Battle to find new date for East of Ireland at Baltray

The 13th and 14th holes at County Louth Golf Club

Golf Ireland is working to find a new date for the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at County Louth after its traditional June Bank Holiday finish was ruled out.

The 72-hole strokeplay championship has been played at Baltray since 1941 but after being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it cannot take place as scheduled from June 5-7 as Golf Ireland’s return to golf protocol does not allow for competition before June 7.

South Africa’s Martin Vorster won the 2019 East of Ireland. Picture: Pat Cashman

"We are working with County Louth Golf Club to try and secure alternative dates for the East of Ireland that suit the club and the Golf Ireland schedule,” said Teresa Thompson, a Regional Manager for Golf Ireland in Leinster.

“It cannot take place from June 5-7 as no competition can recommence until June 7.”

Finding a suitable new date will not be easy as the pandemic has already forced Golf Ireland to reschedule several events for the latter part of the year.

The Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship, originally scheduled for May, has been moved to August 13-15 while the West of Ireland Championship has shifted from Easter to September 4-5.

In an added complication, the Irish Women’s and Girls’ Amateur Open Championships are scheduled for Baltray from October 15-17, the same weekend as the rearranged Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open at The European Club.