Rosapenna

Rosapenna

Rosapenna

Rosapenna | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

One of Ireland’s leading resorts, Rosapenna has something for everyone. There are three pristine links courses, including the new St Patrick’s Links, while the golf facilities also include a par 3 course and practice area. The hotel offers luxury and elegance, while the location means that there are plenty of other activities to get involved in, including an array of watersports.  
 
Rosapenna’s golfing landscape is sublime. Three 18-hole links courses, the 9-hole Coastguard Holes and a 12-hole par 3 course. To put it simply, there is a lot of golf to be played during a stay here. The Old Tom Morris Links were first opened in 1893, while the Sandy Hills Links and the St Patrick’s Links both opened more recently, the latter to great acclaim in 2021. Rosapenna also has a 350-yard driving range with both matted and grass tees for guests to practice on. 
 
Golf is certainly not the only activity to partake in during a stay at Rosapenna. Its location on the northern coastline of Ireland lends itself to watersports, with an array those on offer. Surfing, powerboating, windsurfing, and kayaking are just some of the sports available to guests, while walking, cycling, and hiking are some of the activities on dry land. A certified therapist is also on hand for massages and treatments to help guests unwind and relax.  
 
The hotel at the Rosapenna Resort offers a luxury place to stay for its guests. From Classic Rooms to Deluxe Rooms, and the Bay View Lodge Suites and Penthouse Suites, there is something for everyone at the hotel. The suites all have their own private balconies with views over Tramore Beach and Sheephaven Bay.  
 
 
  
Visit Rosapenna’s website here.  
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Rosapenna Overview | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Three Links Golf Courses

Rosapenna is the proud host to not one, or two, but three incredible links courses. The Old Tom Morris Links was opened in the late 19th Century. 110 years later, the Sandy Hills Links opened, with the St Patrick’s Links opening in 2021, and becoming the latest string to an already packed Rosapenna bow.  
 
St Patrick’s Links 
The newest of the three courses at Rosapenna is the St Patrick’s Links and was redesigned and constructed on the land that once encompassed the Maheramagorgan Links and the Tra Mor Links to the southeast the resort. Rosapenna acquired the land in 2012, with world-renowned golf course architect Tom Doak being brought in to create the St Patrick’s Links. What he created has become an instant classic. 
 
“I’m starting to think it might be the best golf course that’s opened in the UK and Ireland in the last century,” - Dan Murphy, NCG Top 100s Editor 
 
The course plays among the dunes for the first few holes, with a couple of short par 4s and the par 3 3rd hole. The 4th, 5th, and 14th holes play along the coastline of Ireland, with Tramore Beach and Sheephaven Bay in full view. The 5th is the second par 3 on the front side of the St Patrick’s Links and plays more than 210 yards from the tips. It also plays over a huge, cavernous sand trap, that should not be in your thoughts, but it is! 
 
What follows is the longest hole on the course, the par 5 6th. The fairway is split in two by a rugged sandy area, with longer hitters able to go for the green on their second shot. Both the 9th and 18th holes bring golfers back to the Links House, with the course being a five-minute drive from the Rosapenna Hotel. 
 
Old Tom Morris Links 
Designed by the great Old Tom Morris and opened seven years prior to the turn of the 20th Century, the Old Tom Morris Links is one of the oldest in the country. Harry Vardon, James Braid and Harry Colt all made slight changes to the layout over the next couple of decades, with the Strand Nine opening in 2009. This nine-hole set replaced the original Coastguard Holes, which were the original back nine on the Old Tom Morris Links.  
 
The Old Tom Morris Links can be played in two loops of nine. The front nine plays northwest of the Sandy Hills Links, while the second nine plays to the south. Holes 10 to 14 all play with Tramore Beach and Sheephaven Bay on the right, with glorious views out over the water.  
 
Sandy Hills Links 
Opened in 2003, Pat Ruddy’s design for the Sandy Hills Links takes golfers through the dunes and it is the epitome of a modern links course. It measures more than 7,250 yards from the tips and was designed by Ruddy with championship golf in mind. However, there are a range of tees to allow all golfers to enjoy their time on the Sandy Hills Links. 
 
Around the turn offers up the best part of the course, with the par 3 7th hole only showing you a small sliver of the green from the elevated tee, making you pick a spot over the dunes to find the putting surface. The closing hole brings golfers back to the clubhouse, with a glorious dog-leg left par 4.  

Glorious Accommodation

There is a wide range of choice when it comes to the accommodation at the Rosapenna Resort. From Classic Rooms to the Penthouse Suites, there is something for everyone. The Rosapenna Resort requires guests to stay for a minimum of two nights.  
 
The Classic Rooms are the standard offering at the Rosapenna Resort, and they come with a double bed and sublime decor. They can also have an extra single bed added for families to enjoy. All Deluxe Rooms also come with a double and single bed for families. 
 
The Bay View Junior Suite combine elegance and contemporary style. Each has its own private balcony or terrace, with views over Sheephaven Bay. The Rosapenna Resort also has four Penthouse Suites for the most luxurious of stays. Each of these comes with a king bed and separate living room, along with a private balcony and views of the bay.  

Leisure & Activities

For guests looking to relax during their stay at the Rosapenna Resort, there are a range of massages, treatments, and facials on offer from a resident professional. The Golfer’s Body Boost is the perfect massage for those who have just played 18 holes, while the Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage can suit those who just want to de-stress.  
 
Thanks to Rosapenna’s location, there are plenty of outdoor activities for guests to take part in. From watersports, diving, and surfing, to walking, cycling, and hiking, there is something for everyone in the region.  

FAQs about Rosapenna

Where is Rosapenna?  
Rosapenna 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 Londonderry, the biggest city in the north of the country.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Rosapenna?
 
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. Derry Airport only runs flights to the United Kingdom, with Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, and London Heathrow all in operation. Belfast International Airport, the biggest in Northern Ireland, is just over two hours from Rosapenna, and provides a much wider array of flights and destinations.  

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.  
 
The Golf Pavilion, opened in 2005, plays host to a pro shop, restaurant, bar and changing rooms, making it the perfect space for golfers both before and after a round.  

Does Rosapenna offer golf lessons?
 
There are a team of PGA-qualified professionals on site at the Rosapenna Resort, with each being able to adapt and tailor lessons to golfers depending on their age and ability.  

What are the green fees at Rosapenna?
 
The price of a green fee at Rosapenna 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 and offers at Rosapenna, visit their website here

What accommodation is on offer at Rosapenna?
 
The hotel at the Rosapenna Resort offers a glorious range of accommodation for its guests. There are a range of Classic and Deluxe Rooms, along with the Bay View Junior Suites and four Penthouse Suites, the latter of which has stunning views over Sheephaven Bay.  

What other resorts are nearby?
 
Rosapenna is secluded compared to other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Despite being in Northern Ireland, Lough Erne is the closest resort to Rosapenna that makes our list, but even that is a two-hour drive away. The nearest Irish resort is Slieve Russell, which is a further 30 minutes south of Lough Erne.  
 
  
  
Visit Rosapenna’s website here.  
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