| You only have to look at the visitor's book in | | | | is slightly left to right dog-leg and has a narrow |
| County Louth Golf Club, better known as Baltray, | | | | landing area protected by two bunkers on the left |
| near Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland to realize | | | | and savage hilly rough on the left. Land in the |
| that many from abroad, particularly America, | | | | latter and say goodbye to your ball. The second |
| have discovered this understated but hidden gem | | | | shot is blind through a narrow V shaped gap into |
| of a true links course. This is not a recent trend | | | | a bowl-shaped or crater-like area surrounded by |
| either, for as far back as the seventies the | | | | treacherous rough very close to the green. |
| course acquired a reputation that put it firmly in | | | | Accuracy is critical on both drive and approach |
| the top Irish links courses. Long before the course | | | | shot because the price of failure in that |
| attained fame by holding two Irish Opens, true | | | | department is the wrecking of a card. Come |
| purists of the links game have raved about the | | | | away from there with a par though and you will |
| merits of this wonderful track. The course now | | | | feel on top of the world. |
| features in the Golf Digest Top 100 world courses | | | | The 16th is a 419 yard par-4, index 7, left to right |
| and if you are playing golf in Ireland be sure it is | | | | dogleg that again puts a premium on accuracy. |
| on your itinerary. Less than an hour north of | | | | Try to steal yards by keeping it too right will |
| Dublin, it is worthy of an epic journey as many | | | | leave you with a treacherous blind second shot |
| who play it undertake. | | | | across trees. The green is tucked away in a |
| The course has a long history starting from a | | | | narrow corner surrounded by hazards. The only |
| meeting in October of 1892 which created the | | | | way to go is centre of the fairway or left of |
| initial course. The idea was good but the design | | | | centre from the tee. The second shot must then |
| was poor and thus in 1938 the current | | | | be as good as the first to find the green. Again if |
| championship links was designed Tom Simpson, a | | | | you walk away from here with a par you have |
| renowned architect of the period. The course is | | | | done well. It leaves you with a relatively |
| laid out in two loops covering some 190 acres on | | | | straightforward par-3 17th and a birdie |
| the northern banks of the River Boyne estuary. A | | | | opportunity to finish on lovely par five if you have |
| further subtle upgrade by Tom MacKenzie in 2003 | | | | the advantage of the prevailing wind. |
| added yardage and brought back into play | | | | Baltray is an old-world golf course from the club |
| obstacles that newer equipment and balls had | | | | house which accommodates overnight visitors to |
| eliminated. The course is now just over 7,000 | | | | the history and achievement of the many great |
| yards long. | | | | golfers that emanated from here. Tradition is |
| There are no weak holes on this course. Every | | | | important in Baltray and the past is respected and |
| one of them deserves praise but even with that | | | | revered. A friendly knowing welcome will always |
| compliment, one must highlight a few outstanding | | | | meet the stranger who has taken the trouble to |
| challenges that rise to exceptional levels of quality. | | | | find this place because they know you are here |
| For this writer the 12th, a par 4 index 3, 410 yard | | | | not for the stroll but for the challenge. |
| hole is the favourite. Named the Crater, the hole | | | | |