The Klondyke at Lahinch is another signature hole that will likely never be replicated. While it seems easy enough on paper, measuring 470 yards from the tips and playing with the prevailing wind, many a large number have been made on this classic golf hole.

An intimidating tee shot into a natural valley meets the player upon his arrival to the 4^th hole. While the fairway is thin and meandering, it plays larger as a ball that favors the right hill will feed down into the fairway. There is, however, a fine line between a good drive that kicks back into play and one that gets stuck on the hill leaving an uneven stance. I've personally played a shot with the ball at equal height with my shoulders.

Assuming a quality drive, the second shot requires a great deal of trust in ones game and decision-making. You have nothing to guide you but a yardage marker and a white stone on top of a dune that stands 150 yards from the green.

Missing right on the second will finish in native Marram grass or a bunker, while missing left will leave a challenging approach over a hillock that lies on the front left corner of the green.

The green is beautifully laid in a valley, almost mimicking the fairway. The contours form a boomerang shaped green around the hillock short left, and can play like a redan-style green although it does not fit the true definition. 

A stone wall that runs the length of the road bordering the course on the East protects the player from going OB. A grass mound was created to cover the wall because balls would often bounce off the stones, leaving the player in good position after a poor shot. The grass wall absorbs the impact and leaves the ball off the green, although often still in good shape.

The grass mound that protects the rock wall behind the Klondyke's green.

The forecaddies' shack on top of the dune.

Another quirk of the hole is that it crosses paths with the 18th. People on 18 tee off perpendicularly over the fairway between the dune and the green. Because of this a caddy stays on top of the dune with a red or green flag, signaling when the group in front has cleared the green and to ensure no one from the 18th is crossing.

Looking back toward the tee from the top of the dune shows how narrow the fairway truly is.

Facing the green from the top of the dune.

Standing on the green looking back at the dune.