The Irish Golf Club Gazette

10/24/2014

About The Course - County Louth

1st Hole at Baltray

The late Frank Penninck wrote in an article in 1962 in the "Golfers Companion" referring to the Course as "natural unspoilt seaside territory with towering sand hills, murderous rough, and a rating of long holes that call for powerful hitting".

In more recent times the "Golf World" magazine was moved to observe:

"County Louth is one of the best kept secrets of Irish golf. Sometimes also referred to as Baltray this has to be one of the most enjoyable Links in Ireland and undoubtedly represents superb value. There is not a weak hole on the course and some of the holes merit greatness".

The present course was designed in 1938 by the renowned Tom Simpson. The course is laid out in two loops covering some 190 acres with no two holes running in the same direction. The only exception being the 12th and 13th which run along the sea. It speaks highly for Simpson's design that he saw need to introduce only fifty bunkers in the course's defences the rest was taken care of by the natural terrain.

The 14th hole is regarded as the signature hole a short par four measuring only 332 yards you can drive all the way to the green and end up taking six or more, wondering what did you actually do that was wrong. The four par threes are superb. Averaging 160 yards it is seldom one will have a good score that does not include a par at each of these.

In 1985 the numerical order in which the holes were laid out was slightly altered to accommodate a new starting position. Other than that little has changed from 1938, until 2003 when the firm of Donald Steel and Company undertook a course upgrade under the guidance of Tom MacKenzie, himself an undoubted fan of Simpson's work.

The changes although minimal have had a significant impact on the course and with the addition of some new Tees "Baltray" now measures over 7,000 yds thus bringing it in line with the modern game.

www.countylouthgolfclub.com

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10/23/2014

Relevant Rules

Rule 20-3

Placing and Replacing

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker.

If a ball to be replaced is placed other than on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs the general penalty, loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play, for a breach of the applicable Rule.

Rule 6-6

Scoring in Stroke Play

a. Recording Scores

After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round the marker must sign the score card and hand it to the competitor. If more than one marker records the scores, each must sign for the part for which he is responsible.

b. Signing and Returning Score Card

After completion of the round, the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have signed the score card, sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible. Penalty for Breach of Rule 6-6b: disqualification.

c. Alteration of Score Card

No alteration may be made on a score card after the competitor has returned it to the Committee.

d. Wrong Score for Hole

The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.

Club History - Dun Laoghaire

For 97 years, home for Dun Laoghaire Golf Club was just a stroll from the town and the sea, a picturesque, parkland course central to an ever expanding community.

Today the club sits majestically under Carrickgollen Hill in Ballyman Glen, with spectacular views dominated by the Sugar Loaf Mountains and the Irish Sea, and still within the boundaries of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council District. Despite its new vistas, the driving spirit of the founding fathers is as strong as ever.

In 1909, fifty-one residents of Kingstown and district gathered in the Royal Marine Hotel on December 9th, to attend the inaugural meeting of Kingstown Golf Club. It was chaired by Major Bryan Cooper, at that time a Conservative Member of Parliament at Westminster, but who was later to become a member of Dail Eireann for Co Dublin. The Earl of Longford, K.P. was elected President on the night. He was subsequently killed in action in the Dardanelles campaign in 1915 and was succeeded by Viscount de Vesci who held the position until 1958.

Formation of the club got under way quickly. Approximately 200 men and 70 Lady Associates were elected and leases taken out on 36 acres of land at Eglinton Park and Highthorn, where a nine hole course was laid out. A clubhouse was built at a cost of £1,265 and in April of 1910 a Council meeting was held in it.

In November of that year a decision was taken to extend the course to 18 holes and approximately 40 acres on the far side of Glenageary Road were leased and an extra nine holes laid out. At the conclusion of the Great War the noted golf architect, Harry Colt, was employed to produce a new lay-out which stood the test of time.

In 1922 the club title was changed to Dun Laoghaire (Kingstown) Golf Club and finally, in 1951, after an acrimonious debate, Kingstown was finally removed. There followed a period of change with the 'old guard' dying off and an influx of new members whose accents represented a broader spectrum of Irish life, both metropolitan and provincial.

From the sixties to the nineties all the leased land was acquired by the club and the importance of this gradual and far-sighted activity was to eventually lead to dramatic change. From the seventies on difficulties arose with the club's boundaries and it became obvious that it was not totally practical to maintain an 18 hole course that was reasonably safe on 78 acres.

An opportunity to relocate to 150 acres in Cherrywood in 1992/1993 fell through when Monarch Properties made a verbal offer, but subsequently decided to go ahead with a housing and industrial development. Another offer was tabled in 2001 by The Cosgrave Property Group which expressed an interest in the club's lands and indicated that that they would be prepared to re-locate the club to a 320 acre site which they had acquired at Ballyman Glen.

For historical reasons the club went back to the Royal Marine Hotel in June of 2002 where the offer was put to the 327 members present and after a vigorous debate, 79% voted in favour of the move.

Work commenced and Hawtree Ltd designed and supervised the construction of the course. The architects, Campbell Conroy Hickey, and builders, Cleary Doyle completed the clubhouse and associated facilities.

The club moved to Ballyman Glen in August 2007.

www.dunlaoghairegolfclub.ie

Course Focus - Old Head Golf Links

Old Head Golf Links is built on a 220-acre diamond of land, jutting out over two miles into the Atlantic Ocean. The promontory is almost an island with numerous caves running beneath your feet as you play the course. The links and practice area occupy 180 acres and the remaining 40 acres of unspoilt cliff (rising in places to over 300 feet) frame the course.

Designed and constructed by a unique team, Ron Kirby - former designer at Jack Nicklaus’s Golf Design Services, Paddy Merrigan - Australian course architect and agronomist, Liam Higgins - one of Ireland’s best known golf professionals currently on the Seniors Tour, the late Eddie Hackett - former Irish golf professional and golf course designer, the late Dr. Joe Carr - Ireland’s most successful international amateur golfer and finally, Haulie O’Shea – building contractor.

Old Head, par 72, comprises five Par 5s, five Par 3s and eight Par 4s – stretching to over 7,200 yards from the tips, with a minimum of six tees per hole. Nine holes play along the cliff tops, and all eighteen holes provide stunning ocean views. With the ever-changing sea breezes, the course provides a stern test to the touring pro and the high handicapper alike.

Old Head Golf Links is designed as a walking course where Members and Guests are encouraged to walk the links with a Caddie. Old Head boasts one of the largest group of professional Caddies in the country, with approximately 160 Caddies working at the Club throughout the season. The Old Head Caddie Programme is among one of the most extensive and professional worldwide.

The course is set up, depending on conditions, on a daily basis. Facilities include a warm up range with complimentary golf balls and a short game practice area. Old Head has a team of fully trained outside services staff to cater for your every need.

Old Head Tour the Course