DESTINATION GOLF 2026
Naas
Naas is a peach of a driving course, with lots of changes in elevation offering tempting tee shots between scatterings of mature trees. It is by no means hilly but the older nine offer up some delicious high tees. The 13th is one of those par fives where you’ ll kick yourself for missing the glorious fairway below. It’ s the shot of the day. Indeed, the entire back nine are thrilling with three par threes and three par fives. The course is well maintained and smartly bunkered and golfers of all abilities will enjoy it. And after considerable recent upgrades you can expect to be impressed.
Laytown & Bettystown
Despite a lengthy and interesting evolution, Laytown & Bettystown has ended up as a more traditional out-and-back links, despite a very recent re-routing. Expect a rugged, testing start, on this under-appreciated links. These opening holes will vex you with devilish fall-offs around greens, blind shots and unexpected hollows. Your short game needs to be razor sharp, as will your imagination. The turn for home introduces the wind and wider, flatter fairways so you can start swinging … and you’ ll need to for this is the longer nine, culminating with the doubleblind par five 18th.
Dundalk
It is the rhythm and consistency of Dundalk’ s 18 holes which have helped to establish the course’ s strong reputation. The dark trees shadowing holes only emphasise this, as they rise and fall gently with the terrain while the fairways flow back and forth. But it is a good length( par 72, 6,000 metres, middle white tees) and those trees come close enough to terrify golfers with big draws or fades. The Dundalk Senior Scratch Cup is a significant event in the amateur golfing calendar, confirming the course’ s popularity and reputation.
Seapoint
Seapoint offers two distinct sets of holes, right next door to Co. Louth Golf Club. Indeed, Seapoint’ s closing holes could easily be an extension of the great Baltray links as they back on to each other. The front nine play over sedate terrain, where trees border the course and fairways glide smoothly between low, rolling shoulders of dunes. Gorse plays its part emphasising the importance of accurate driving and the doglegs have to be respected. The turf is tight and while it doesn’ t quite feel like a links early on, the back nine delivers in spades. It ramps up the temperature, introducing the shapes and subtleties that make links golf such fun.
Naas
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