Lahinch Golf Club's 6th hole - one of Ireland's finest

One of the top three holes I’ve played all trip comes courtesy of Lahinch Golf Club on the west coast of Ireland . It’s the par-4 6th - and it’s spectacular.

(*Note: this used to be the 7th, but recent rerouting has it playing 6th now and the old 6th, “Dell” is now the 5th.)

It’s long, uphill, and played into the wind today. The drive is semi-blind though one of the tamer blind shots at Lahinch. It doglegs left from there and that’s where it captivates you: playing downhill to a green perched just overlooking the sea. Adding to the theatrics is a giant “Mine” bunker that is very deep and probably only comes into play when the wind is severely at your back or you found trouble off the tee.

It’s also one of my favorite holes because I roped a 3-wood into the wind pin-high (missed the putt, rats!) and scored one of my better pars of the trip.

The 6th is preceded by the infamous 5th or “Dell” - one of the nuttiest par 3s I’ve encountered. Playing as a single, it took me about five minutes standing on the tee before I realized where I was supposed to hit the ball - not to mention be sure it was really a par 3 (you never know in the winter months). A big dune sits in front, behind, and to the left of the shallow green. When I say “big” I mean probably 20-30 feet. You can only see the slightest sliver of green on the right, but no pin could ever be tucked that far to be seen. My only advice is to aim for the white aiming stone and try and maybe bank it off the steep back dune onto the green, but when there is a 30mph crosswind, that’s easier said than done.

The view from the fairway down to the new 6th green at Lahinch - easily one of the most memorable holes in Ireland.