Designer: Thomas Gilroy/George Henry Pentland (1892), Tom Simpson/Molly Gourlay (1938, Redesign), Tom Mackenzie (2003, Lengthening)
Location: Baltray, Louth, Ireland
History: County Louth, colloquially known as Baltray, first opened in 1892 with a primitive design from Scotsman Thomas Gilroy and George Henry Pentland. The course we know today came about in 1938, with a major revision from Tom Simpson and Molly Gourlay. Baltray has hosted the East of Ireland Amateur Open annually since 1941 and has hosted two Irish Opens in 2004 and 2009. Shane Lowry famously won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur. Accolades for the course include:
#57 Best Course in the UK and Ireland – Top100golfcourses.com (2022)
#14 Best Course in Ireland – Golf Digest (2024)
#8 Best Course in Ireland – Top100golfcourses.com (2025)
#1 Best Course in Louth – Top100golfcourses.com (2022)
Conditions: 9/10, The conditions at Baltray are as you’d expect from a links with tight lies and firm and fast playing surfaces.
Value: 4/10, I imagine most golfers coming to play Baltray will do so through booking agencies but a standalone teetime here goes for about £285.
Scorecard:
Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Blue 72 7031 74.4 131
White 72 6716 72.9 128
Green 72 6338 71.3 125
Red 75 5873 73.9 125
Hole Descriptions: County Louth or Baltray as it is better known will always hold a special place for me as the first true links I played overseas, but beyond this sentimental value is an objectively stellar golf course. Located in a small fishing village about halfway between Dublin and Belfast, Baltray doesn’t get the recognition or play it likely deserves but all those who play here will be happy they did. There’s lots to enjoy here but chief among them is the routing, with 18 unique golf holes sprawling in every which way forcing you to constantly adjust to the ever present winds. The golf course is decidedly fair and plenty wide but features a fair amount of quirk, with numerous blind shots and plenty of mounds and hollows, especially as you get closer to the greens. And of course there’s the stretch from 12-16, which is particularly spellbinding playing along the dunes and their corridors. Overall, this is a wonderful walk and a course you could gladly enjoy every day of the week. If it were closer to Dublin, I think it would be better known internationally, but this is absolutely a course worth the drive when on a golf trip to Eastern Ireland.
County Louth opens with a strong 405 yard dogleg left that plays as one of the tougher par fours on the course. With a generous fairway turning slightly left around 260 yards, this hole features fescue to the far left and a pair of pot bunkers down the left around 225 yards and right at 275 yards. From here, the approach runs a bit uphill to a narrow, undulating green surrounded by swales and a bunker short right.
The par 4 1st
The semi-blind approach at 1
You play three par fives in the first six holes at Baltray beginning with the 458 yard 2nd hole. Another dogleg left, this hole is quite open with the only real danger coming with several small potbunkers on either side of the dogleg around 220 yards. There are several more bunkers in the lay-up area with an especially penal potbunker about 40 yards short of the green on the right side of the fairway. This green is narrow, elevated and sort of sits in a natural hollow with a back-to-front slope and two distinct tiers. While likely one of the best chances for birdie on the course, this putting surface is quite protected, with steep slopes of fairway long and right and a pair of bunkers short left.
The reachable par 5 2nd
I love the setting at the 2nd green
At 519 yards, the 3rd hole is the longest par 5 on the course and a memorable hole due its quirkiness. It begins somewhat mundanely with a straightaway teeshot to a wide fairway defended by mounds of fescue down the left. Golfers will have no view of the green following their teeshot, as the large mounds creep in down the left and narrow the fairway to essentially nothing with about 80 yards left. The green sits on the other side well below these mounds and first time players will need to rely on an aiming stick or their caddie to find the ideal line. There are no bunkers surrounding this green, but it is small and slopes right-to-left with a steep slope just left that leads to a very challenging chip.
The par 5 3rd
Golfers will finally see the 3rd green when they crest the mounds
The 4th is another very fun hole as a straightaway driveable par 4 playing 324 yards. With an 175 yard carry over a pair of tall mounds, this fairway is on the tighter side with high fescue on both sides. The defining feature of this hole is dramatic mounding and undulations throughout the fairway which can sometimes leave awkward lies into a right-to-left sloped green.
The par 4 4th
A look at the wonderful fairway and green at 4
The 5th hole is Baltray’s first par 3 playing slightly uphill at 143 yards. A pretty hole playing along the dunes, this green is long and narrow and slopes right-to-left with a bunker right and slopes left.
The par 3 5th
The 6th hole is likely the most dramatic on the front 9 as a 505 yard dogleg left par 5 playing along the coastline. With tall dunes down the right the entire way, this fairway turns left around 225 yards with a small potbunker down the left. While this teeshot is pretty straightforward, the hole picks up interest in the lay-up area with tall mounds on either side and small valley of undulating fairway. These mounds partially obscure the green and will force the golfer into a decision on their second shot. This elevated putting surface sits on the other side and mostly slopes back-to-front with steep slopes surrounding it. It is an awesome golf hole.
Like the 3rd, the par 5 6th starts off slowly…
…before an epic and unique approach
At 148 yards, the par 3 7th hole turns back inland and plays slightly uphill to a large back-to-front sloped green. A false front and two small bunkers defend just short for those who misjudge the wind.
The par 3 7th
The 8th hole is another personal favorite at County Louth as a 387 yard straightaway par 4 facing the sea. With another tall mound to carry on this teeshot, the fairway is initially generous with a fairway bunker down the right at 230 yards. At about 255 yards, the fairway becomes quite narrow with mounds down either side and a small bunker right. Longer hitters will want to lay back short of this. This approach plays slightly downhill through this chute towards a front-to-back sloped, firm green defended by a small bunker short right.
The confusing view from the 8th teebox
The awesome approach at 8 with a brutal front right pin just beyond the bunker
Like most links courses, Baltray returns to the clubhouse on the 9th, a 399 yard stout par 4 that played into the wind for us. This hole is generally pretty open but numerous bunkers line the fairway on either side for much of the landing area. This putting surface slopes back-to-front with small bunkers left, right, and short.
The par 4 9th
The 10th hole plays adjacent to the clubhouse as a 375 yard dogleg left par 4. You won’t have much of a visual from the teebox but this hole contains a wider fairway that turns left around 245 yards with two bunker down the right at this point. Similar but less severe than the 3rd, this approach also plays blind and downhill between mounds towards a flatter green defended by bunkers short and left.
The par 4 10th with the clubhouse on the right
The approach at 10
At 450 yards, the number 1 handicap 11th hole is the longest par 4 on the course and plays as a dogleg right. A trio of small bunkers runs down the right between 230 and 260 yards but this hole is fairly open with rough lining the fairway on both sides otherwise. With about 130 yards remaining, a drainage ditch runs through the fairway and may leave some unfortunate lies. This back-to-front sloped green is off to the right and lined by bunkers short and right. With the wind at your back like it was for us, this hole was quite manageable but the length alone will make it a difficult par for many.
The long par 4 11th
The approach at 11
I absolutely loved Baltray up to this point, but the course gets even better when you step onto the 12th teebox. Playing along the beach, the next few holes are quite dramatic and remind you of what you find on the more rugged terrain in Western Ireland. The 12th hole is a 387 yard slight dogleg left with tall dunes down either side and three small bunkers lining the right fairway between 205 and 240 yards. Following the final bunker, this fairway narrows, turns left, and becomes almost like a rollercoaster with wild undulations on the way to the green. The green itself is surrounded by natural dunes and sits alone, playing almost as a punchbowl. This was my favorite hole on the course and one of the best par fours you’ll find anywhere.
The teeshot at 12
The wild fairway at 12
Walking towards the 12th green
The 12th green sits in an unreal setting
The 13th hole is a bit more straightforward but continues along the coastline as another fantastic par 4 at 376 yards. This hole plays straightaway with a rumpled fairway lined by dunes down the right and small bunkers at 220 yards on either side and 250 yards down the right. This green also plays a bit like a punchbowl with clever mounding surrounding it, including a Leven-like knob just short right that leaves some interesting chips.
The par 4 13th
The 13th green occupies another epic setting
At the 14th hole, you turn back inland with your back at the Irish Sea and terrific views of County Down and the Mountains of Mourne behind you. This is another memorable hole that’s potentially drivable in the right conditions but can be very tricky if played poorly. The hole begins with a brief forced carry to an undulating fairway lined by thick rough and tall mounds down either side. Once in the fairway, your work is just beginning as this small, wild green sits elevated and off to the right as an elusive target. There are significant penalties for missing the green, with several mounds just short and particularly steep slopes left and short.
The sophisticated par 4 14th is felt by many to be one of the best holes in Ireland
No matter where your teeshot ends up, you’ll face a harrowing approach at 14
The 15th hole is my favorite par 3 at Baltray and the shortest at 131 yards. This is simply a gorgeous hole with an undulating green surrounded by dunes and well-defended by two bunkers right, one short, and a false front.
The picturesque par 3 15th
The final hole of the magnificent stretch is the 16th, a 360 yard dogleg right par 4. With significant danger down the right the entire way, this hole plays almost like a Cape with a sharp turn to the right around 260 yards and more distance required to the cut the corner the further right you go. Those looking to lay back a bit off the tee here will want to avoid well-placed crossbunkers down the left at 225 and 240 yards and right at 255 yards. This approach plays over mounding towards a diagonal, back-to-front sloped green containing several tiers and surrounded by dunes. Anything on the right side of the hole leaves a blind approach over these mounds.
The dogleg par 4 16th
The approach at 16
The closing two holes don’t quite match the glory of the preceding stretch but are solid holes nonetheless beginning with the 169 yard 17th. This par 3 plays essentially in an open field but contains a tricky, hog’s back green lined by bunkers on either side. It is an elusive target in gusty conditions.
The par 3 17th
Baltray closes with a good chance to get a shot back with a 494 yard reachable par 5. With OB down the right the entire way and thick rough on the left, this hole plays straightaway with a generous fairway containing a centerline bunker at 200 yards and two bunkers down the left around 235 yards. There are additional centerline bunkers in the lay-up zone and this putting surface slopes back-to-front with bunkers left and short right.
The par 5 18th
The approach at 18
General Comments: Baltray’s practice facilities include a small range near the opening hole that was closed when we played and a short game area and practice green near the clubhouse. Pace of play was strong and I imagine this course gets a bit less play than some of Ireland’s better known courses. Caddies are available upon request.
Verdict: A terrific and underrated links course halfway between Dublin and Belfast, County Louth (Baltray) is a decidedly fair and enjoyable course containing a superb routing and a number of excellent golf holes. It was my first true links played overseas and is a course I can’t recommend highly enough.