Downings,
Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Office
+353 (0)74 915 5301Pro shop
+353 (0)74 915 5000Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Frank Casey Jnr (Director of Golf).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - several slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Tom Doak and lead associate Eric Iverson.
The three 18-hole championship courses at Rosapenna are: Old Tom Morris Links (par-71, 6915 yards from back tees); Sandy Hills Links (par-72, 7183 yards), St Patrick's Links (par-71, 6930 yds, rating 73.2; located 4.5 km S of the main resort centre).
55.163967
-7.819736
6 km S of Downings / 60 km NW of Derry (Londonderry).
From Letterkenny, take the N56 direction Dunfanaghy. After 24 km turn right onto the R245 direction Carrickart (aka Carrigart or Carraig Airt). After 9 km on the R245, look for left turn into St Patrick's Links.
Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort (St Patrick's Links): the newest of Rosapenna's three wonderful seaside links courses opened for play in 2021. It promptly entered GOLF Magazine's top 100 World courses in the magazine's rankings of 2021/22 ... and not in the lower echelons, but at a lofty 55th ... the highest new entrant. Only five other courses on the island of Ireland (Royal County Down, Royal Portrush - Dunluce, Ballybunion, Lahinch and Portmarnock) are in this World Top 100 ranking.
Tom Doak applied his well-honed design skills to craft this wonderfully scenic links course on Ireland's Wild Atlantic coast. Amongst pristine towering dunes, the holes weave their way uphill and down. The constant elevation changes, long carries, occasional blind shots and plentiful bunkering, will constantly challenge your golfing skills. On both nine hole loops you'll spend time tucked in amongst the sand hills. But there's also opportunities to climb to some wonderfully elevated teeing grounds, get beachside and admire the fabulous scenery of Tramore Beach, Sheephaven Bay and the distant Atlantic Ocean.
The naturally undulating terrain plays home to good-width rolling fairways, replete with an abundance of dips, ridges and hollows. The large sloping greens and opulently large close-shaven surrounds, give rise to some extravagant putting distances.
Pick of the holes: everyone will have their personal favourite amongst such a excellent collection of links holes. The par-4 14th plays straight out to an ocean backdrop, before turning alongside the stunning beach and on to a bowl-like green. Up next is another glorious hole, the uphill par-3 15th, with another spectacular views to savour.
Stay&Play at Rosapenna: luxury onsite accommodation available, see Where2Stay section below.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Proof of handicap may be requested. St Patrick's Links is served by a temporary clubhouse (Links House), where golfers check-in, rather than at the main Golf Pavilion next to the resort hotel.
Contact club for full details, online rates, discounts, Stay&Play packages, 3-course combo tickets, etc. [Last updated: 2023].
Non-metal spike facility. Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire. Caddies available (if pre-booked).
Good
To the south of Rosapenna's original golf courses lay two further courses, which had been developed by the Walsh family of nearby Carrigart. The layouts, collectively known as the St Patrick's Golf Links, comprised the Maheramagorgan course designed by Eddie Hackett in 1982, and the Trá Mór course designed by Joanne O'Haire in 1993.
Both St Patrick's courses lay dormant for a considerable time before being acquired by the Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in 2012. Discussions ensued with Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design, who crafted 18 unforgettable holes on the same tract of land as previously occupied by the 36-holes of the Maheramagorgan and Trá Mór layouts.
St Patrick's Links:
Ireland's 6th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 19th best course (Golf World, 2024).
World's 49th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 32nd best public access course (Golf World, 2023).
Sheephaven Bay, Downings, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal F92 PN73.
+353 (0)74 915 5301
Visit websiteLocated on the edge of the picturesque Sheephaven Bay, Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort offers an onsite luxury hotel, three great championship courses (Old Tom Morris, Sandy Hills and St Patrick's Links), excellent practice facilities, a stunning bayview restaurant and much more.
Rosapenna is an excellent venue for a golfing break or just a quiet getaway in this beautiful corner of Donegal. The very efficient and friendly staff ensure that golfers and non-golfers alike will enjoy their time at Rosapenna - an excellently run hotel in one of Ireland's most up and coming golf and holiday destinations.
Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris, Sandy Hills and St Patrick's Links).
No
Portsalon
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Rory McIlroy: scooped the 2024 European (DP World) Tour season-long Order of Merit title, joining Seve Ballesteros as a six-time winner of this prestigious award.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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