The Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Links boasts two outstanding links courses. The Old Tom Morris Course has been attracting golfers for over a century and now, with the addition of the magnificent Sandy Hills Links, Rosapenna is set to become one of the top links destinations in the world. As with most good links courses, the Old Tom Morris course takes advantage of natural terrain to provide a classic links golf challenge. The first 10 holes which are pure links run between the ocean and the dunes in what is known locally as "The Valley". The last eight holes actually play inland and uphill into high meadow that offer superb vistas over the north Atlantic Ocean.
Though the Old Tom Morris Course measures only 6,270 yards from the back tees there are, on this par 70 layout, no fewer than six two-shotters in the 400-yards-plus category. The Sandy Hills Links opened in June 2003, is set to become one of the most famous golf courses in Ireland. Where Old Tom settled for a course alongside the dunes, Pat Ruddy has gone straight through them from start to finish and created an awesome course that will test any golfer, yet somehow still seduce those that cannot live with it. Each hole is spectacular and the views across the Old Tom Morris course to the ocean will salve all the wounds inflicted by this incredible golf course.
Sandy Hills is in many ways the ideal of a modern links. Intended for the serious golfer, its narrow fairways appear constricting from the tee, but the landing areas sculpted from the dunes are deceptively wide. Measuring a hefty 7,255 yards from the tips, Sandy Hills was designed with championship play in mind. However don't allow this to deter you, with a multiplicity of tees there is a length to suit all strengths.
