County Louth Golf Club, often called Baltray, is known by several names: tee markers read “Baltray Links” while the scorecard says “County Louth Golf Club.” Whatever you call it, this classic links course is ideally placed for American golfers collecting memorable rounds. Baltray sits about 45 minutes from Dublin Airport and roughly 75 minutes from Belfast Airport, making it easily accessible for visitors.
Established in 1892, the original course was crafted by Thomas Gilroy and George Henry Pentland. That layout served players well for more than four decades before architects Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay reshaped the course into the 7,031-yard, par-72 test it is today. The routing sends holes in multiple directions, making the wind a constant strategic factor. County Louth hosted the European Tour’s Irish Open in 2004 and again in 2009, when Shane Lowry famously won as an amateur.
Baltray village offers striking scenery, including views of the Cooley and Mourne mountains and a long, dune-strewn beach along the Irish Sea. Several holes run alongside the shoreline, and the prevailing sea breezes continuously alter how each hole plays. During our visit the weather was unusually kind, with light winds and sunshine—perfect for walking the course and taking in the landscape. Holes 12 through 16 are particularly photogenic as they weave among the dunes. The layout is very walkable with wide, generous fairways, though high grass and deep rough will catch errant shots.
One memorable touch at the club was a sign in the men’s locker room asking older members to wear a towel when walking from the showers to the lockers so as not to offend younger members—an amusing bit of local character.
I played Baltray with Martin Shields, John Ecklund and Neil Curran, joining several American visitors eager to test the course and witness its classic links features. Caddies are indispensable at Baltray, and we were fortunate to have enthusiastic local caddies who knew the ground and helped navigate blind approaches, tricky greens and ever-changing wind conditions.
HOLE 3 | “PUNCH BOWL”
544 yards, par 5
This is the course’s longest hole and a fine example of why a good caddie matters. From the tee you cannot see the green for your second or third shots because mounding on the left narrows the fairway as you approach. Without accurate local knowledge, it is easy to misjudge lines into a small, left-sloping green. Our caddies guided club selection and lines; two in our group managed pars while the rest found bogeys. The punch-bowl effect around the green demands precision and patience.
Hole 10 © Francis X. Gallagher
HOLE 9 | “CLOC STUCA”
419 yards, par 4
After eight holes we aimed to finish the front nine strong. With guidance from our caddie, I hit a well-placed drive to the left-center and was left with a reachable shot. A high 5-wood carried to the green where two routine putts secured a par. It was the sort of hole where good advice, a confident tee shot and the right club combine to produce a satisfying result.
HOLE 12 | “THE CRATER”
410 yards, par 4
Holes 12, 13 and 14 are among Baltray’s most scenic, running close to the beach amid dunes and native grasses. The 12th is a slight dogleg left with dunes and bunkers guarding the right side; balls that miss the mark often funnel into a hollow near the green, giving the hole its “Crater” name. Smart, conservative play typically results in bogey or par, but the coastal views make this stretch unforgettable.
HOLE 14 | “THE CUP”
332 yards, par 4
As you head back inland, take in views across to County Down and the Mourne Mountains. The 14th is short and tempting to drive for longer hitters; a strong tee shot can leave only a short pitch to a small, elevated green. The green is narrow and irregular, so an inaccurate approach can turn a routine hole into a testing up-and-down.
Hole 17 © Francis X. Gallagher
HOLE 17 | “JIB”
207 yards, par 3
A solid par-3 can make a round memorable, and the 17th is a classic example. Slightly elevated and protected by two bunkers, the green demands a confident club choice and a committed swing. Our group—encouraged by the caddies—found the green and converted several putts. On such holes, good iron play and steady putting are rewarded.
HOLE 18 | “COWAN WELL”
559 yards, par 5
The finishing hole tests every aspect of your game. Thick rough guards the left and out-of-bounds lies to the right, while a series of bunkers line the ideal driving corridor. A bold player can reach the green in two on the proper line, but errant shots often find sand or deep rough. After some strategic play and careful recovery shots, most of our group managed pars, though the hole can certainly punish aggressive or imprecise play.
COUNTY LOUTH GOLF CLUB
Baltray, Drogheda
Co. Louth
A92 HK03, Ireland
tel 353 41 988 1530