Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort

Originally designed by Old Tom Morris, Ireland’s Rosapenna Golf Course dates back to 1893. Today, following the including of the spectacular new St Patrick’s Links, Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort is one of the finest dedicated golf destinations in the world.

Co-Founder of Golf Atlas and GOLF Magazine’s Architectural Editor Ran Morrissett remarked, “Throw in knowledgeable owners and first-rate green-keeping practices and you have a course with no flaws”, making Rosapenna Golf Club a perfect stop on our North West Ireland Golf Tour.

It is believed that in 1891, Tom Morris was the guest of Lord Leitrim on the north coast of Ireland. He was taking a drive and admiring the pristine linksland when he came upon what he viewed as the perfect site for a new course at Rosapenna. In 1893 the course and accommodations opened making Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort the world’s first dedicated golf resort.

The design which today bears his name – Old Tom Morris Links – was in its day regarded as the third-best course in the British Isles. Only surpassed by the Old Course at St Andrews and Royal County Down in nearby Northern Ireland.

In 2009, a new Strand Nine was built that replaced the original back nine. Today the Strand Nine combines with the Old Tom Morris Valley Nine to form the championship links that stretch a modern 7,000 yards from the back tees.

Just as Rosapenna Golf led the way in the late 1800s, it is destined to be at the forefront of the links golf world again. With the lifting of Covid travel restrictions, avid golfers are discovering Tom Doak’s latest masterpiece – St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna.

Opened in 2021, it immediately rocketed into the World’s Top 100 Courses. Doak did a brilliant job in totally transforming the land into an entirely new 18-hole layout. Weaving through high dunes, featuring naturalized bunkers, all overlooking the sparkling Sheephaven Bay.

The third championship links at Rosapenna Golf is Sandy Hills Links. Designed by Ireland’s own Pat Ruddy and Rosapenna’s Frank Casey Snr in 2003 and updated by Beau Welling in 2013. Where Old Tom Morris built his championship links next to the dunes, Ruddy took a much bolder line straight through them. With deceptively intimidating-looking narrow fairways from the tees that actually have generous landing areas, Sandy Hills is still not for the faint of heart. 

Like St. Patrick’s there are no weak holes, The layout plays a stout 7,255 yards from the tips. Characterized by multiple elevated tees and greens offering marvelous views of the landscape’s features; Muckish Mountain, Murky Bay, Lough Salt Mountains, and Carrigant.

If you need an emergency nine there is the “Coast Guard Holes,” made up from the old back nine of the Old Links and is now a separate nine-hole course. If you are looking for an authentic links experience with traditional Irish ‘craic’ look no further than a North West Ireland golf trip.