County Louth ( Baltray)- A true gem on an East Coast of Ireland Golf Trip Itinerary

​A leading Golf Magazine once described County Louth as being one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf, observing that it had to be one of the most enjoyable links in Ireland.  It went on to add “there is not a weak hole on the course and some of the holes merit greatness".
We know General Manager Liam Murphy and his team at County Louth work hard to get the name out there and in recent seasons we have noticed significant demand for its inclusion on an east coast of Ireland golf trip itinerary.
County Louth, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2017 is a joy to play and a fun club to visit.
The welcome is consistently warm without being overbearing.  There is a distinctly friendly atmosphere in and around the clubhouse as members engage with visitors, curious to learn about their home clubs and most importantly, the visitors’ impressions of their golf course. One such member is Des Smyth, a former tour player and Ryder Cup vice-captain ( when the tournament was staged at the K Club in 2006).
As for the course, which was designed by Tom Simpson , there are two loops of nine, with no two consecutive holes playing in the same direction apart from the 12th and 13th which run along the Irish sea.
From a logistics viewpoint, it’s location between the famous links at Royal County Down and Portmarnock, make County Louth very accessible for golfers starting or finishing their trips Dublin. The fact that they accommodate visitors on most Saturdays is also a plus, as visitor play is more often than not, restricted at most member courses on Saturdays.
Apart from being regarded as somewhat of a hidden gem of Irish golf courses, County Louth is the home of The East of Ireland Amateur Championship each June  as well as having been the venue for the Irish Open Championship in 2009. For the record, Ireland’s Shane Lowry lifted the trophy as an amateur!