Overview
Rosapenna has been laying out golf in these dunes since 1893, which is why it likes to call itself the world’s first true golf resort. Three links run through the same sand system above Sheephaven Bay: the original Old Tom Morris, Pat Ruddy’s Sandy Hills, and Tom Doak’s St Patrick’s Links, which opened in 2021 and has done more for the place’s reputation than the previous century of golf combined. If you only have time for one round, make it St Patrick’s.
The catch worth knowing before you book: St Patrick’s Links is 5 km (3 miles) from the hotel, on the far side of the peninsula, and there’s no shuttle. You need a car to reach it, and it’s walking only once you’re there. No buggies, not even with a medical certificate.
Beyond the fairways there’s the wider Rosguill Peninsula to walk: the dunes, the tidal island of Oileán Ruaidh, and the villages of Downings and Carrigart.
A history written in sand
The golf here began in 1893, when Lord Leitrim invited Old Tom Morris of St Andrews to lay out the first course. A timber hotel opened the same year. Morris’s routing became the Old Tom Morris Links, later reworked by James Braid and Harry Vardon in 1906, who added length and sharper bunkering without losing the old character.
Sandy Hills Links, Pat Ruddy’s design, opened in 2003 and threads the same dune ridges. St Patrick’s Links followed in June 2021. Tom Doak routed it through huge sand blowouts and elevated greens, and it has since climbed to 39th in the Golf Monthly Top 100 for Britain and Ireland. The on-site hotel now has 70 rooms.
The courses
Rosapenna has three full links plus two shorter layouts, all in the same landscape.
- St Patrick’s Links – Doak’s course, and the one that put Rosapenna on the global map. Sweeping sand scrapes, big greens and long views of water and mountain. It’s the pick if you play only one. Remember: 5 km from the hotel, walking only.
- Old Tom Morris Links – The historic heart, still close to the 1893 routing, with the bay in view for much of the round. Classic, unfussy links golf.
- Sandy Hills Links – Ruddy’s modern design, using the dune contours for a tougher, more strategic test. It ranks consistently among Ireland’s best.
- Coastguard Nine – The original back nine of the Old Tom Morris course, now played as a separate 9-hole layout that starts and finishes at the practice ground.
- Academy course – A 12-hole short course, also from the practice ground, good for a quick round, families, or warming up.
As a rough guide for 2026, green fees run around €200 for St Patrick’s and about €150 each for Old Tom Morris and Sandy Hills. Breakfast for visiting golfers is served in the hotel, not at the golf pavilion, and booking is essential. Caddies, buggies and electric trolleys should be booked at least ten days ahead.
Island Roy (Oileán Ruaidh) and the dunes
Just across the water lies Oileán Ruaidh, known locally as Island Roy. A tidal causeway links it to the mainland, passable by car or on foot only at low tide, so check the tide tables before you drive down. The island is roughly 100 acres of gravel terrain and wide, pebble-free strand: a quiet spot for walking, birdwatching and beachcombing.
The name translates as ‘Red Island’, though the older name Oileán na Bhráighe (‘island of the prisoners’) hints at a past as a place of exile. The Rosapenna dunes stretch for kilometres, a habitat for rare dune grasses and wild thyme. Early morning is the best of it, when the low light picks out the contours of the sand.
Non-golfers and families
The resort works for people who don’t play. The wide beaches on Island Roy are safe for sandcastles and kites, and the short courses give beginners and children an easy way into the game. The hotel has a sauna and steam room for after a day outdoors. During school holidays the resort typically runs supervised activities for children.
Wildlife and birdwatching
The dune system is part of the Sheephaven Bay Special Area of Conservation. Kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills nest on the surrounding cliffs, and puffins turn up in summer. Grey seals haul out on the sandbanks at low tide, and dolphins are sometimes seen in the bay. Early morning or late afternoon, on a low tide, is the best time to look.
Getting there and practical information
Rosapenna is on the Rosguill Peninsula, about 3.5 miles from Carrigart. From Derry-Londonderry Airport, follow the N13 to the R238 coastal road, then the signs for Downings and Rosapenna. The FAQ puts it at roughly 3.5 hours from Dublin, 2 hours 20 minutes from Belfast. There’s free on-site parking and an EV charger, though spaces fill in peak season.
The tidal causeway to Island Roy is only passable at low tide, roughly twice a day; work your visit around the low-tide window.
Contact and booking
- Phone: +353 74 915 5000
- Website: rosapenna.ie
- Green fees and tee times can be booked online through the resort’s booking portal.
Seasonal tips
- Golf: May to September gives the most reliable weather, but the Atlantic wind is brisk year-round. Dress in layers and book tee times ahead.
- Island Roy: The causeway submerges at high tide. Plan the crossing around low water.
- Birdwatching: Late spring brings the richest seabird activity as nesting peaks.
If you’ve time to spare, Ballyliffin Golf Club is another world-ranked links about half an hour up the Wild Atlantic Way, and the village of Carrigart nearby has traditional pubs for an evening after golf. Book accommodation early if you want a sea-view room, and check the tide tables before driving to Island Roy.