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Old Tom Morris was a true golfing legend. He is fondly remembered as a golf champion, course designer, and maker of golf balls and clubs. Born and reared in St. Andrews, Scotland, it is no surprise that he had golf in his blood. He began his career making golf balls, then moved on to clubmaking. He was greenkeeper at Prestwick from 1851 to 1864, after which he moved back to St. Andrews as greenkeeper, and later as professional, at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. He helped to set up the Open Championship, and was himself a winner four times.

Old Tom Morris was invited to Lahinch Golf Club in May 1894, two years after it was founded by the President Sir Alex Shaw. Shaw, aware of the unique potential of the Lahinch golf links, brought Old Tom Morris over at his own expense to have a look at the course and suggest improvements. Old Tom was deeply impressed by the natural golfing terrain with the sandhills. In his construction of the new course he laid great emphasis on the sandhills side of the Links, laying out the course with eight holes on the sand side and ten on the other side of the road. He said, when his proposed changes were implemented, that Lahinch would be on a par with the five great Links courses of the United Kingdom. Old Tom Morris believed Lahinch was the finest natural course he had seen.

One of the holes designed by Old Tom Morris is the present 5th Hole known as "The Dell," considered the most unique in Irish golf or anywhere else. It is a three par green surrounded by high bent grass hills. The other feature hole, the five par 4th Hole, known as "The Klondyke" is approached down a narrow valley. A formidable sandhill has to be carried giving a blind iron shot to the green. This was added in 1897 on the directions of the golfing legend.

The Old Tom Morris connection, coupled with the great love for the game of golf in the village, has led to Lahinch being referred to as the "St Andrews of Ireland."

Ref. Arthur J. Quinlan.