golfing in lahinch

Little Bubbles

Was my first time golfing in lahinch course today. Tough conditions. Have to say I enjoyed it. Shot an 83. Had a great back 9. Gonna play it again soon. Any one else enjoy playing the course.

Norfolk Enchants_

Little Bubbles wrote: »

Was my first time golfing in lahinch course today. Tough conditions. Have to say I enjoyed it. Shot an 83. Had a great back 9. Gonna play it again soon. Any one else enjoy playing the course.

Yea Lahinch is a fine track it's just a shame about the 5th and 6th and the fact they have no opens planned for this year.

Little Bubbles

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

Yea Lahinch is a fine track it's just a shame about the 5th and 6th and the fact they have no opens planned for this year.

What's wrong with those holes. Enjoyed the 5th. Par 3 I think. The dell it's called. Bit weird playing a par 3 blinded but fun. Got a par. Just.

Benny Cake

Little Bubbles wrote: »

What's wrong with those holes. Enjoyed the 5th. Par 3 I think. The dell it's called. Bit weird playing a par 3 blinded but fun. Got a par. Just.

Ah yes, the blind par 3... That's where all the yanks have a hole in one

Henry Ford III

I'm a tad biased admittedly but I think the Championship Course is a great place to visit and play. Infact I'd suggest the course and facilities are better now than they've ever been.

The links are strong golf wise with no poor holes. The Clondyke and The Dell (4th and 5th these times) feature totally blind shots but that's what makes them unique.

The strongest holes are 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 14th and 15th imho. All long par 4's. The rest of the course is good too. Greens are excellent currently, although the 12th green is new (weather damaged the earlier version) and is still developing.

The Hawtree improvements have blended in very well indeed, and the 2 new par 3's - 8th and 11th feel as though they've always been there.

More subtle changes are some of the tees and walkways - all new.

Facilities wise the standard has risen considerably in recent years. The clubhouse has had a major revamp and the bar and restaurant are much plusher and more comfortable, and the food is also excellent. The locker rooms are also new, and of very high quality. The offices and pro shop have swapped location and you now check in at the pro shop situated in the main building beside the 1st tee. There's a good retail offering in the shop too, and a warm welcome.

Henry Ford III

.....I forgot to mention practice facilities, and a big improvement coming down the line.

Currently there's a putting green, short game area, and a couple of nets for the Championship Course, and a quite narrow practice ground across the road at the Castle Course (which is a fun track when the senior links is unavailable).

The club recently bought the old FCA barracks, and I think the plan is to build a golf academy there.

slingerz

I think Lahinch is a fine spot alright but surely not having opens is a drawback on the course. Perhaps it has someting to do with the weather it suffered earlier this year but a few opens there would be nice especially over the summer to draw in the holidaying locals as well as the yank visitors that they seem to be looking for

Norfolk Enchants_

Little Bubbles wrote: »

What's wrong with those holes. Enjoyed the 5th. Par 3 I think. The dell it's called. Bit weird playing a par 3 blinded but fun. Got a par. Just.

Sorry yea I meant the 4th and 5th, the blind 2nd shot on the par 5 and the blind par 3 5th, there're just abit of a bottle neck is all really.

curly from cork

Just home from lahinch , my first time . Loved it , tough conditions with rain wind and sun . Payed with a local and needed the guidance , a few blind shots. Place in great condition . Great new pro shop and revamped locker rooms . I m biased towards links golf but totally loved it . Worth the trip a little over two hours from cork city .

Henry Ford III

Another good tip there. If you know a member ask them sign yoiu in. Apart from local knowledge the green fee is considerably reduced.

act0fgod

I'm a yank and Lahinch is exactly the type of course I want to play when making a trip to the UK or Ireland. A links course with lots of character with the blind shots set in majestic dunes.

I've been reading the board for a bit of time now and it's funny how living in FL I want to get to Ireland and play while many of you want to get to FL and play.

benny79

Do a house swap

blue note

I can't understand people liking blind shots. I just can't see the point of them. And a blind par 3 just sounds daft altogether.

alxmorgan

blue note wrote: »

I can't understand people liking blind shots. I just can't see the point of them. And a blind par 3 just sounds daft altogether.

Completely with you on this one. Game is hard enough without not being able to see the target I'll invariably miss

ShivasIrons

blue note wrote: »

I can't understand people liking blind shots. I just can't see the point of them. And a blind par 3 just sounds daft altogether.

It's only blind once.

Henry Ford III

blue note wrote: »

I can't understand people liking blind shots. I just can't see the point of them. And a blind par 3 just sounds daft altogether.

Play them and you might change your mind?

The first blind shot is over a huge dune in the middle of the fairway on the par 5 4th called The Clondyke. Pick a spot over the white stone and go for it. There's a man stationed on top to watch the balls.

The 2nd one is the very famous par 3 5th called The Dell. The green is in a natural amphitheatre surrounded on all sides by dunes. You can play (depending on wind direction) maybe a 7, 6, or 5 iron, all struct perfectly, and finish in almost the same spot.

They are unique, charming, good fun and demanding to play and yet are part of the character of the place.

p.s. Competitiors in The South of Ireland love these blind shots.

alxmorgan

ShivasIrons wrote: »

It's only blind once.

No it's always blind. You have a better idea the second time and can "picture" it but you still can't see it

newport2

alxmorgan wrote: »

No it's always blind. You have a better idea the second time and can "picture" it but you still can't see it

And you can't see the wind either!

The 5th is a classic hole, I love it.

bustercherry

slingerz wrote: »

I think Lahinch is a fine spot alright but surely not having opens is a drawback on the course. Perhaps it has someting to do with the weather it suffered earlier this year but a few opens there would be nice especially over the summer to draw in the holidaying locals as well as the yank visitors that they seem to be looking for

I don't see how this is a drawback.... I'd say it's only a drawback if your looking for a cheap green fee but if you are a member it's a positive. I think they are doing ok at drawing in the green fees; especially the last time I played it.

alxmorgan

bustercherry wrote: »

I don't see how this is a drawback.... I'd say it's only a drawback if your looking for a cheap green fee but if you are a member it's a positive. I think they are doing ok at drawing in the green fees; especially the last time I played it.

not a drawback, but a pity for all us non-members

bustercherry

alxmorgan wrote: »

not a drawback, but a pity for all us non-members

It depends, if your like me and would like to play a few competitive round on it then yes it is a pity.

If you are like a lot of people who see opens as a cheap way of playing courses, and I include myself in that too; then it's kinda tough luck. It's not as if they don't accept green fees and certainly there is no shortage of people willing to pay either.

slingerz

bustercherry wrote: »

I don't see how this is a drawback.... I'd say it's only a drawback if your looking for a cheap green fee but if you are a member it's a positive. I think they are doing ok at drawing in the green fees; especially the last time I played it.

Competitive golf on a course that has members. I fail to see how Open competitions are to the detriment of the members. For me, Lahinch is trying to go the way of The Old Head of Kinsale with its exclusivity, inflated Green Fee's and lack of competitive golf in the form of open competitions being played there.

I'm not suggesting they hold an open competition each weekend or even every Tuesday but surely having an Open Competition on the course once or twice a month over the summer is not beyond the realms of being reasonably fair. Other 'high profile' courses manage to have Open competitions as well as having inflated Green Fee's so I fail to see why Lahinch is any different to Ballybunion, Tralee, Adare Manor, Fota etc.

blue note

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Play them and you might change your mind?

The first blind shot is over a huge dune in the middle of the fairway on the par 5 4th called The Clondyke. Pick a spot over the white stone and go for it. There's a man stationed on top to watch the balls.

The 2nd one is the very famous par 3 5th called The Dell. The green is in a natural amphitheatre surrounded on all sides by dunes. You can play (depending on wind direction) maybe a 7, 6, or 5 iron, all struct perfectly, and finish in almost the same spot.

They are unique, charming, good fun and demanding to play and yet are part of the character of the place.

p.s. Competitiors in The South of Ireland love these blind shots.

I've played courses with blind shots. On a blind shot to a green - how do you know where the flag is? Where there might be bunkers / water? I'm not a fan of hitting over a hill, possibly hitting the shot I hoped to hit and then fining myself in a bunker / possibly not finding my ball.

On a blind drive - I've hit them over the white stone only to find that the white stone is perfect for a 200 yard drive and you should have aimed left if you're going to hit it a bit bigger.

I just find it annoying that you can essentially hit the shot you intended to, but be punished for it.

Corkblowin

I played an open singles in Lahinch last October! There was a thursday series as far as I remember. You're hoping for a bit of luck with the weather that time of year, but 4 of us went up & got a dry windy day. Great course and its a totally different style of golf to what we do week in week out.

Couldn't recommend the place enough.

Corkblowin

blue note wrote: »

I just find it annoying that you can essentially hit the shot you intended to, but be punished for it.

Then links golf is not for you my friend.

newport2

blue note wrote: »

I just find it annoying that you can essentially hit the shot you intended to, but be punished for it.

Then you're being punished for choosing the wrong shot to hit, not for how you executed it.

slingerz

Anyone here know how to get out in Lahinch midweek without paying the excessive green fees??

Henry Ford III

slingerz wrote: »

Anyone here know how to get out in Lahinch midweek without paying the excessive green fees??

Do you know any of the members? They might sign you in?

slingerz

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Do you know any of the members? They might sign you in?

I dont believe I do, I may know one but i think he is living in Kerry these days. I should be there at the end of July and would like to get on a Wednesday morning or so

TrapperChamonix

bustercherry wrote: »

I don't see how this is a drawback.... I'd say it's only a drawback if your looking for a cheap green fee but if you are a member it's a positive. I think they are doing ok at drawing in the green fees; especially the last time I played it.

Couldn't agree more. There is a general line that appears that I don't get. It goes something like "its not fair that they don't have cheap options for me to play".

Looking at the price of Lahinch compared to those courses rated at a similar level on the Todays Golfer Top 100 courses GB&I, Lahinch seems pretty decent value to me.
http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/courses-and-2-fore-1/top-100-golf-courses/top-100-golf-courses-in-britain-and-ireland/?utm_source=tdg_newsletter_data&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mainstory&utm_campaign=tdg_newsletter_30062014
Sunningdale New GBP180
Kingsbarn GBP215
Woodhall GBP74 (for English equivalent of GUI members)
Lahinch Euro135 (approx GBP110)
Walton Heath GBP145
Troon GBP145 (Sept & Oct)
Nth Berwick GBP90

If you want to play top quality links courses, there are many (especially in the West and North West) available at a fraction of the price of Lahinch. Lets also not forget that there is a perfectly reasonable alternative in the Castle course fro those who don't want to play top whack.

As for the accusation of lack of competitive golf, even a cursory glance at the GUI site will show they fully participate fully in interclub competitions and every year they host the South of Ireland.

I would love to play Lahinch, but I can't justify the cost to play it. But I fully respect that members own (and over the years built) the course and can choose any pricing arrangement they want. If that pricing doesn't fit my budget I say good luck to them and I go play somewhere else.

Bottom line, if you want to hunt trophy courses then expect to pay trophy prices.

bustercherry

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. There is a general line that appears that I don't get. It goes something like "its not fair that they don't have cheap options for me to play".

Looking at the price of Lahinch compared to those courses rated at a similar level on the Todays Golfer Top 100 courses GB&I, Lahinch seems pretty decent value to me.
http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/courses-and-2-fore-1/top-100-golf-courses/top-100-golf-courses-in-britain-and-ireland/?utm_source=tdg_newsletter_data&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mainstory&utm_campaign=tdg_newsletter_30062014
Sunningdale New GBP180
Kingsbarn GBP215
Woodhall GBP74 (for English equivalent of GUI members)
Lahinch Euro135 (approx GBP110)
Walton Heath GBP145
Troon GBP145 (Sept & Oct)
Nth Berwick GBP90

If you want to play top quality links courses, there are many (especially in the West and North West) available at a fraction of the price of Lahinch. Lets also not forget that there is a perfectly reasonable alternative in the Castle course fro those who don't want to play top whack.

As for the accusation of lack of competitive golf, even a cursory glance at the GUI site will show they fully participate fully in interclub competitions and every year they host the South of Ireland.

I would love to play Lahinch, but I can't justify the cost to play it. But I fully respect that members own (and over the years built) the course and can choose any pricing arrangement they want. If that pricing doesn't fit my budget I say good luck to them and I go play somewhere else.

Bottom line, if you want to hunt trophy courses then expect to pay trophy prices.

That's it in a nutshell...... There are loads of cheaper and great links courses in this country so it's not as if people don't have any alternative choices.

slingerz

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Couldn't agree more. There is a general line that appears that I don't get. It goes something like "its not fair that they don't have cheap options for me to play".

Looking at the price of Lahinch compared to those courses rated at a similar level on the Todays Golfer Top 100 courses GB&I, Lahinch seems pretty decent value to me.
http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/courses-and-2-fore-1/top-100-golf-courses/top-100-golf-courses-in-britain-and-ireland/?utm_source=tdg_newsletter_data&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mainstory&utm_campaign=tdg_newsletter_30062014
Sunningdale New GBP180
Kingsbarn GBP215
Woodhall GBP74 (for English equivalent of GUI members)
Lahinch Euro135 (approx GBP110)
Walton Heath GBP145
Troon GBP145 (Sept & Oct)
Nth Berwick GBP90

If you want to play top quality links courses, there are many (especially in the West and North West) available at a fraction of the price of Lahinch. Lets also not forget that there is a perfectly reasonable alternative in the Castle course fro those who don't want to play top whack.

As for the accusation of lack of competitive golf, even a cursory glance at the GUI site will show they fully participate fully in interclub competitions and every year they host the South of Ireland.

I would love to play Lahinch, but I can't justify the cost to play it. But I fully respect that members own (and over the years built) the course and can choose any pricing arrangement they want. If that pricing doesn't fit my budget I say good luck to them and I go play somewhere else.

Bottom line, if you want to hunt trophy courses then expect to pay trophy prices.

Ok simply put, every other club does the same thing, holds exhorbitant green fees and no open competitions so the average person cannot afford to play on a course that they are not a member on. Surely you will see that would be to the detriment of golf in ireland.

Holding open competitions is good for Irish golf and Irish golf tourism and I presume Lahinch comes under the GUI as well. If the likes of Ballybunion etc can host open competitions then I'm sure Lahinch could also do something similar

Henry Ford III

But if the timesheets are full, and there are enough fee paying visitors, why would they need to host open competitions?

blue note

slingerz wrote: »

Ok simply put, every other club does the same thing, holds exhorbitant green fees and no open competitions so the average person cannot afford to play on a course that they are not a member on. Surely you will see that would be to the detriment of golf in ireland.

Holding open competitions is good for Irish golf and Irish golf tourism and I presume Lahinch comes under the GUI as well. If the likes of Ballybunion etc can host open competitions then I'm sure Lahinch could also do something similar

Think of it as like a restaurant that doesn't do an early bird. It's annoying, you might want to eat there but can't afford it. So, if another good restaurant does do an early bird you can go there instead. If not pick a cheaper restaurant or don't go.

It really is no different.

bustercherry

slingerz wrote: »

Ok simply put, every other club does the same thing, holds exhorbitant green fees and no open competitions so the average person cannot afford to play on a course that they are not a member on. Surely you will see that would be to the detriment of golf in ireland.

Holding open competitions is good for Irish golf and Irish golf tourism and I presume Lahinch comes under the GUI as well. If the likes of Ballybunion etc can host open competitions then I'm sure Lahinch could also do something similar

It's a business first and foremost and they offer a premium product. Every other club cannot offer the same quality of product; hence they cannot charge the same amount. You have plenty of other "excellent" options to play golf.

The fact they don't hold opens is not the issue; it's the fact that there are no opens so people can avail of a cheap green fee. If they held an open and charged their normal green fee would you be happy?

TrapperChamonix

slingerz wrote: »

Ok simply put, every other club does the same thing, holds exhorbitant green fees and no open competitions so the average person cannot afford to play on a course that they are not a member on. Surely you will see that would be to the detriment of golf in ireland.

Holding open competitions is good for Irish golf and Irish golf tourism and I presume Lahinch comes under the GUI as well. If the likes of Ballybunion etc can host open competitions then I'm sure Lahinch could also do something similar

A) as per my previous note, they are not exorbitant Green Fees. They are in line with the perceived value / quality of the course.
B)You or me being able to play Lahinch at €35 v's €135 has a big impact on you or me but makes no difference to Irish Golf.
C) Lahinch's remit is to look after its own members it has no obligation to Irish Tourism. But while we're at it, Lahinch along with a number of courses were the leaders in marketing Irish golf under the SWING umbrella in the 80's, well ahead of any Bord Failte efforts. I'd be surprised if the GUI's remit is to foster tourist numbers, but I would be no means sure about that.
D) Not sure who does or does not have an Open Week. Does RCD, Portrush and Portmarnock have Open Weeks? I don't know. But I will say this. A links course is built on sand and has (should have) a predominance of fescue grass which makes it far far more susceptible to damage through wear and tear of normal use. So if it was my course I would be particularly careful as to how I would balance my income against the number of people I would have playing the course. So who knows what factors are in play.



Just because you don't get to play a course (that other people paid to build) at a price you deem acceptable, you say their actions are "to the detriment of golf in ireland". If I was a member of that club, I'd find that extraordinarily insulting.

Benicetomonty

RCD do have an open week, usually in early july actually, in conjunction with the Annesly links (or however its spelled). Ballybunion dont have an open wk that Ive ever seen but do have 3 or 4 open comps spread out over the year, couple of scratch cups and team events. Portmarnock has no open comps that Ive ever seen, never mind an entire week.

If i recall, Lahinch held opens weekly during spring and/or autumn last year, hosted by the castle one wk and the championship the next, offering far more opportunities to play the course competitively for a decent price (50e). Not sure if or why thats been discontinued but the simple fact is they dont need the money. Domestic market isnt their target and hasnt been for a long time now.

bustercherry

Benicetomonty wrote: »

RCD do have an open week, usually in early july actually, in conjunction with the Annesly links (or however its spelled). Ballybunion dont have an open wk that Ive ever seen but do have 3 or 4 open comps spread out over the year, couple of scratch cups and team events. Portmarnock has no open comps that Ive ever seen, never mind an entire week.

If i recall, Lahinch held opens weekly during spring and/or autumn last year, hosted by the castle one wk and the championship the next, offering far more opportunities to play the course competitively for a decent price (50e). Not sure if or why thats been discontinued but the simple fact is they dont need the money. Domestic market isnt their target and hasnt been for a long time now.

Yeah I reckon they still do it; I think there is an assumption they don't any more because one of the posters was upset they had none on during the summer to suit them.

There are some opportunities to play all the "premium" courses at reduced rates but the problem is people are not happy because the times etc... don't suit their individual needs.

slave1

Little Bubbles wrote: »

What's wrong with those holes. Enjoyed the 5th. Par 3 I think. The dell it's called. Bit weird playing a par 3 blinded but fun. Got a par. Just.

And here it is, the tee shot to the blind par 3, left the ball on the dune downslope looking into the green and chipped on for a one putt par, delighted!
7 iron for me...