Designers:
Eddie Hackett (original routing) and Donald Steel (significant modifications).
Key Features:
Situated on the scenic Killala Bay, Enniscrone is renowned for possessing
some of the tallest and most dramatic dunes in Ireland. While Eddie Hackett laid the
foundation, Donald Steel’s later rerouting pushed the course deep into the massive
“moonscape” dunes, creating a thrilling and isolated links experience. The course demands
accuracy as you navigate through narrow corridors of marram grass. Key highlights include
the stretch of holes 12 through 16, which weave through the towering sand hills, offering
both intimidation and spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Designers:
George Combe, Willie Campbell, and most notably **Harry Colt** (1927), with
modern refinements by Pat Ruddy and reimagined By Ebert McKenzie in 2024/2025
Description:
Home to the West of Ireland Championship, this legendary links is defined
by its plateau greens and the imposing backdrop of **Ben Bulben** mountain. Harry Colt’s
classic design philosophy is evident in the strategic bunkering and the need for creative
shot-making against the Atlantic wind. The layout is a traditional “out and back” loop that
traverses three distinct levels of land. The signature 17th hole, a severe dogleg requiring a
drive up a steep hill, encapsulates the challenge of this historic venue.
Designers:
Old Tom Morris (1893), with modifications by Harry Vardon, James Braid, and
Harry Colt. Pat Ruddy later added the “Strand” nine.
Description:
This course offers a classic, old-school links feel, retaining the spirit of
19th-century golf. The layout runs along the coastline, generally flatter and lower to the
ground than Sandy Hills, but full of strategic nuance. It features the “Strand” and “Valley”
nines, combining wide fairways with treacherous bunkering and subtle, undulations. The
history is palpable, particularly on the back nine, which utilizes the original terrain identified
by Old Tom Morris himself. It is a strategic, cerebral test rather than a slugfest.
Designers:
Pat Ruddy
Description:
Opened in 2003, Sandy Hills is a modern test of golf that contrasts sharply
with its older sister course at the resort. Rather than winding around the dunes, Pat Ruddy’s
design charges directly *through* them. The result is a physically demanding layout featuring
narrow fairways that snake between towering ridges of sand. Elevated tees provide
panoramic views of Sheephaven Bay, while the green complexes are often perched high,
punishing anything less than a precise approach. It is widely considered the tougher, more
penal test of the Rosapenna courses.
Designer
Tom Doak
Description:
Since opening in 2021, St Patrick’s has skyrocketed into the world top 50
rankings. Tom Doak took a site previously occupied by two defunct courses and reimagined
it into a single, sprawling masterpiece. The scale here is immense; the course features wide,
rumpled fairways that invite ground-game creativity, massive blowout bunkers, and green
sites that appear to melt naturally into the landscape. It offers a distinct “big country” feel
compared to its neighbors, with stunning visuals as it meanders through vast dunes down to
the water’s edge.
