Rosapenna is blessed to have three stunning courses. The Old Tom Morris Links was the first to be constructed at the Irish venue. 

 

Originally designed by Old Tom Morris, whose name has been given to the course, the likes of Harry Vardon, James Braid, Harry Colt and Pat Ruddy have all had a hand in changing the design over the last 130 years. 

 

Now, the course plays in two distinct loops, with the back nine featuring a run of holes that run along the coastline of Ireland, looking out over Tramore Beach. 

 

  

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The history of golf at the Rosapenna Resort begins with the Old Tom Morris Links, designed and constructed by the man himself. 

 

The four-time Open Champion first visited Rosapenna in 1891, and an 18-hole layout was soon opened among the undulating dunes of the region. 

 

As well as Old Tom, the men who have had an influence on the course and its layout read like a who’s who of golf course design in the 21st Century. Harry Vardon, James Braid and Harry Colt all made the trip to Rosapenna and suggested changes. 

 

Pat Ruddy then came to the venue in the mid-2000s, with nine new holes added. The new Strand Nine, opened in 2009, replaced the original back nine (which now forms part of the practice facilities). 

The Old Tom Morris brings together the past and the present in golf design, thanks to work from Morris, Vardon, Colt, Braid and Ruddy. The course, like most links venues around the country, is split into two loops of nine. The front nine sit in the eastern section of the resort and play inland. The back nine comes around to the coastline, with the first five holes of the closing side of the Old Tom Morris Links featuring Tramore Beach on their right.  

 

The Par 71 course runs at just shy of 6,900 yards, but depending on which way the wind is blowing, that could feel like much more. Five of the opening six holes are par 4s, with the first being a tricky dog-leg right to kick off your round. 2 is a short par 3, the shortest hole on the course at just 150 yards, and the easiest hole on the card. The next four holes are all par 4s measuring at least 400 yards. The 6th is the last of those, and the hardest hole on the front nine thanks to a narrow fairway and a semi-blind approach shot to the green. 

 

7 is the second par 3 on the Old Tom Morris Links, and plays to a shallow green. There are no bunkers, but accuracy is still required. The 8th is the first par 5 and provides an eagle opportunity for the longer hitters at just 530 yards from the tips. The front nine closes with a tough dog-leg left par 4, before you take the walk back past the clubhouse to start the back nine, with Tramore Beach in view. 

 

10 is another dog-leg left par 4, but you tee off towards the sand and the water to the west. 11 is the hardest hole on the course – a 430-yard par 4 that is dead straight, but plays into the prevailing wind. 12 is another tricky par 4, with a bunker in the middle of the fairway that must be avoided if you are going to reach the green in two. The 13th is the shortest of the par 4s at 345 yards, and plays as a tight dog-leg right with a small fairway. A 190-yard par 3 follows, before you get into the closing stretch on the Old Tom Morris. 

 

15 is a tough par 4, the third hardest on stroke index, and features five bunkers dotted down the hole. At just 500 yards long, the par 5 16th provides one of the best scoring opportunities on the course, but it is followed by a par 3 that plays more than 200 yards from the tips. It plays downhill, but four bunkers short of the green mean you must ensure your tee shot gets to the putting surface. The closing hole on the Old Tom is a 600-yard par 5. The only trouble with 18 is the length. There are three fairway bunkers down the left at regular intervals, but if you miss those, then this could be a birdie hole! Take a par on a 600-yarder though to finish! 

Where is Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links) located?  
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. 

  

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 offers a much wider array of flights and destinations. 

What golf facilities does Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links) 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. 

What are the green fees at Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links)?  
The price of a green fee at Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links) 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 (Old Tom Morris Links), visit their website here. 

 

  

Visit the Rosapenna (Old Tom Morris Links) website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.