associated with some of the most well-known names in all of golf. It was founded in 1892 by two high ranking members of nearby Limerick Golf Club. Their original layout was then re-designed by the highly revered Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews in 1894. The par 3 5th hole (which will be highlighted later) serves as a make-shift time machine and takes the modern golfer back to the origins of golf, as the hole remains the same as it did in Old Tom's original layout. 

Painting of the legendary Old Tom Morris playing one of Lahinch's seaside holes.

Fast forward to 1927 and another name synonymous with world class golf course architecture leaves his mark on Lahinch; Alister MacKenzie. For those unfamiliar, Dr. MacKenzie is widely regarded as one of the finest architects in golfs history. His work includes Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne, to name a few. 

A photo that hangs in the clubhouse of the world renowned architect Dr. Alister MacKenzie.

Dr. MacKenzie believed the best golf courses were not made, but discovered. He saw nature as the best designer of golf courses. He put these ideals to work to leave his mark on the Old Course at Lahinch. He wove holes in and out of sand dunes and created greens with subtle movements to seamlessly blend in with the surrounding landscape.

Looking back over the back 9 from the 9th green, the setting sun highlights the rolling dunes that Old Tom and Dr. MacKenzie had at their disposal.

Looking from 16 tee down 13 fairway that shows how the architects were able to place a golf course onto the land, rather than engineer the land into a golf course.

In 1999 the club employed Martin Hawtree to bring back to life the brilliance of Dr. MacKenzie and Old Tom, as a series of alterations in the 1930's had less than ideal outcomes. Mr. Hawtree then set out on a 5 year plan to restore the course to a level that would make Dr. MacKenzie proud. By all measures the work was a success, and Lahinch Golf Club returned to it's rightful place as a Top 50 golf course in the world.