The famed Irish links gem Lahinch is this weekend proudly hosting the 51st staging of the Walker Cup.
Lahinch Golf Club was founded 134 years ago in 1892 by Alexander W. Shaw and Richard J. Plummer, officials of Limerick Golf Club. They laid out an 18-hole course, the original course had ten holes on each side of the road.
Lahinch has often been described as the “St. Andrews” of Ireland and that could be down to the original course designer Old Tom Morris, who was born and lived his life in St. Andrews.
Alister MacKenzie, who co-designed Augusta National Golf Club, redesigned the Old Course and extended the links in 1927 for a fee of £2000.
“SEE GOATS” ….
This week’s @WalkerCup host @LahinchGolfClub ⛳️ has long boasted a unique barometer to predict weather conditions at this Irish links gem.
So what weather ‘source’ the club has used for more than 60-years ?
Read: https://t.co/i4q9Jkz2EW
Lahinch
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) September 1, 2026
Lahinch is actually two 18-hole courses, the Old Course, is between the road and the sea, situated at the opposite side of the road from the Old Course is the Castle Course. The Castle Course is a flatter links named after the ruins of a nearby castle tower that stands to the north of the course.
The Old Course at Lahinch was renovated by Martin Hawtree from 1999 to 2003, during which four holes were re-routed. Two new par-3s were also added along with 16 new tees and various bunkers.
Lahinch is also famed for it’s goats. Yes, goats.
The original goats at Lahinch were owned by an old Enlish-born Lahinch caddie, Tommy Walsh, who lived close to the old 3rd tee.
Tommy, in the early years of the 20th century, caddied for the great John Ball of Hoylake (Open Champion 1890) when he travelled to Lahinch in the early 1900’s.
The goats became a great guide for the weather and especially when the barometer began to fail in the 1960s.
However club members soon turned to the goats than the club’s barometer as it became evident if the goats made their way out to the outer regions of the Lahnich sand hills, then weather prospects were good and the day was sure to be fine.
In contrast, if the goats are gathered around the clubhouse surrounds then the weather is sure to be wet and not too inviting for golf.
It was the then Secretary/Manager at the time, Brud Slattery and after the frustration of failing to fix the barometer wrote a note on the barometer saying: “See Goats”.
In 1956, on the suggestion of Dr. Patrick Hillery, the Club approved an emblem incorporating the thistle, the shamrock and the goat. The goats continue to roam across the links without a care in the world and continue to be a source of amusement to members and no doubt Walker Cup visitors.
In 2001 the club sadly had to ‘put down’ four goats due to the then fears of foot-and-mouth disease and with the club at the time vowing the goats would return and they did.
The goats did return and continue to remain a unique feature of Lahinch.
In 2019 the Lahinch goats were truly honoured by a first hosting of the Irish Open and with tournament host, Paul McGinley unveiling a stature of a goat close to the clubhouse (see image).
The event was won that year by Jon Rahm, a second of two Irish Open victories for the super Spaniard.
