Old Tom Morris Links.
The course that started it all.
For more than a century, Old Tom’s brilliant design, running hard along the coastal dunes along the picturesque bay has lured golfers to this resort in Ireland’s north. The course’s holes “epitomize everything we all love about classic links golf,” wrote Today’s Golfer. We’re sure you’ll agree.
The two nines of the course have a distinctive feel, with the newer holes, the creation of Pat Ruddy and Eric Iverson, offering a unique start to the course, punctuated by choppy smaller dunes and unique green sites. The back nine encounters more dramatic dunes, with holes running close to Sheephaven Bay with wonderful views.
#47 in Ireland
IRISH GOLFER
#27 in Ireland
TODAYS GOLFER
#28 in Ireland
NATIONAL CLUB GOLFER
Easily walked, this is a great place to start your Rosapanna experience.
The father of golf course design and one of the greatest players in history, Old Tom Morris is noted for creating some of the first 18 hole championship golf courses in the 19th century. The longtime “keeper of the greens” at St. Andrews, Morris’ work at Prestwick, as well as standardizing courses with 18 holes, revolutionized the game. While many of his designs, including the course at Rosapenna, have been altered, his creations, like Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Machrihanish, Nairn, North Berwick, and Royal County Down continue to demonstrate his incredible design prowess. Other greats of the game—Harry Colt and James Braid—also had a hand in the original design.
The “Old Tom” course at Rosapenna has evolved over time, with Eddie Hackett and Pat Ruddy laying out what is now the front nine, with renovations by Eric Iverson of Renaissance Golf. The back nine, which rambles between massive dunes and the sea, is largely the creation of Morris.
“Sometimes old school is the better school… it might deliver more joy [than modern courses]. It’s classic links golf on flatter terrain where you can bump-and-run your way to a respectable score.”
– GolfPass –
STAY & PLAY AT ROSAPENNA
Three distinct links. One unforgettable stay.
Whether you’re planning a bucket-list trip or a return visit with your regular fourball, there’s no better base for links golf in Donegal. With 70 beautifully appointed rooms—many overlooking the fairways or Sheep Haven Bay—plus a welcoming restaurant and bar for well-earned stories after your round, Rosapenna is built for unforgettable golfing escapes.
Stay at the hotel and enjoy savings on your golf experience at the resort. Great golf. Outstanding accommodations in a spectacular location. That’s Rosapenna.