County Louth Baltray
County Louth, known to everyone simply as Baltray, is the connoisseur's east coast links and one of the finest courses in Ireland that visitors can still get on without fuss. Tom Simpson's 1938 layout, laid over rumpled duneland at the mouth of the River Boyne north of Dublin, is a masterclass in subtle, strategic links design, where the challenge is angles and green contours rather than length, and where the East of Ireland Amateur has been played for the best part of a century.
Photo: County Louth Golf Club via Google, contributor Paddy McGowan.
The verdict
Baltray is a course that architects and good players adore, and it tends to climb everyone's personal ranking after a single visit. Tom Simpson built very few holes that run in the same direction, so the wind is forever shifting, and his greens are full of slope and false fronts that demand you think about your approach from the tee. It is understated, never tricked up, and utterly absorbing.
For the travelling golfer it is a gem hiding in plain sight, less than an hour north of Dublin and far easier to book than the famous names of the southwest, yet every bit as good a links. Pair it with Royal Dublin, Portmarnock and its east coast neighbours and you have a Dublin links week that rivals anything in Ireland, without the long drives.
County Louth Golf Club, Baltray at a glance
- Founded
- 1892
- Designer
- Tom Simpson, 1938
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 7,031 yds
- Green fee
- Around €200
Founding, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; County Louth was founded in 1892 and its championship layout was created in 1938 by Tom Simpson with Molly Gourlay, with sympathetic updates by the architect Tom Mackenzie in the early 2000s. It plays par 72 at around 7,031 yards. Indicative 2026 visitor green fee is around 200 euros in the main season, with a standalone peak tee time higher. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The par 3s are the heart of Simpson's design. The 14th, played to a green set among the dunes, is widely regarded as one of the finest short holes in Ireland, asking a precise, committed strike to hold a green that gives nothing to the loose shot. Simpson's short holes are never about brute length, always about exactness.
The closing stretch turns for home through the biggest dunes on the property, where the wind off the Irish Sea decides whether the par 4s play as drive and flick or full blooded two shotters. Position off the tee is everything, because Simpson angled his greens to reward the approach from one side of the fairway and punish it from the other.
What stays with you is the variety. Because the holes box the compass, no two play alike, and the round builds and releases tension in a way only the great strategic links manage. Add greens that are firm, fast and full of movement, and Baltray rewards the thinking golfer over the long hitter every time.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that warmly welcomes visitors on most days, with tee times set aside through the season |
| Green fee | Around 200 euros in the main season, with a higher standalone peak tee time, in 2026 (indicative) |
| Booking | Book ahead through the club, especially for summer weekends and the busy east coast season |
| On the day | A walking links with caddies available on request; a fine traditional clubhouse with rooms on site |
| Getting there | At Baltray near Drogheda in County Louth, about 50 minutes north of Dublin and its airport |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf and longest days, with the sea breeze rarely far away |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with County Louth Golf Club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
County Louth has its own well regarded lodge rooms beside the links, the simplest base for an early tee time, while Drogheda a few minutes inland offers hotels and restaurants. The seaside village of Baltray and the Boyne valley make a quiet, characterful setting for a golf trip.
Because Dublin is under an hour south, many groups base themselves in the city or at the airport and play Baltray alongside Royal Dublin and Portmarnock, combining links golf with a capital city break.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Baltray.
Plan a Dublin and east coast links week from Baltray
We pair County Louth with Royal Dublin, Portmarnock and the east coast links, secure the tee times and sort a base and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
County Louth at Baltray questions
Who designed County Louth at Baltray and how old is it?
County Louth Golf Club was founded in 1892, and its championship links was created in 1938 by the celebrated architect Tom Simpson, working with the amateur champion Molly Gourlay. The architect Tom Mackenzie carried out sympathetic updates in the early 2000s while leaving Simpson's routing and greens intact.
What is the par and yardage of County Louth?
Baltray plays as a par 72 of around 7,031 yards. Its defence is not length but the constant change of wind direction, thanks to Simpson routing very few holes the same way, and his sloping, well defended greens.
How much does it cost to play County Louth at Baltray?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees are around 200 euros in the main season, with a higher rate for a standalone peak tee time. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play County Louth at Baltray?
Yes. County Louth is a members club that welcomes visitors on most days, with tee times set aside through the season and lodge rooms on site. Book ahead for summer weekends.
What tournaments has County Louth hosted?
Baltray is the long time home of the East of Ireland Amateur Open, one of the oldest amateur events in Irish golf, and has also hosted the Irish Open, underlining its standing as one of the country's premier links.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.