County Louth Golf Club Key Information
The home of the East of Ireland championship is a true test of class links golf. An honest, subtle test of shot making set within one of the understated greats of Irish links golf.
There is something of a natural, simple elegance to be found in this piece of links land. It is to be found without pretension. A proper test that delivers a great blend of history and quality.
REASONS TO PLAY COUNTY LOUTH GOLF CLUB
– Classic Irish links delivering a firm but fair test
– A great venue for competitive events over the years including the Irish Open
– Ever-present breeze demands great shotmaking
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 60
County Louth or Baltray is one of the purest links track in our Top 100 golf courses UK&I ranking.
Although County Louth Golf Club dates back to 1892, the course is largely the work of Tom Simpson in 1938. Despite, or rather because of some more recent changes from Tom MacKenzie, it remains traditional, stirring, bracing seaside golf at its best.
It’s a strong layout, regarded as one of the best golf courses in Ireland, that has played host to numerous top-level competitions over the years. It was host to the Irish Open in 2004 and again in 2009 when Shane Lowry famously won the event as an amateur. County Louth is a regular host to the East of Ireland Championship.
The wind is almost always a factor at County Louth, or Baltray, and you need to be able to shape the ball both ways to score well.
There’s an excellent selection of holes with four strong par 3s, the pick of which might, I think, be the short 15th to a small, well-bunkered target.
From the 12th to the 16th, the holes run through the dunes alongside the sea and there are great views to be had from the elevated 14th tee.
Although the dunes may not be the size of some to be found on Irish links, they are in plentiful supply and provide an excellent frame to many of the holes, particularly around the turn.
It’s really a members club but visitors are made to feel very welcome. As it doesn’t see as much tourist traffic as some of the more commercial venues, I think the playing surfaces are less distressed as a result, and are always in great condition.
County Louth is one of the jewels within Irish Links golf, a true championship venue with a confident yet understated air about it.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
The welcome is excellent, particularly from the starter on the 1st tee, who was really going out of his way to ensure you’re going to have the best day possible. Perhaps the sense of occasion does not measure up to that of other golf clubs, but it is a grand place nonetheless. And with the club boasting an inception year of 1892, you’ll feel like you are visiting a club with an illustrious past.
There is a new par three at seventeen that improves the end of the round. Under the careful management of a new greenkeeper Wayne Murray, the course has been enhanced through a series of extensive upgrades to bunkering and tees. A new irrigation system will further strengthen the course
A good mix of swales and hollows on fairways through the dunes, combined with flatter, less interesting holes. Nevertheless, excitement and challenge are never far away.
My favourite holes included the 10th, 12th and 16th.
County Louth Golf Club Location
County Louth Golf Club Course Scorecard
Best Courses Near County Louth Golf Club
For more of the finest Irish layouts, check out our guide to the best golf courses in Ireland.
Best Places to Stay Near County Louth Golf Club
The Clubhouse at County Louth - Finding booking information on the club website
There are eight comfortable bedrooms upstairs in the clubhouse at County Louth - all have been recently refurbished and there's a mixture of doubles and twins.
D Hotel Drogheda - Book now at Booking.com
The D Hotel sits on the banks of the River Boyne in Drogheda town centre. Rooms are comfortable and spacious. There's a steakhouse and bar.
Scholars Townhouse Hotel - Book now at Booking.com
Originally built in 1867, this charming town house has been tastefully renovated in a modern style, whilst retaining its historic charm, with stained glass windows and high coved ceilings. It's right in the centre of the town of Drogheda.
County Louth Golf Club Course Gallery
County Louth Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I
- 2025/26 - 60
- 2023/24 - 62
- 2021/22 - 59
- 2019/20 - 53
- 2017/18 - 55
- 2015/16 - 59
- 2013/14 - 56
- 2011/12 - 53
- 2009/10 - 75
Frequently Asked Questions
What tournaments has County Louth hosted?
Baltray plays annual host to the East of Ireland Golf Championships since its inauguration in 1941, which was won no fewer than 12 times by the legendary Irish amateur, Joe Carr. The club recently hosted the Irish Open in 2004 and 2009. The course has been a regional qualifying venue for The Open Championship.
How many golf courses are there in Louth?
Louth is the smallest Irish county and there are only seven registered golf clubs in the county, of which County Louth is the best known. Other clubs include Seapoint, Greenore and Dundalk.
