18 Hole Links
Course Facts: Address
Baltray
Drogheda
Co. LouthSecretary/Manager: Michael Delany Captain: Kevin Byrne Lady Captain: Valerie Reddan Telephone: 041-9881530 President: Gay Nallen & Lilian O'Kane Public No: 041-9881530 Vice-Captain: Jim McMahon & Anne O'Brine Fax: 041-9881531 Hon. Secretary: Colm Berkery & Geraldine Collier E-mail: reservations@countylouthgolfclub.com Club Pro: Paddy McGuirk 041-9881536 Website: www.countylouthgolfclub.com Hon. Treasurer: Eamonn Kelly & Valerie Breen Founded: 1892 Designed by: Tom Simpson Membership: 885 Course opening hours: Daylight hours Green Fees Midweek: €115 Clubhouse opening hours: 8.00am to 12.00pm Green Fees Weekends & B.H.: €135 Mobile phones: Not on course or in clubhouse Green Fees With a Member: €30 Dress Code: Neat casual, no denim Green Fees For Opens: €30 Catering: Full catering facilities Practice Area: Yes Days to Avoid: Weekends & Tuesdays Club Hire: Yes Green Fees and Societies Welcome: Other days Buggy Hire: Yes Pre-booking for open tournaments: 14 Days in advance Soft spikes: No
Course Description:
Undoubtedly one of the greatest links golf courses in Ireland and not more than 30-miles north of Dublin City, just beyond Drogheda in the small fishing village of Baltray. Here you will find County Louth Golf Club and you can take my word for it, it is a truly magnificent and totally natural golf links. As a result Co. Louth was awarded the Nissan Irish Open in 2004.
Baltray as it is commonly known, is probably the least widely known of Ireland’s great Championship links. Give this club a major professional tournament and all that would probably change, but for the moment Baltray retains a low profile, which doubtless suits many of the members! This is the venue of the East of Ireland Open Championship of who’s past winners reads like who is who of Irish Golf.
Co. Louth Golf Club has a fine clubhouse providing the golfer with his/her every need. Baltray must be one of the most friendly and informal clubs around. A genuinely relaxed "Saturday afternoon" atmosphere prevails throughout the week. Once you have played this links you will want to play it again and again. Voted the No. 7-ranked golf course in Ireland, by “Golf Digest Ireland” in 2008. Co. Louth was voted No. 5 Links/Shoreline Course in Ireland by "Backspin" Irelands leading Golf magazine in 2008, the panel comprised of a selection of 52 Professional and amateur golfers throughout Ireland.
Open & Major fixtures 2008: Event
Start
Finish
Type
Duration
No fixtures until 2009.
Club History
Instituted 1892, affiliated 1995. The Irish Golfer 21st February 1900 reports; "In the Spring of 1892 G. H. Pentland discovered the present links and invoked the aid of Tom Gilroy, who at once realized their capabilities, a meeting was called in Drogheda on 11th October 1892 and Co. Louth Golf Club was established. Mr. Tom Gilroy was elected Captain and G. H. Pentland was elected Hon. Secretary and Treasurer".
The Golfing Annual 1894-95 gives it as an eighteen-hole course and tells us "It is an excellent course, the soil being sandy and the turf short. The circuit is about three miles and the hazards are sand hills, bends and bunkers" Tom Gilroy set the first course record of 79 in May 1895. G. H. Pentland was a prominent landlord and another founder member Mr. H. J. Daly, Captain 1895, was secretary of the GUI from 1899 to 1902.Cecil Barcroft, secretary of the Royal Dublin Golf Club, was asked to redesign the course in 1914 this layout lasted for 24 years.
Then, in 1938, the famous golf architects, Tom Simpson & Molly Gourley, redesigned the course, which was formally opened on 24th July 1938, by the late Jimmy Bruen. In 1941, the East of Ireland was first played at Baltray and the winner was none other than J. B. Carr.
Location
Take the Dock/Coast Road out of Drogheda, follow the road veering right, and you will arrive at the gates of Baltray.
Members Achievements
The Ladies of Co. Louth Golf Club won their Regional Final in the Suzuki Senior Cup and participated in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at Milltown Golf Club on Friday 31st August 2007; where they were drawn against Roscommon Golf Club.First on the tee was Deirdre Smith who had a convincing 7 and 6 win over Mary Seymour, she was followed by Maria Dunne who went down to Sinead Benedetti on the 21st hole. Jenny Gannon won her match on the 19th against Ann McCormack. The penultimate match saw Patricia Nannery lose out to Ruth Lennon by 4 and 2. The bottom match of Carla Reynolds against Paula Quinn went all the way to the 23rd before the match was decided and gave the ladies of Co. Louth a 3 matches to 2 matches win and a place in the All-Ireland Semi-Final against Ennis the eventual winners.
First on the tee on the Saturday morning was Deirdre Smith who lost her match by 4 and 3 to Tricia McDonnell, she was followed by Jenny Gannon who halved her match with Pamela Murphy. Next on the tee was Maria Dunne who lost to Sarah Cunningham by 4 and 3. The penultimate match saw Carla Reynolds lose out to Valerie Hassett by 4 and 3, the bottom match of Karen Yates was halved with young Ciara Pender, and so Ennis progressed to the All-Ireland decider on a 4 matches to 1 match score line.
The Fairway Tales of Ireland would like to congratulate Simon Ward on being part of the victorious Irish Team that won the European Amateur Championship at Western Gailes on the Ayrshire Cost, on Saturday 7th July 2007, when they overcame a strong French team by 4 ½ matches to 2 ½ matches. Ireland had not won this Championship since 1987, the other members of the team were Rory McIlroy (Hollywood Golf Club), Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye Golf Club), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills Golf Club) well done lads and we will continue to follow your progress in the years to come.
2005 Lady Captain Sheila Nelson and her Captain’s Prize winner Vicki Smyth qualified in the Volkswagen/Irish Independent Lady Captain’s Classic in this scotch foursomes format. It was off to the National Finals at The Heritage Golf Club on Monday 3rd October where they were paired with the Co. Tipperary pair of Kay Cross and Ann Maher.
Simon Ward was selected to represent Ireland at the Boys Home Internationals played at Woodhall Spa, Lioncolnshire from 2nd to 4th August 2005.
Deirdre Smith was selected on the Irish Ladies team for the Home Internationals, where they retained the trophy and recorded their 7th victory, played at Royal Porthcawl from 8th to 10th September 2004. Deirdre was selected on the Leinster ILGU Team for the Interprovincial's. Played at Ballybunion Golf Club from 18th to 20th August 2004.
Simon Ward was selected on the Irish Boys Team that played Canada in a Junior Challenge match at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from 7th to 9th September 2004.
Co. Louth Ladies won the Eastern District Championship of the Suzuki All-Ireland Senior Cup in 2004 but were beaten in the All-Ireland Semi-Final by Royal Portrush at Athlone Golf Club on 4th September. The team was Deirdre Smith, Maria Dunne, Paula Delaney, Jennifer Gannon, Susan Mullaney, Jackie Quinn and Karen Yates.
Co. Louth won the Leinster Final of the Bulmers Junior Cup at Forrest Little Golf Club, when they beat Malahide by 3 matches to 2 matches in 2002. They were drawn against Ulster Champions Malone in the All-Ireland Semi-Finals at Galway Golf Club on September 5th. The team was Michael Kierans, Andrew Garvey, David Doggett, Niall Cremmins, Shane Gannon, Ronan Branigan, Patrick McCaffrey, Conor Breen, Frank King, Mark Varley, Thomas Collier, Fergal Sharkey and Owen Branigan. They were, managed by Jim Tully. They beat Malone and collected the green medals against Killarney on the Friday. The team on the day was Ronan Branigan, Shane Gannon, David Doggett, Michael Kierans and Patrick McCafffrey.
The Ladies of Co. Louth Golf Club won the Leinster Championship of the I. L. G. U. Senior Cup and competed in the All-Ireland Finals at Balbriggan Golf Club on 7th September 2002. The team was Deirde Smith, Oonagh Purfield, Jennifer Gannon, Patricia Nannery and Susan Mullarney. They were, captained by Gemma McGuirk. They were drawn against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and won their match by 4 matches to 1match. They met Munster Champions Douglas in the final and had another 4 matches to 1 match. Deirde Smith won the top match against Eavan Higgins by 1-hole, followed by Oonagh Purfield who beat Kate MacCann by the same margin. Jennifer Gannon had a 2 and 1 victory over Ailish Thompson and both Susan Mullarney and Pat Nannery halved their matches with Aiofa Lane and G Harvey.
Jenny Gannon and Deirdre Smith were selected on the Leinster Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial Championships at Mount Wolseley on August 7-9 2002. The team wa,s captained by Jackie Quinn.
Shane Gannon was selected on the Irish Boy's for the Home Internationals at Blairgowrie, Scotland in early August 2002.
Deirdre Smith was selected on the Irish team for the European Team Championship at Campo de Meis, Spain from the 10th to the 14th of July 2001.
Jenifer Gannon was selected on the Leinster Ladies team for the AIB Interprovincial’s at the Island Golf Club on the 8th to the 10th August 2001. She was, joined by club-mate D. Smith and the team was, captained by J. Quinn.
Co. Louth Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Senior Cup at Royal Co. Down in 1999, when the team was, Bryan Ronan, Nigel Beirth, Val Smyth, Garth Bohill, Ronan Branigan, Niall Crimmins, David Gannon, Fred Hoey and Barry Reddan, they were captained by Thomas Collier.
Co. Louth Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Senior Cup at Hermitage G. C. in 1977, when the team was, Mick Gannon, Barry Reddan, D. McCann, M. McGuirk, Frank Gannon, D. Levins and F. Ronan.
Co. Louth Golf Club won the All-Ireland Irish Senior Cup at The Royal Dublin G. C. in1974, when the team was, Barry Reddan, D. Levins, K. Garvey, M. McGuirk, A. Gormley, J. Leach and Mick Gannon.
Co. Louth won the Leinster Final of the Pierce Purcell Shield in 1998, when the team was, P. Morris, T. Blake, D. Connell, A. Morris, S. Walsh, M. O'Reilly, D. Shortt, F. Kierans, Ken Byrne, J. Keappock, O. Tully, C. Byrne, P. Walsh, K. Beirth, Syl Shelly, R. Whyte and K. Doggett, they were captained by Joe Leech.
Co. Louth won the Leinster Final of the Barton Shield when they beat a very strong U.C.D. team. They went on to play Killarney in the All-Ireland semi-final at Lahinch, on 21st September 2000. The squad was Michael McGuirk, Val Smyth, David Gannon, Brian Ronan, Nigel Beirth Barry Reddan, and Garth Bohill. They beat Killarney by five holes in the Semi-Final, but went down to a very strong Shandon Park in the National Final. The team was Garth Bohill with David Gannon, and Nigel Beirth with Brian Ronan.
Co. Louth Golf Club won the Provincial Towns Trophy in 1988, when the team was, P. McKenna, M. Murphy, J. Leonard, C. Walsh, K. Byrne, M. Kavanagh, C. Cassidy, O. Garvey, T. Garry, S. Martin and B. Breen, they were captained by T. Collier and selected by J. Leech.
Co. Louth Golf Club were Leinster Champions of the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 1996, when the team was, Jackie Quinn, Mark Varley, Conor Breen, Joan Kearney, Richie McDonnell, Deirdre Smith, Leo Morgan, Michael O'Brien, Colm Walsh, Susan Kenny, Anne O'Brien, Iggy Barr, Gloria Robinson, Rosemary Howell, Dorothy Collins and Brian Ronan, they were captained by Anne Owens and Joe Leech.
David Gannon was selected on the Boys' Home International team at Portmarnock G. C. on 9th to 11th August 2000.
Co. Louth won the Leinster Section of the Irish Senior Cup at Portmarnock G. C. on 22/8/99, when they beat a very strong Portmarnock side 3-2. The team was Brian Ronan, Barry Reddan, Neil Crimmins, David Gannon, Val Smyth and Garth Bohill. They were drawn against Cork in the semi-final at Royal Portrush G. C. on 17th September 1999. They won the semi-final 3.5-1.5 and beat Galway in the final 3-2
Deirdre Smith, was selected on the ILGU Senior A squad in November 2000 and won the L'Oreal Connacht Senior Championship Cup at Westport G. C. in 1999.
P. Delaney was selected on the ILGU Senior A squad in November 2000.
Barry Reddan participated in the Home International matches in 1987 (he represented Leinster from 1987 to 1988, playing 25 matches)
Mark Gannon from 1973 to 1990, playing 62 matches. He won the Willie Gill Perpetual Award 1979 with 95 points.
David Doggett participated in the Boys' Home International matches in 1994 (and played Leinster Boys in 1993)
J. Gannon plasyes Irish Boys' in 1993;
A. Garvey played Irish Boys' in 1992.
J. P. Fitzgerald represented Leinster in 1993;
Mark Gannon from 1972 to 1993, playing 97 matches.
B. Ronan represented Leinster in 1998, he played Leinster Youths' in 1996
F. Ronan represented Leinster from 1979 to 1988, playing 19 matches.
J. P. Fitzgerald played Leinster Youths in 1988.
J. Gannon played Leinster Youths' in 1996 and won 4 of his 5 matches.
A Garvey played Leinster Youths' from 1993 to 1996, playing 11 matches.
J. O'Sullivan played Leinster Youths in 1994.
David Gannon played Leinster Boys in 1998.
Oonagh Purfield played for Ireland in the European Ladies Junior Championship at Shannon Golf Club in 1990, and was selected to play in the Home Internationals at Royal Dornoch in August 1999, and Deirdre Smith was on the reserves.
Jennifer Gannon played for Ireland in the Girls Home Internationals at Formby Ladies Golf Club in 1996 and at Forfar Golf Club in, 1997.
Card of the Course (yards)
Name No Blue White Par Index Red Par Index Drummond 1 433 423 4 5 343 4 5 Bather's Path 2 523 482 5 11 392 5 15 Punch Bowl 3 544 534 5 9 435 5 3 Horse Shoe 4 379 344 4 17 319 4 11 Haven 5 173 158 3 13 137 3 13 Inver Colpa 6 531 521 5 15 417 5 9 Shepherds Bank 7 163 153 3 7 145 3 7 Bearna Beag 8 421 407 4 3 371 4 1 Cloc Stuca 9 419 409 4 1 407 5 17 Out 3,586 3,431 37 2,966 38 Gannon's Way 10 398 388 4 12 318 4 6 Long Bank 11 470 464 4 2 462 5 12 The Crater 12 410 410 4 6 338 4 4 Manx Mens Gap 13 421 408 4 8 411 5 18 The Cup 14 332 322 4 14 247 4 16 Jubilee Bank 15 152 142 3 18 148 3 14 Water Hole 16 429 401 4 4 350 4 2 Jib 17 179 169 3 16 173 3 8 Cowan Hill 18 559 541 5 10 460 5 16 In 3,350 3,245 35 2,907 37 Total 6,936 6,676 73 5,873 75 SSS 73 72 73
Men's Course Record: Am. 65 Ken Kearney (Roscommon), Pro: 67 P. Cowen
Ladies Course Record:
Competetion Card (yards)
Name No Blue Par Index Red Par Index Drummond 1 454 4 5 343 4 5 Bather's Path 2 523 5 11 392 5 15 Punch Bowl 3 544 5 9 435 5 3 Horse Shoe 4 379 4 17 319 4 11 Haven 5 178 3 13 137 3 13 Inver Colpa 6 531 5 15 417 5 9 Shepherds Bank 7 163 3 7 145 3 7 Bearna Beag 8 421 4 3 371 4 1 Cloc Stuca 9 419 4 1 407 5 17 Out 3,607 37 2,966 38 Gannon's Way 10 429 4 12 318 4 6 Long Bank 11 470 4 2 462 5 12 The Crater 12 410 4 6 338 4 4 Manx Mens Gap 13 421 4 8 411 5 18 The Cup 14 332 4 14 247 4 16 Jubilee Bank 15 167 3 18 148 3 14 Water Hole 16 429 4 4 350 4 2 Jib 17 207 3 16 173 3 8 Cowan Hill 18 559 5 10 460 5 16 In 3,424 35 2,907 37 Total 7,031 72 5,873 75 SSS 74 73
Roll of Honour Mrs. N. Matthews 1989 Ladies Captain Mrs. M. V. Reddan 1989 Ladies President P. Kelly 1989 Men's Captain N. A. McQuillan 1989 President Jane Monaghan 1990 Ladies Captain Mrs. M. Allen 1990 Ladies President J. G. Nallen 1990 Men's Captain N. A. McQuillan 1990 President Mrs. J. Matthews 1991 Ladies Captain Mrs. M. Allen 1991 Ladies President J. J. Ryle 1991 Men's Captain N. A. McQuillan 1991 President Mrs. P. J. Halpenny 1992 Ladies Captain Mrs. J. M. Collins 1992 Ladies President E. T. Kearney 1992 Men's Captain P. V. Lyons 1992 President Gloria Robinson 1993 Ladies Captain Mrs. J. M. Collins 1993 Ladies President A. E. Walsh 1993 Men's Captain P. F. Morgan 1993 President Felicity Matthews 1994 Ladies Captain Mrs. M. S. Matthews 1994 Ladies President R. J. Quirke 1994 Men's Captain P. F. Morgan 1994 President Mrs. J. E. Collins 1995 Ladies Captain Mrs. M. S. Matthews 1995 Ladies President M. F. Ronan 1995 Men's Captain A. P. Robinson 1995 President Mrs. Mary Robinson 1996 Ladies Captain Mrs. J. H. Murdock 1996 Ladies President M. A. McGuirk 1996 Men's Captain A. P. Robinson 1996 President Valerie Breen 1997 Ladies Captain Mrs. J. H. Murdock 1997 Ladies President O. F. Allen 1997 Men's Captain P. J. Halpenny 1997 President Mrs. Ina Kierans 1998 Ladies Captain Mrs. E. Sheirson 1998 Ladies President O. P. Tully 1998 Men's Captain M. P. Kierans 1998 President Joan O'Reilly 1999 Ladies Captain Terry Allen 1999 Ladies President Joe Leech 1999 Men's Captain Dr. E. T. Kearney 1999 President Mrs. J. McQuillan 2000 Ladies Captain Mrs. N. Gannon 2000 Ladies President M. McGuigan 2000 Men's Captain J. Tully 2000 President Vera Morgan 2001 Ladies Captain M. R. Halpenny 2001 Ladies President Neil Matthews 2001 Men's Captain M. Doolan 2001 President Elizabeth Hall 2002 Ladies Captain U. Hoey 2002 Ladies President Martin Ryan 2002 Men's Captain John Collins 2002 President Ann Owens 2003 Ladies Captain Valerie Breen 2003 Ladies President Thomas Collier 2003 Men's Captain Barry V. Reddan 2003 President Vera Rock 2004 Ladies Captain J. Kearney 2004 Ladies President Mark Varley 2004 Men's Captain Leo Kenny 2004 President Vicki Smyth 2005 Ladies Captain Mary Eealy 2005 Ladies President Padraig Duffy 2005 Men's Captain Paddy Kelly 2005 President Sheila McCann 2006 Ladies Captain Mark Kierans 2006 Men's Captain J. J. Noer 2006 President Gemma McGuirk 2007 Ladies Captain Vincent Murray 2007 Men's Captain Mark Gannon 2007 President Jenny Gannon (3) 2008 Lowest Ladies H'cap Barry Reddan 2008 Lowest Men's H'cap Gerard Kelly 2008 Lowest Men's H'cap Simon Ward 2008 Lowest Men's H'cap Gareth Bohill 2008 Lowest Men's H'cap
Holes-in-One Person Date Hole No. Club Used Distance Philip Dillon 12 November 1997 15th 142 yd's D. Egan 16 August 1999 5th 148 yd's Joe Lennon 23 April 2000 5th 158 yd's