ROSAPENNA – IRELAND’S BANDON DUNES
As great as the links golf in the southwest of Ireland is with both Ballybunion Old and Lahinch Championship holding places in the World’s Top 100 Courses – the drawback has always been it’s a good hour and a half to two plus hours between championship links and back to your accommodations.
The North and West of Ireland has always had first-class links rivaling anything in the southwest but before now they never had an anchor resort/town and their own Top 100 entry. That has all changed with the family-owned Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort’s Tom Doak-designed St Patrick’s links debuting right after opening as #55 in the World on GOLF Magazine’s 2021-22 list and now sitting at #49 on the current list.
A big, bold, rollicking links that plays mostly in and amongst towering dunes and close enough to hear the waves – even when the sea is out of view. Occupying the site of a former 36-hole complex, Tom Doak, and his team along with the Casey family, who’ve lovingly owned and improved Rosapenna over more than the past four decades, created a modern classic.
Rosapenna is one of the oldest dedicated golf resorts. The owner of this amazing golf terrain, Lord Leitrim invited Old Tom Morris for a visit in 1891. Old Tom was so taken with the landscape he immediately crafted a links course, and the Lord converted his holiday cottage into the first Rosapenna Golf Hotel opened in 1893. The original course was lengthened, and bunkering strengthen in 1906 by James Braid and Harry Vardon, Harry S. Colt worked on improving eleven holes in 1912 and then in 2009 Ireland’s own, Pat Ruddy, designed and opened the “Strand” nine to replace the original back nine. Today’s Old Tom championship links consists of the “Strand” front nine and Old Tom’s mainly original “Valley” nine as the inward holes.
Morris’ original back nine is now called the “Coastguard Holes” and plays as a separate 9-hole layout across the road from the other three courses, Golf Pavilion and Hotel. Also across the road is the full-length practice ground and a wonderful 12-hole par 3 layout.
The third on-site championship links plays in-between Old Tom Links and St. Patrick’s links on a marvelous expanse of inland dunes. While Old Tom’s design follows the dune line, Pat Ruddy took direct aim through the dunes to create one of the world’s most challenging links. The deceptively narrow fairways are wider and more receptive than they appear – but not by much.
Caddies with their local knowledge are definitely an advantage to realizing your best score but you may take buggies on both Old Tom and Sandy Hills – especially handy when playing multiple days of 36 holes or when it blows a hoolie.
As great as the golf is, what truly defines Rosapenna as a total golf resort is the accommodation facilities that are truly world-class. The hotel will complete its refurbishment and expansion this summer to 70 exceptionally comfortable accommodations. Treat yourself to a stay in one of their Bay View Junior Suites and admire the mesmerizing Sheephaven Bay from your balcony.
You won’t go hungry at Rosapenna where the fine dining Vardon Restaurant serves the freshest local seafood, meats, cheeses and homemade desserts to fortify any golfer and the Coach House Bar is a 19th hole of distinction known for their cocktails and casual hearty menu.
Even with all the variety of golf on-site, part of the fun in coming to Ireland is playing a variety of courses – within an hour and a half in all directions are some of Ireland’s best and most fun links. To the west is Narin and Portnoo which just received a fantastic complete redo by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner. Go north an hour to the very tip of Ireland and discover Cruit (pronounced CRITCH) Island one of the world’s most natural and scenic 9-hole layouts. Just a half hour east is Portsalon, one of Ireland’s oldest links dating back to the 1880s and currently where improvements are being overseen by Paul McGinley. Just a bit further east are the two-championship links –Glashedy and Old Links – and the new 9-hole par 3 Pollan Links – at Ballyliffin Golf Club.
Non-golfers will not be bored while you are on the links as they will be delighted with the stunning scenery, walking trails, water sports, cycling and attractions of the area.
For more information, please visit www.rosapenna.ie.