Boystown Golf Club

We found Boystown with the help of a lady we stopped as we were driving along, not sure of where we were going. She was very chatty and, eventually, gave us perfect directions, which happened to go right past her house. We arrived without having had confirmation of a tee off time but luckily and young man called Jamie was going spare at 12:54 so we joined him for a three ball. We had just a few minutes to get changed and cram a banana into our mouths by way of lunch, and then we were on our way.

Boystown is an incredibly picturesque 9 hole parkland course in Co. Wicklow beside the Blessington Lakes and it’s a grand wee course for sure. Well, I say wee, it’s actually and pretty long for a 9-holer coming in at almost 3500 yards from the back tees. There’s plenty to look at and make you think on this course. There’s the old quarry at the second, a 461 yard par 4. The quarry will test your second shot to the green provided you managed to hit a decent drive. Then there’s the par 3 third over the pond. The remaining holes all have something to offer, not least of which are the great views over the lake and Wicklow hills beyond. Perhaps the best part of the course is the back to back par 5s at the 8th and 9th. The 8th is an uphill slog with a near-blind approach to the green. The 9th, to quote Jamie, is a beast of a hole - 591 yards over the quarry (again) with two huge trees waiting to collect your second shot. Two really great holes that were a pleasure to play twice.

Jamie was also a pleasure to play with. A self-taught golfer who says that he picked up the game and the etiquette just from watching TV! He’s only 16 but has a decent looking swing that could be so much more with a few lessons.

Thomas says:
The weather was all over the place today but when the sun shone it really did show off this course. A real gem of a 9 hole course that was in great order. The lakes and the hills in the background helped make it an even more enjoyable course to play. That quarry is a unique feature and the par 5s were just excellent. We laughed at a plaque placed under a huge tree in the middle of one of the fairways “Don’t blame the tree.” Needless to say I hit my ball straight into it. Stupid tree! A couple of the tee positions did leave me wondering where I should be hitting and the 16th tee is just bonkers.

Jamie said that they had done a lot of work on the course over the winter and that it was really coming good now and it was all on show on a day like today. Great course and definitely worth having a go.

Clive says:
We have had difficulty in finding many of Ireland’s golf courses but this was one of the hardest. But with the perfect directions given by our friendly motorist, we found the place. The course looked well from the start. Crisp fairways and excellent greens certainly showed it off to its fullest extent. Pity about my golf these days which is poor. However on the plus side I did enjoy the play of both Thomas and Jamie - oh to be 16 again! My favourite hole was the par three third with water to catch you and the need to hit your shot straight as well. I loved the swerves of the fairways and the place was just a little gem.
We were belatedly welcomed by the club’s president who told us he had once caddied for none other than Peter Alliss. I asked him about the name ‘Boystown’. He admitted that this had been a bad choice of name and that, after the first 10 years, they were thinking of changing the name to ‘Blessington Lakes GC’ - a much better idea! Top marks to this course which, incidentally - according to Mr President, is the second longest 9 hole course in Ireland. Do make a stop at Boystown - you will not regret it - 8 out of 10.

See out photos of Boystown

Google Map:

View Larger Map