Championship Golf
Men’s and Women’s Championships hosted at Baltray, 1892 – 2025
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A Star was Born at Baltray
The 2003 East of Ireland Championship at Baltray was the senior golf debut of a 14-year-old Rory McIlroy. The future six-time Major Champion and 2025 Masters winner would return to the Baltray links in 2009 to play in the Irish Open, and has played in almost every Irish Open since.
Men’s Championships · Professional
The Irish Open
County Louth hosted the Irish Open (European Tour / DP World Tour) twice — in 2004 and 2009. Both champions have remarkable stories.
Brett Rumford
2004 · Nissan Irish Open
Perth, Western Australia
Australian professional from Perth, born 27 July 1977. Rumford won by four strokes from Pádraig Harrington and Raphaël Jacquelin. He went on to win six European Tour titles in total — including the 2007 Omega European Masters and back-to-back victories at the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship and Volvo China Open. Career-high Race to Dubai finish of 17th in 2013. He also represented Australia in amateur golf before turning professional in 2000.
Shane Lowry (amateur)
2009 · 3 Irish Open
Esker Hills GC, Co. Offaly
Shane Lowry produced one of the most famous moments in Irish golf, winning the Irish Open as an amateur — defeating England’s Robert Rock in a sudden-death playoff. Born in Clara, Co. Offaly, his father Brendan Lowry won an All-Ireland football medal with Offaly in 1982. Shane turned professional immediately after this win and has gone on to become a global star, winning The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019, multiple Ryder Cups, and a WGC-Bridgestone Invitational title. One of Ireland’s greatest ever professional golfers.
Irish PGA Championship
Baltray has hosted the Irish PGA Championship four times — in 1947, 1985, 1987 and 2000 — welcoming some of Ireland’s most decorated professionals.
Harry “The Brad” Bradshaw
1947 · Irish Professional Championship
Delgany / Kilcroney, Co. Wicklow
Legendary Irish professional (1913–1990). Son of Delgany’s club professional Ned Bradshaw, with three brothers — Jimmy, Eddie, and Hughie — all of whom also turned professional. Won the Irish PGA Championship 10 times (a record later equalled by Christy O’Connor Snr). Twice Irish Open Champion (1947, 1949). Famously tied The Open Championship in 1949 after the infamous “bottle” incident at Royal St George’s, losing the 36-hole playoff to Bobby Locke. Three-time Ryder Cup player (1953, 1955, 1957) and 1958 Canada Cup winner for Ireland with Christy O’Connor Snr. Long-time Head Professional at Portmarnock (1950–1983).
Philip Walton
1987 · Irish Professional Championship
Malahide, Co. Dublin
A notable victory on the Baltray links for the Malahide professional, who would later become a Ryder Cup hero by holing the winning putt for Europe at Oak Hill in 1995.
Paul McGinley
2000 · Smurfit Irish PGA Championship
Grange Golf Club, Dublin
Winning score of 270, four shots clear of Eamonn Darcy. Four-time Irish PGA Champion (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003). Won four European Tour events as a professional. Three-time Ryder Cup player (2002, 2004, 2006) — winning every time — and famously holed the winning putt at The Belfry in 2002. Captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles in 2014. Now a respected golf analyst. One of Ireland’s most successful team golfers.
Men’s Championships · Amateur
Irish Amateur Close Championship
Ireland’s national men’s matchplay championship has been hosted at Baltray three times.
B. Herlihy
1950 · Irish Amateur Close · at Co. Louth
Portmarnock Golf Club
Beat B.C. McManus of Mourne 3 and 2 in the final. Remained an amateur. An established figure in the Portmarnock amateur scene of the post-war era.
M. Edwards
1962 · Irish Amateur Close · at Co. Louth
Shandon Park Golf Club, Belfast
Won at the 42nd hole after a gruelling extended final against J. Harrington of Adare Manor. Two-time Irish Close Champion (1960 and 1962). Remained an amateur throughout his career.
Darren Clarke
1990 · Irish Amateur Close · at Co. Louth
Dungannon Golf Club, Co. Tyrone
Defeated Pádraig Harrington of Stackstown 3 and 2 in a memorable final — a year before Clarke would also lift the East of Ireland title at Baltray. Turned professional shortly after. Became one of Ireland’s greatest ever golfers, winning The Open Championship at Royal St George’s in 2011 and captaining Europe’s Ryder Cup team in 2016. Won 22 times on the European Tour. His defeated opponent that day, Pádraig Harrington, went on to win three Major championships.
R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship
In August 2025, Baltray became the first Republic of Ireland venue to host this prestigious international junior championship — first played in 1921, with former winners including Sir Michael Bonallack, José María Olazábal, Sergio García, and Matthew Fitzpatrick.
Guus Lafeber
2025 · 98th R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship
The Netherlands
Seventeen-year-old from the Netherlands — the first Dutch player to win the championship in its 98-year history. Defeated Spain’s Yago Horno on the 37th hole of a 36-hole final in windy conditions at Baltray. Son of former DP World Tour player Maarten Lafeber, who won the 2003 Dutch Open. His mother was also a standout amateur for the Dutch national team. A chip off the old block. Still an amateur as of 2026 with scholarship offers from top US universities. Earned exemptions into The Amateur Championship and Final Qualifying for The Open.
Women’s Championships
Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play
In 2017, County Louth became the permanent home of the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play, with the trophy named in honour of Baltray’s own legends — Clarrie Reddan (née Tiernan) and Philomena Garvey.
Maria Dunne
2017 · Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play
Skerries Golf Club, Co. Dublin and honary member of County Louth Golf Club
Won wire-to-wire in the inaugural year of the Clarrie Reddan & Philomena Garvey Trophy. A longstanding Irish international, she represented Ireland across many years in Home Internationals and Curtis Cup. Retired from international play at the end of 2017. Remained an amateur golfer.
Hannah McCook
2018 · Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play
Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland
Scottish amateur who won by two strokes over Romy Meekers of the Netherlands. Turned professional shortly after and joined the LET Access Tour. Has competed on the Ladies European Tour.
Lily May Humphreys
2019 · Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England
17-year-old Curtis Cup player who won by six strokes at 10-under-par 212. Already the reigning Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Champion that week. Turned professional and has since played on the Ladies European Tour. A rising star of English golf.
Irish Women’s Amateur Close
Ireland’s oldest women’s championship (first played 1894) has visited Baltray on multiple occasions. The following are the editions at County Louth verified via the Irish Golf Desk records.
Kitty Smye
1949 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Tullamore Golf Club
Beat Mrs Babba Beck of Royal Portrush 9 and 7 in a dominant final. Later known as Kitty MacCann after marriage. Won The Women’s Amateur Championship (British Ladies Amateur) in 1951 at Broadstone — the first Irish winner since 1907. Remained an amateur throughout her career.
Philomena Garvey
1962 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Co. Louth · Baltray
Home club legend. Beat fellow Co. Louth member Moira Earner 7 and 6 in the final. Garvey won the Irish Close a record 15 times between 1946 and 1970. British Ladies Amateur Champion in 1957. Five-time runner-up at the British. Six Curtis Cup appearances between 1948 and 1960. Seven Vagliano Trophies. Widely regarded as Ireland’s greatest ever female amateur golfer. Remained an amateur throughout her career.
Elaine Bradshaw
1971 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Clontarf Golf Club, Dublin
Beat Maisie Mooney of Grange 3 and 1. Three-time Irish Close Champion (1966, 1968, 1971). Represented Ireland at Home International level. Remained an amateur.
Eileen Rose Power (née McDaid)
1992 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Kilkenny Golf Club
Beat Claire Hourihane of Woodbrook by 1 hole. Three-time Irish Close Champion (1990, 1992, 1995). Represented Ireland for 15 years starting in 1987 and was a member of the 1994 Curtis Cup team. Remained an amateur throughout her career.
Alison Coffey
2000 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Warrenpoint Golf Club, Co. Down
Beat Suzanne O’Brien (née Fanagan) of Milltown 3 and 1. Successfully defended her title at The European Club in 2001. Represented Ireland at international level. Remained an amateur.
Leona Maguire
2012 · Irish Women’s Close · at Co. Louth
Slieve Russell, Co. Cavan
Beat Stephanie Meadow of Royal Portrush 2 up in a final between two future LPGA Tour professionals. Born 30 November 1994 in Co. Cavan, one minute after her twin sister Lisa. Parents Declan and Breda are both schoolteachers. Record-holder for most weeks as World Number One Amateur (135 weeks). Duke University graduate. Became the first Irish woman to play in the Solheim Cup (2021) — she broke the all-time rookie points record at either the Solheim Cup or Ryder Cup. First Irish woman to win on the LPGA Tour (2022 Drive On Championship). Multiple LPGA and LET winner. One of Ireland’s most successful professional golfers, male or female. Her runner-up at Baltray, Stephanie Meadow, also turned professional and has won on the LPGA Tour.
Other Championships & Team Events
The Vagliano Trophy
2003
Women’s International Team Match · Great Britain & Ireland vs Continental Europe
Baltray hosted the biennial Vagliano Trophy in 2003 — a prestigious international team competition between the best women amateurs of Great Britain & Ireland and those of Continental Europe. A significant honour reflecting County Louth’s standing in world golf.
Men’s Home Internationals
2007
Annual Men’s International Team Match
Baltray hosted the Men’s Home Internationals in 2007, bringing together the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales for the prestigious annual team competition.
The Open Championship
Regional Qualifying
R&A Qualifying Venue · 2022, 2023, 2024
Baltray served as a Regional Qualifying venue for The Open Championship — the oldest major in golf — for three consecutive years, giving aspiring professionals and top amateurs a pathway to the game’s greatest stage.
East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship
Annual since 1941 · 84 editions at Baltray · Full Roll of Honour available separately
The very first East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship was won at Baltray in 1941 by a young J.B. Carr of Sutton Golf Club — a man who would go on to become Ireland’s greatest ever amateur golfer. It was the first of his record 12 East of Ireland titles. The trophy that day was presented to him by Peter Morgan, Club Captain of County Louth Golf Club in 1941, marking the beginning of a championship that has now been played annually on these links for over 80 years. Baltray also holds a unique place in the Rory McIlroy story — the 2003 East of Ireland Championship at County Louth was the senior golf debut of a 14-year-old Rory McIlroy, who would go on to become a six-time Major Champion and the 2025 Masters winner.
A Club That Has Shaped the Game
From Harry Bradshaw’s Irish PGA victories in the 1940s, to Darren Clarke’s Irish Close triumph in 1990, to Shane Lowry’s fairytale Irish Open as an amateur in 2009 — and on to Leona Maguire’s Irish Close title in 2012, which launched a career that would make her the first Irish woman in Solheim Cup history — Baltray’s championship story reads like a Who’s Who of Irish golf.
The champions crowned here have gone on to win Major championships, lift the Ryder Cup, play in the Solheim Cup, and inspire generations of Irish golfers. That story continues with every new year and every new champion.
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