A bit late to this party, but allow me to echo everyone's sentiments. I had the very good fortune to make Baltray the first links I played in Ireland in 2002. I was joined by a childhood friend and we had the opportunity to spend the night after the round in the clubhouse dormer. Then we drove north to pick up the other two friends in our 4-ball at the Belfast Airport en route to a game at Portstewart. And off we went! To Portrush, Portmarnock, Lahinch and Ballybunion. But Baltray will always be special to me for being my first step down the Ireland path that, now that Richard has reminded me, is long overdue to be resumed.
Well, sort of agreed, but rather more than 10 ‘must see’ links in my own logbook? My own ‘Irish darling’ is in the south west, at Waterville. But Tralee, Ballybunion Old, Lahinch, Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Point, Rosapenna (St Patricks and Sandy Hills), Ballyliffin (Glashedy), Portstewart (Strand), Royal Portrush (Dunluce)….and that’s only (some) on the West and North coasts…..there are several more down the East coast, obviously! Its a marvellous array …. to be sure!
Oh dear...I've seen about half of those...had great difficulty focusing on the road when passing by Waterville two summers ago. Are you saying I need yet another trip to Ireland? (please say yes, please say yes)
Richard, So glad you were finally able to overcome that blank page and write about your experience at Baltray! I agree that simply talking about its specific holes doesn’t do it justice-a true case of the sublime whole being greater than the sum of its parts. You have a great talent for expressing feelings and emotions that are evoked by these extraordinary landscapes, of which Baltray certainly is a prime example. Bravo! Best, TJ
A bit late to this party, but allow me to echo everyone's sentiments. I had the very good fortune to make Baltray the first links I played in Ireland in 2002. I was joined by a childhood friend and we had the opportunity to spend the night after the round in the clubhouse dormer. Then we drove north to pick up the other two friends in our 4-ball at the Belfast Airport en route to a game at Portstewart. And off we went! To Portrush, Portmarnock, Lahinch and Ballybunion. But Baltray will always be special to me for being my first step down the Ireland path that, now that Richard has reminded me, is long overdue to be resumed.
Superb 🙏
Well done. Mission accomplished!
Superb read. There's probably, give or take, 10 links that are must see on the island. Baltray is definitely one of them.
Well, sort of agreed, but rather more than 10 ‘must see’ links in my own logbook? My own ‘Irish darling’ is in the south west, at Waterville. But Tralee, Ballybunion Old, Lahinch, Connemara, Carne, Enniscrone, Rosses Point, Rosapenna (St Patricks and Sandy Hills), Ballyliffin (Glashedy), Portstewart (Strand), Royal Portrush (Dunluce)….and that’s only (some) on the West and North coasts…..there are several more down the East coast, obviously! Its a marvellous array …. to be sure!
Oh dear...I've seen about half of those...had great difficulty focusing on the road when passing by Waterville two summers ago. Are you saying I need yet another trip to Ireland? (please say yes, please say yes)
A pilgrimage needed
Richard, So glad you were finally able to overcome that blank page and write about your experience at Baltray! I agree that simply talking about its specific holes doesn’t do it justice-a true case of the sublime whole being greater than the sum of its parts. You have a great talent for expressing feelings and emotions that are evoked by these extraordinary landscapes, of which Baltray certainly is a prime example. Bravo! Best, TJ