Rosapenna Golf Links

Old Tom Morris was called to Rosapenna in 1892 by Lord Leitrim to design a golf course. Out for a Sunday drive over the countryside, Morris and the Lord happen across a stretch of linksland where Morris declared, "you must build the golf course here", and it was done. Some 100 years later, another golf course architect by the name of Pat Ruddy was hired to build the Sandy Hill links on land adjoining the Old Course. Sandy Hills at 7255 yards is an awesome course, challenging at every turn, and not a weak hole among is 18. The appeal of Sandy Hills lies in its balanced routing through the high dunes cloaked in marram grass. Many of the holes feature elevated tees and greens, with drives into natural bowls on the dune floor. Most of the holes run north and south along the dune ridges, parallel to the front nine of the Old Tom Morris Course below, and above Tramore, the large beach along side Sheephaven Bay. Sandy Hills is relatively new, and in my opinion needs a few years of age to fully develop. It was extremely difficult on playing it the first time, and would recommend two rounds here to fully appreciate the course. The original Old Tom Morris back nine -- now called the Coastguard Academy nine -- required a handful of shots over local roads that had been built through the course over the years, and is kind of an overflow course now, it was enjoyable to play, but I'd opt for the other courses here before playing it. Pat Ruddy and Tom Doak designed a the new Strand nine to pair with the original Valley nine that runs out along the beach, designed originally by Old Tom, with revisions by James Braid and Harry Vardon. The Strand is routed over a fairly tight little piece of land, the holes zigzag a bit with close adjoining fairways, but every hole has a character of its own, with some great views and settings. The revamped Old Tom Morris course now plays 6,871 yards through the dunes without any roads traversing it like the Old course had. It's a fairly remote location in County Donegal, so staying on site here at the 70 room Rosapenna Golf Hotel is an ideal way to experience the course and the area. Beautiful setting and in perfect isolation.