Rosapenna is home to two outstanding links courses, the Old Tom Morris and Sandy Hills layouts.
Old Tom Morris Course
The legendary Old Tom Morris laid out the original links that bears his name in 1891. On his first visit to the area, Morris was struck by the quality of the ‘golfing canvas’, and before he returned home he staked out the guidelines for his superb creation. In the following decades, both Harry Vardon and James Braid provided amendments, to make the golf course the outstanding challenge that it is today.
With some 15 Open Championship titles between the three contributors, it should come as no surprise that the Old Tom Morris course is one of the finest in the north-west region. The greens are undoubtedly the highlight of the course, with Morris deeming the existing land so good that he only built 3 of the greens; all fifteen of the others are exactly as the land dictated.
Sandy Hills Course
The addition of the Sandy Hills course in 2003 has only added to Rosapenna’s reputation. While Morris’ course skirts the fantastic dunes, Pat Ruddy has crafted a monstrous tournament links that cuts through the sandhills of the incredible landscape, that so captivated Old Tom over a century ago.
Ruddy’s masterpiece measures over 7,100 when stretched fully, but in line with modern design principles, a multitude of tees make it playable for golfers of all standards. With these two outstanding creations on an awe-inspiring stretch of turf, a golf break at Rosapenna is a truly magnificent experience.