County Louth Golf Club

County Louth Golf Club or 'Baltray' as it's known locally, was the vision of a Scotsman, Thomas Gilroy who had a profound influence on the development of golf in Ireland. Gilroy laid out the first links at Baltray in the spring of 1892 and following the foundation of County Louth Golf Club in October that year he was elected the first Captain of the Club. In 1938 golf architects, Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay redesigned the course. The championship course features natural, unspoilt links with towering sandhills. Some of the finest holes to play include the difficult par four opening hole, and the long par five 3rd which requires a blind shot over a knoll onto a small green. The par five 6th, leads through a valley of sand dunes to a green hidden behind two hills. The par four 14th requires a drive from an elevated tee to a fairway almost 200 yards away. Baltray plays annual host to the East of Ireland Golf Championships since its inauguration in 1941. It is a true links course with many challenges, though still playable and enjoyable by every standard of player. The village of Baltray is renowned for its golf course but can also be enjoyed for its panoramic views of the Cooley and Mourne mountains to the north and its long beach over the course sand dunes.

Louth