FAIRWAY FACELIFT
Iconic golf course where Jon Rahm won set for £5million makeover with plans revealed for stunning new clubhouse
Officials hope the work will be complete for the 2026 Walker Cup
LAHINCH Golf Club is set for a major £5million revamp.
The iconic links - known affectionately as the ' of Ireland' - were founded on Good Friday in 1892.
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Lahinch is situated on the far west coast of Ireland, facing the natural elements of the Atlantic Ocean.
Its Old Course has been ranked among the very best in the world.
In 2019, it hosted the Irish Open, won by Spanish superstar Jon Rahm.
And now the club is preparing to host The Walker Cup in 2026 - the biggest tournament in its history.
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Ahead of the competition, both the clubhouse and surrounds are getting a £5m facelift.
John Gleeson, the Chairman of Lahinch, told the : "The project started on the basis that our existing clubhouse is 60 years old, and it had actually reached the end of its useful life.
"Nearly every component in it is at that end-of-life stage; not just the roof, and all the glazing, but all the internal mechanics and electrics.
"You know, 60 years is a long time in the west of Ireland, and it has served us extremely well.
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"But as we looked at the project, we decided rather than just repair and renew, we felt that as Lahinch is now so internationally recognised, we need a clubhouse in keeping with our standing as one of the top golf courses in the world."
The work will be the first major facelift on the clubhouse since it was refurbished at a cost of around £500,000 in 1991.
I was one of last people to play Turnberry's iconic Ailsa course before it shut for £1.5m revamp
Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, the aim is to renovate and improve.
A new golf shop will be added to one side of the current structure, with all the locker rooms refurbished.
There will also be a brand new bar and dining area. as well as an outside terrace area overlooking the second fairway.
Rory McIlroy's career achievements
By Ian Tuckey
Rory McIlroy spent more than 100 weeks at World No1 - and has scooped four Majors and won 40 tournaments in all SO FAR.
Only all-time greats Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have matched his feat of winning one of the big four by the age of 25.
And after winning the 2011 US Open, the Northern Ireland ace added the PGA Championship the following year - adding the Open and PGA crowns in 2014.
Here's a rundown on the glittering career of the 35-year-old, five-time Ryder Cup winner, who was also a strong critic of the rival Saudi-backed LIV tour:
- 2007 - topped the world amateur rankings aged 17.
Turned professional in September.
Became the youngest Affiliate Member in the history of The European Tour to earn a tour card.
- 2009 - reached the world top 50.
- 2010 - won his first PGA Tour title via the Quail Hollow Championship.
Made a winning Ryder Cup debut.
Became the youngest player to reach $10m earnings on the PGA Tour.
- 2011 - Famously blew a four-stroke lead on the final day of the Masters in May.
But won his first major the following month - the US Open.
Named Sports Person of the year by RTE - Ireland's main broadcaster.
- 2012 - lifted the PGA Championship.
Named PGA Tour player of the year and picked up more Ryder Cup glory.
- 2013 - signed a huge sponsorship deal with Nike.
- 2014 - his best year to date, majors wise.
Won the Open at Royal Liverpool.
Then clinched back-to-back PGA crowns, beating Phil Mickelson by one stroke.
Named RTE Sports Person of the year for a second time.
Again helped Europe win the Ryder Cup.
- 2016 - Ended the season winning the Tour championship, putting him top of the FedEx Cup and landing him the $10m bonus pool.
Suffered Ryder Cup defeat.
- 2017 - failed to win all year.
But gained top 10 finishes at the Masters, The Open and 3 WGC events.
And with Nike largely withdrawing from the golf market, he landed an £80m endorsement deal with TaylorMade.
- 2018 - More Ryder Cup joy.
- 2020 Overtook Brooks Koepka to become World No1
- 2021 - A Ryder Cup loser.
- 2022 - runners-up at the Masters and finished third at the Open.
- 2023 - helped Europe thrash the USA 16.5-11.5 in the Ryder Cup.
- 2024 - struggled early in the season, finishing just joint-22nd in the Masters.
But then won two tournaments - the Zurich Classic for his 25th PGA title and the Wells Fargo Championship.
Work is set to begin next year and will be paused for the 2025 season.
It will then resume in October next year and be complete by the spring of 2026.
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Gleeson added: "We have room for manoeuvre in the event of a problem, which we don’t envisage.
"So we are absolutely confident that it will be ready for May 2026, well before the Walker Cup that September.";
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