HOLE BY HOLE GUIDE
HOLE 18
BACK TEES DISTANCE : 534 YDS
CLUB TEES DISTANCE: 497 YDS
LADIES TEES DISTANCE: 354 YDS
PAR : 5
SI : 15
WATER:
None
OUT OF BOUNDS :
Like the last hole you've got the main road into Lahinch on you're left so don't go thinking you've a chance of taking the pin on even if you've brought your tarmac wedge. You may get squashed.
BUNKERS :
Get counting here. There's 13 on this beauty even though a few are shared with the 4th and the 1st hole. The first one is to the left just before the entrance to the fairway. There's 3 on the other side of the fairway just after the entrance and there's a further 4 sand traps up the first bit of the left hand side of the fairway making your tee shot incredibly tight. The next bit of sand is well on the right another bit up the fairway well right more in play on the 1st fairway than the 18th but never say never if I'm around. Once up to the green you've 2 nice potholes in front of the left hand side of the green then 2 a bit further up but on the right.
TREES :
None
TEE SHOT:
It's a tricky tee shot. You have to drill it through the middle. There are plenty of bunkers guarding the fairway and between you and the fairway there's a nice few bumps and it's a bit tight but you can miss it slightly on the left hand side of the fairway as long as you don't hit it far enough to dice with the top left bunkers. You can miss it right if you cream the ball and beat the right bunkers. The rough out there is tricky but not impossible so it's an ok place to end up if you end up missing the short grass.
APPROACH SHOT:
If you've blasted it enough to take the green on with a long iron or a wood you can run it up as there's not a hollow in front so you can run it up but make note that the bunkers guard the approach to the green. Should you decide to lay up it should give you a few options here. The hole is a relatively short par 5 where you can get a nice shortish pitch if you play it right. If you get close enough to the green you can take the bunkers out of play.
GREEN OVERVIEW :
In relative rerms this is handy enough. Apart from the slight uphill gradient and the dip in the front the green is actually flat enough. If you've got a decent enough position to attack the hole here then it shouldn't be too difficult a putt, in relative terms of course. Finally some respite at the end of a terrific and challenging experience.
OVERALL TIPS :
The end is in sight and you tackle a hole that is not the hardest hole in the world and rewards skill. Try to take on the tee shot and blast it as far as you can. Make the decision about where to hit the next shot once you see what you have against you. Watch out for the bunkers dotted all over this hole. The second shot will give you a head scratcher if you're in a decent position. Should you lay up or have a pop. If you feel that you can thread the ball through the bunkers then by all means go for it. If you're a bit nervy lay up because the green isn't too difficult to work with but a bunker here will cause a few heartaches. Once you get it onto the green as long as you're below the hole you can try to be a hero. If you can get a good result here then head to the 19th contented and delighted that you've had the chance to play on this magnificent course.