The origins of Lahinch Golf Club go back to the closing decade of the nineteenth century.
In 1892 officers of the famous Black Watch Regiment stationed in Limerick came upon a
vast wilderness of duneland two miles from the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Being good
Scotsmen, they knew at once that they had found the perfect terrain for a golf links.
When this came to the attention of Alexander W. Shaw and Richard J. Plummer, prominent
officials of the Limerick Golf Club, they at once went out and made enquiries. The result
was a second journey on April 9th when an eighteen-hole course was marked out. They
were helped in the laying out of the course by officers of the Black Watch Regiment. Lahinch
Golf Club was duly founded on Good Friday, 15th April 1892, and the first game of golf
played there.
In 1892 Officers of the famous Black Watch Regiment stationed in Limerick came upon a
vast wilderness of duneland two miles from the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Being good
Scotsmen, they knew at once that they had found the perfect terrain for a golf links.
Since the initial laying out of the course, various improvements have been made over the
years. Alexander Shaw was not long in realizing that the unique nature of this location deserved
very special development. The obvious choice as architect was Old Tom Morris of St Andrews.
He accepted the challenge, but other than laying out the tees and greens, he felt there
was little he could do. He commented: 'I consider the links is as fine a natural course as it
has ever been my good fortune to play over.' More praise was to follow. In 1927 Dr. Alister
Mackenzie was invited to make a number of adjustments to the links. On completion he
remarked, 'Lahinch will make the finest and most popular course that I, or I believe anyone
else, ever constructed.' Not perhaps the most modest statement ever made, but coming from
a man who would very shortly design Cypress Point on the Monterey Peninsula and later
help to create the legendary Augusta, it can hardly be taken lightly.
Designers: 'Old' Tom Morris and Dr. Alastair McKenzie
Holes: 18
6,753 yards
Par:72
