Rosapenna (Sandy Hills)

Rosapenna's history dates back to the 19th Century, with the Old Tom Morris Links being designed and constructed in the 1890s.

It was more than a century before Rosapenna had a second course in its repertoire. That is the Sandy Hills Links. The course, designed by Pat Ruddy and Frank Casey Snr, opened in 2003, and makes its way through the dunescape of the region.

The resort has gone on to construct a third course, the St Patrick's Links. Tom Doak was the man to design the St Patrick, which only opened following the return of golf after the COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2021.

The Sandy Hills Links at Rosapenna measures at more than 7,250 yards from the tips, making it a challenge for even the biggest of hitters. The narrow fairways wind in and amongst the dunes of the region, with those dunes featuring plenty of marram grass to entangle your clubs if you get off-line.

The majority of the holes on the course run either north and south, parallel to the front nine of the Old Tom Morris Links. It kicks off with a par 5, and it is one that is reachable and offers up an early birdie chance. After a long par 4, the 3rd is the opening par 3 on the property, with a lengthy carry over a valley required.

4, 5 and 6 are a string of dog-leg par 4s, each one slightly longer than the last. The par 3 7th is the southernmost hole on the course, and is followed by the second par 5, the 8th. The front nine closes out with a straight away par 4 down the east side of the property.

The back nine begins with the 10th, which takes golfers into the centre of the course, one that sees 11, 12 and 13 wind around themselves. The last of those, the 13th, is the opening par 5 on the back nine and is a dog-leg to the right.

14 and 15 sit next to each other, travelling in opposite directions, before the par 3 16th, the last short hole on the course. 17 and 18 take you back north to the clubhouse, with the penultimate hole being the final par 5, and a great birdie opportunity late in the round.

Chris Myatt: A very well presented golf course. A little in the shadow of its sister course but thoroughly enjoyable to play.

Peter Rudd: Previously renowned for being incredibly challenging the course has been softened and is now more playable. Some lovely natural holes maintained to a high standard.

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is Rosapenna Resort located?  
The Rosapenna Resort is situated in the very north of the island, yet still in Ireland. It is between the villages of Muslack and Harbourview. 40 miles to the southeast is Derry/Londonderry, the biggest city in the north of the country.   Derry is also the location of the nearest train station, again 40 miles from Rosapenna. The nearest train station in Ireland is in Sligo, but that is 90 miles to the south. Instead, buses and taxis are the best way to get around the country. The City of Derry Airport is the nearest international airport to Rosapenna, around an hour away from the resort. However, Derry Airport only runs flights to the United Kingdom, while Belfast International Airport, the biggest in Northern Ireland, is just over two hours from Rosapenna.

How many courses are at the Rosapenna Resort?
The Sandhy Hills Links is one of three 18-hole layouts at the venue. The Rosapenna Resort is also home to the Old Tom Morris Links and the St Patrick's Links. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Ireland venues nearby?
Along with the three courses at Rosapenna, the northwestern corner of Ireland is also home to the likes of Portsalon, North West, Cruit Island and Ballyliffin - home to the Old Course and Glashedy Course. Portsalon is the closest of those to the resort, around 15 miles east of Rosapenna.
What golf facilities does Rosapenna offer?  
Along with the three wonderful links courses, Rosapenna also has a nine-hole course. The layout, which formed the original back nine on the Old Tom Morris Links, can be played by members and guests of the resort.   Rosapenna also has a 12-hole par 3 course, along with a 350-yard driving range. The range has an array of turf teeing areas and matted areas under cover. There is also a short game area for golfers to hone their skills prior to taking on one of the many courses at the Rosapenna Resort.
What are the green fees at Rosapenna?  
The price of a green fee at the Rosapenna Resort changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.   For more information on current green fees at Rosapenna, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   You can read our full piece on the Rosapenna Golf Resort here.Visit Rosapenna's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.