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Rosapenna (Sandy Hills), Ireland |
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Rosapenna Golf Resort
Downings
Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
Ireland |  | Pat Ruddy |  | Bryan Patterson |
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 | +353 (0)74 91 55301 |  | 25 miles from Letterkenny |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Welcome - contact in advance |  | Michael Bonner |
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The pretty fishing village of Downings lies on the edge of Sheep Haven Bay in the north of County Donegal. Donegal is rapidly becoming one of Ireland's best golfing destinations and the secluded Rosapenna is where the old meets the new.
Golf at Rosapenna dates back to 1891. A triumvirate of former British Open Champions – Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Harry Vardon – created the Old course and it still represents a fine challenge. But it was Pat Ruddy, the man behind the European Club, who put Rosapenna firmly on the map. His new course, Sandy Hills, will surely end up on every serious golfer's must-play list.
Sandy Hills quietly opened for play in June 2003 and slowly, but surely, the golfing world is beginning to recognise that this course is special. Old Tom chose to route the Old course alongside the dunes, but Pat Ruddy had different ideas – he decided to carve straight through them and this is presumably how the name Sandy Hills came into being. Right from the off, you are in a lunar landscape, amongst the gigantic dunes. Going over and through the dunes provides a platform to drink in the stunning views across the Old course to Sheep Haven Bay beyond. It's spectacular.
Measuring 7,155 yards from the back tees and with the par set at 71, Sandy Hills will test the very best. Each and every hole has precise definition with the hummocking fairways framed by the dunes, so the immense challenge is always clearly visible from the tees. Whatever you do, don't stray too far offline, otherwise you'll be lucky to find your ball in the dunes. And make sure that your approach shots are accurate too, because the greens are invariably cut into the dunes or sited on elevated plateaux.
Rosapenna was worthy of a visit just to play the Old course, but Pat Ruddy has improved on that, too, by remodelling the back nine. The've called the new-look course the Morris Ruddy Layout after the designers and it opened for play in September 2009. But it's the Sandy Hills course that everyone is talking about and there's only one way to find out how good it really is. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | Having just returned from playing both courses at Rosapenna, I would like inform those who have yet to have had the pleasure, this is a must for all Links Fans, we started the weekend by playing the Old Tom Morris Course, which was an excellent course and a good warm up for Sandy Hills which is spectacular, we were lucky to play the course on a clear day so we add the extra bonus to soak up the wonderful scenery that surrounds the course. Back to the course it's self, some of the run offs around the greens are little penial, but add to the very enjoyable roller coaster ride of playing a Pat Ruddy design, there is a great variation of holes and makes it a absolute pleasure to play if your on your game, if your not playing your best you could lose footballs, not golf balls in the dunes that border most holes. Finally a big thank to Frank Casey Jnr and all his staff for making our all our stay a pleasure. Cannot wait to return. |
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| 22 October 2011
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| | What can I say! I have played most of the great Links in the North West and this has to be the most spectacular roller coaster ride of a course you are likely to play anywhere. The holes just get better and better as you play through the dunes and I thought the routing was excellent all the way along. Some of the views from the elevated tee boxes are amazing. I would rank Sandy Hills up there with Enniscrone as my favourite links. I honestly cannot wait to return and anyone who plays this course and knows anything about golf will be in awe. If you think your game is in good shape and want a good test try Sandy Hills. If you can shoot anything near your handicap you've had one hell of a round of golf. |
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| 14 October 2011
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| | I am a frequent visitor to Ireland and specifically Donegal. I have played all the great links of Ireland and Sandy Hills has risen to the top of my list. The routing through the dunes is bewildering-I doubt you will have any idea where the Hotel is once you enter the dunes. The course plays as a true links-fast and hard. The conditioning has always been acceptable and the course has no weak holes, unlike 17 & 18 at Lahinch, 4 & 5 Ballybunion etc. The new Ruddy nine for the Old Course is also an improvement |
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| 18 December 2010
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| | I played this course in August 2010, and I have to say it is a tough and beautiful course. Tight fairways on some of the holes, and difficult greens. I was dissappointed with the state of the tee boxes and the fairways. They seemed unloved and badly loooked after which s a shame, as it is a very impressive course. I bit of TLC and this could be spectacular. |
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| 01 December 2010
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| | We (my brother and I) Played Rosapenna, Sandy Hills course in June. We had a 2:30PM tee time. We left for the course from The Bushmills Inn in Northern Ireland and not being familiar with Ireland and it's roads we were late to say the least to tee off. Arriving two hours late, frustrated and tired we thought we had missed our opportunity to play one of the courses on our vacation. We checked the pro shop but it was locked, so we went up to the bar and decided to wet our whistles and get something to eat since we still had another three hour ride to our next hotel. While I sadly looked out on the course I would never get to play my brother slipped away and came back a few minutes later with scorecards, yardage books, and a couple of logo balls. He said that the man in the pro shop had just stepped out to check on something outside. He gave my brother a key to a cart. he told him he was closing up shop soon and asked us to return the cart to the back of the proshop after our round. We set down our Guinness' and sped out to the course and what a course it is! Your welcomed by a 461yd opening par four! Thankfully the tees were up and it played only about 375 or so with a generous fairway that narrows as you get closer to the green with a fronting bunker. The second hole, a 411yd par four and another stunner with an hour glass shaped fairway with bunkers on either side of the green. The third, a picture postcard par three that plays directly toward the bay and mountains in the distance. It's tough concentrating on the shot and not the scenery. The ninth hole was a favorite of mine with a volcano deep grass bunker in the center of the fairway, it's much better as a visual memory than a physical one. Each hole was different, scenic almost to the point of distraction. Sadly, we had to leave after ten holes so we would reach our next hotel before sundown. On the way back in we traveled through each hole and they were as good as the first ten we had played. If this course isn't a top fifty or even a top twenty in the world within ten years than there is no justice in the world. There wasn't one weak hole on the course or even one average hole for that matter. Every hole left you with a smile, at least it did me. Admitteidly, I played one of the best rounds of my life, so that has something to do with it. One other thing before I forget. The pro shop worker turned out to be Mr. Frank Casey, the owner and proprieter of Rosapenna. Thanks Mr. Casey for making two yanks feel right at home at Rosapaenna. |
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| 06 October 2010
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| | Played Sandy Hills last week in the usual splendid isolation. I was starting to wonder if it is just me who is in love with this golf course when one other group appeared on the 1st tee. It was the current US Open champion and his father, presumably the McDowell family know a good course when they see one. Magnificent as ever!! |
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| 02 August 2010
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| Response: | | | Fran | 07 August 2010 | | Cool! This is my favorite course in the world. We played it without seeing another golfer the whole round. This is at least a top fifty course in the world. I think the reason it isn't yet is because there haven't been enough of the people who make these descions play it yet. |
| | | I enjoyed the course. It's well conditioned but tough. the fairways are a little more generous than what you see off the tee. The greens aren't overly sloped. Getting to the green though can be a frustrating endeavour due to raised plateaus with bunkers fronting some of the greens. I just had an enjoyable time playing one of the most scenic courses I've ever seen. |
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| 30 June 2010
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| | Having just played Sandy Hills for the 4th time I finally feel I can now comment on its true worth. This is a great golf course and as long as you don't want to punish yourself off the back tees not as difficult as some reviewers make out. A word on its condition, having played it last summer I found it much improved and also to be congratulated for appreciating water and links fairways were never meant to go together. The only worry for the future is the lack of players on it. |As usual the Old next door was packed and we were the only player on Sandy Hills. With the current travails in Ireland you wonder how long this can be sustained. Definitely one of Ireland's best courses. |
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| 19 June 2010
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|  They say that confession is good for the soul so here goes, I am the fellow Scotsman mentioned in the review below and I can tell you the awakening was truly rude. I was chewed up and spat out, I had more slaps than a Morris dancer's ankle but I adored Sandy Hills. There is no denying that is a tough tough track, big boy’s golf to the n'th degree, golfing par excellence!! Jim is right, put the scorecard and pencil in your back pocket and enjoy the experience it is bewildering and, at times, very frustrating but you won’t regret one second of your time here. You therefore wont be surprised to hear that you are thrown to the golfing lions from the off and although the opening fairway is fairly generous it then funnels to a tight green and that is Sandy Hills in a nutshell pinched fairways to tight greens being the order of the day. The par 4's at 2, 4 and 5 see you contending with emerald ribboned fairways abutting the golden rough and the wild grasses, it is a feast for the eyes. The undoubted star of the outward half is the stupendous 6th which is SI 1 for a reason. An uphill tee shot to the crest of a hill where the fairway tumbles down to a green which is magnificently framed by the beach, water and Muckish Mountain. You will be glad to note that the back 9 is every bit as magnificent as the front. There isn’t a weak hole on the inward half, but holes 11, 12 and 16 stood out for me. Words fail to portray how great Sandy Hills is. It is beautiful, beguiling and, if you can’t keep your ball on the fairway, a bit brutal, but you will love it. As golfing experiences go it is Champions league level and if you are lucky enough to be able to play the Old Tom Morris course as part of a 36 holer you will have participated in a day of golfing heaven. MPPJ |
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| 30 April 2010
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| | I returned for my third visit to the course two days ago and enjoyed the experience as much as when I first played here five years previously. Like my last game here, I had a fellow Scotsman in tow – who may have thought he knew all about Rosapenna from playing the Old course last August; boy, was he in for a rude awakening! Having lost a handful of balls on the opening few holes, my playing partner was told to forget about his scorecard (as I was doing) and concentrate on the match play because I think not keeping score just might be the secret to enjoying a round at Sandy Hills. Yes, it’s a demanding, intimidating 18 holes that grabs you by the throat as you stand on the 1st tee and only releases you as you walk off the 18th green but, for the four hours in between those points on the course, you will be given one of the most enjoyable, thrill a minute tests of links golf in all of Ireland. I can’t wait to return for another beating. Jim McCann |
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| 08 April 2010
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| | Played Rosapenna with my father in the spring of 2009. Enjoyed the layout, especially playing thru the sand dunes that encompass the middle 14 holes (the first 2 and last 2 are flat and at the base of the dunes). Those in the middle play like a roller coaster ride with some excellent par 5's. The course was in very good, but not great condition. A small problem is the fact that the course is in the middle of nowhere and difficult to get to. Enjoyed the Sandy Hills course immensely, and also played the Old Tom Morris course. It was a complete waste of $$$ and in terrible condition (expecially the back nine). |
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| 23 January 2010
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| Response: | | | Jim McCann | 23 January 2010 | | You'll find that the revamped Old is a FAR better course than its former configuration of Strand and Coastguard nines - well worth a warm up here before tackling the beast next door!!! |
| | | Very challenging course off the Whites, and difficult off the Yellows - one of the best courses i have ever played. Great scenery. With the wind and rain we had it played exceptionally difficult. The course layout is great, but the greens weren't in as good condition as i had anticipated, though with the strong atlantic sea spray i guess its hard to keep them in great condition. Some of the tee boxes weren't great, but overall course is fantastic. Heading back soon! |
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| 27 August 2009
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| | Possibly the best setting for a golf course I have ever played and a fiendishly stiff test. My only criticism of the layout would be the greens are mainly plateaus and and upside down saucers. Ok for Pinehurst but i am not sure about that on a links. My major complaint would be the condition. The greens are Ok but the fairways very poor. We were told to play winter rules in July!! All in all the positives out weigh the negatives. But with a little TLC this could be one of the great courses of the world not just Ireland. |
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| 18 July 2009
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| Response: | | | dan | 01 December 2010 | | So does Royal Dornoch, and that's not a bad links course ! |
| | | We played both courses at Rosapenna on our recent trip to Donegal. The Old Links is a fabulous test of traditional links golf and to play a such a piece of golfing history with names like Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Harry Vardon was just magical. The Old Links was in top class tournament condition with the truest links greens i think i have ever putted on. The big course Sandy Hills is just WOW! It makes its way through some of the highest dunes i have ever seen with beautiful views across the bay. The flags, flag poles and cups were in fine condition and the course was playing really bouncy - just as a links should in July.. The greens were quick and true but hard to hold from the fairway, this is a real thinkers course you can't just bomb it along and hope to wedge it into every green... We stayed in the four star hotel on site where our every need was catered for, excellent food and first class service at a very reasonable price. We plan to return as soon as possible to this wonderful links destination... |
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| 10 July 2009
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| | This is a fantastic layout but is let down by the obvious way in which it has been starved of care and attention. Whilst the old course was presented in a fabulous state, Sandy Hills had poor greens and the flags and flag sticks were in a terrible state. With just a little more attention this could have been the highlight of our trip. Pity. The "Golf Pavilion" was the most ridiculous building I have ever been in - 18,000 square feet and you couldn't get a sandwich! |
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| 07 July 2009
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| | I have played this course 4 times now, twice in the winter and twice in the summer and i must say that the seasonal variations in the standard of the course are huge! In summer, the course is in great condition, with great greens, but in the winter disease seems to hit the course of the salty ocean as the greens become very bumpy and quite slow, and the fairways don't seem to get cut that often. However, it is a must play in the Summer-just don't think about it in the winter! I placed it fifth in the area, behind 1) Ballyliifin (Glashedy), 2) Royal County Down, 3) Ballyliffin (Old Course), 4) Royal Portrush, 5) Rosapenna, 6) Murvagh, 7) Portsalon and 8) Castlerock! What a great golfing area, can't wait to come back- it'll be hard to beat ballyliffin though! |
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| 25 February 2009
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| | We played this course in Summer 2008. Great setting, some lovely holes and pretty tough .. but the overall feeling was disappointment mixed with sadness because the course was in such poor condition. Tees, fairways, aprons and greens were lacking some TLC. What should have been a truly great course was just ordinary.. sorry. |
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| 27 December 2008
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| | I played this course in June 2008, several years after playing Rosapenna's Old Course. I would have to give Sandy Hills the higher ranking of the two, since the Old Course is a mixture of a handful of GREAT links holes on the front nine and too many (non-links) holes on the back nine with a "cheap muni course" feel. Sandy Hills is tight, and laid out through monumental duneland. Hitting the ball straight off the tee will save you much grief and many strokes - but isn't that always the story in links golf? My round was played during somewhat of a drought, so the rough is probably even tougher than what I experienced. I'd like to stay at the hotel next time, since it looks marvelous. Not the easiest place to get to, but worth the effort. P. McGarey |
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| 06 November 2008
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|  I cannot add anything to what has been said before about how tough this course is… exacting, unforgiving, unrelenting – they all apply in equal measure. My playing companion said it was the hardest course he had ever played and this guy has played EVERY course in Scotland! If you’re looking for holiday golf in this part of Donegal, then go elsewhere. If, however, you want a stiff examination of your golfing ability then you must play Sandy Hills. Jim McCann |
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| 18 June 2008
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| | This is a fantastic site for a links course. The shape and routing of the individual holes is very good. The sixth hole is clearly the best hole on the course and is world class. I feel that this course is too difficult because so many shots to greens are played to elevated targets, often with bunkers to carry. There is no way to play a running links shot on to many of these greens. As a result it is a really tough test of golf that could be considerably improved by several more friendly approaches to greens. This could become a fantastic course with some alteration. |
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| 02 January 2008
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| | I played here in October with 2 higher-handicapped friends (16 and 20). After our round, we trooped into the proshop to say how fabulous a course it was, and we would be back asap. I'm staggered to read some of the negative reports below.SH is a very exacting test indeed but a fair one, with all laid out plainly in view. Iit is also excellent value for money in a country where good value is increasingly hard to find. More importantly, it a hugely enjoyable challenge set in jaw-slackening scenery, which adds up to a course that is now one of the very best courses in Britain or Ireland, and I've had my game dismantled on many of the other contenders. Martin McM |
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| 27 November 2007
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| | Sandy Hills is a tough course. Plain and simple. It is also a course where local knowledge and a sense of direction come in very handy. As such, it can be an incredibly frustrating place to play if you are hoping to play to your handicap, especially the first time round. That said, I found it to be a riveting, memorable, and extremely impressive golf course and one of the best I have played in Ireland. The routing takes you through some of the most extreme and tumbling terrain found anywhere in Ireland, and Ruddy makes no apologies for this fact. Intelligently, perhaps diabolically bunkered, there is much to contend with here, from tee to green. The green are big here, so conceivably they serve as ample targets, but do to the uneven nature of the terrain, the bunkers, and the hard fast ground, playing to the greens is quite difficult. This is the only issue I have with the course, since as a course that is long from the tips, you are forced to play some longer clubs to greens which are impossible to hold. Mr. Frank Casey has done a good job of cutting back the rough, making the course more playable, and as the course matures I would not be surprised to see some other tweaks here and there to make the course more playable for the average golfer. For a course that chewed me up and spit me out, so to speak (while swallwing up a handful of balls as well), I was thrilled to tee it up again and head back out the next morning. And while it has been a while since I was there, I can remember each and every hole distinctly in my mind. When combined with the newly constituted old Tom Morris Course, and the St. Patrick' development just down the road (though currently stalled), this area has the potential to be the best links golf destination anywhere in Ireland, likely with Sandy Hills as the crown jewel. |
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| 08 August 2007
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| | I’m not surprised this course brings out so many differing opinions. It is certainly impressive, but it’s not my cup of tea. If you like your fairways to run up and down over huge mounds and between even bigger sand hills then this is for you (and can I suggest you try Carne as well). I could almost hear the noise of the huge earth moving equipment that must have been used to build this course. Nah, I’ll stick to old fashioned links courses rather than these plastic roller-coaster imitations – Helen Mirram to Pamela Anderson! |
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| 05 July 2007
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| Response: | | | Links Fan | 17 July 2007 | | I have read every review to date of this course, and I must say (as a Rosapenna member) the reviews are all correct! This course really is 'Beauty and the Beast'! It is a marvelous course if you are on your game (and a low handicaper), but the worst course in the world if you are off form. I am a Marketing Director by profession, and we measure customer satisfaction by repeat purchases. There are very, very few (members and visitors) who willingly return here to play. This is regularly reflected in the 'Old' course being packed and the 'New' course being empty. I would point out that the course is 100% natural with minimal earthmoving taken place during it's construction, it is 100% Helen Mirram!
If anyone has the pleasure to shoot their handicap they will be in golfing heaven! Enjoy!
PS. bring your packed lunch, beacuse the 'White Elephant' (sorry the Pavillion) doesn't do lunch. | | | Rosapenna Member | 06 November 2007 | | Email regarding response by “Links Fan” The so called member would not have access or details of the return business that plays Sandy Hills, as a private golf resort members would not be entitled to same. The largest tour operators in both the United States and Great Britain & Ireland repeatedly send their clients to play Rosapenna’s Sandy Hills and not the Old Links. Of all the tours that they put together in the North West Sandy Hills is a must play links every time. The Old course being packed and new course being empty is an untrue and unfair statement, all the Rosapenna Hotel residents have inclusive golf on the Old Links and the club members are only members of the Old Links and pay a very nominal green fee to play the Sandy Hills but don’t for whatever reason! The Pavilion operates all throughout the season serving snack lunches everyday and evening meals also. Some members don’t realise what they have! I am one very happy member who caddies during the summer months and I have yet to come across a golfer who did not enjoy the Sandy Hills Links whether a low handicapper or not. It seems some high handicappers are simply that because they can’t play the game too well and cannot recognise a quality course either. | | | Local | 07 April 2010 | | In regards to the comment from Rosapenna Member I would have to disagree. I am a caddy at a golf course in Sligo and as you know would ask where they are playing and what there favourites are...I would say most do play Rosapenna but often say its not great for the price...at least the ones I have meet do! One guy I caddied for had a great saying for it,'it had a few brillant holes, a few weak and the rest were ok'. Fairly good description to me. And as a low handicap myself,1, I can say that I honestly didnt like it especially the start of the front nine, although it did have some great views. Oh the Pavillion wasnt open the day I played either. |
| | | This course is for devout masochists only. In particular its greens are its worst feature. Beautiful to putt on but are mostly elevated and extremely hard. They wouldn't hold on to putty. If you do visit it you will see that fairway bunkers are almost non existant. Pat Ruddy has has obviously taken into account the fact that the course is so brutally long and unfair that they are not needed. Sadly this leaves a big lack of definition from the tee. It doesn't help that the course guide is rubbish either. With a truly shocking lack of information (e.g. what's the driving line on 14?), it is yet another triumph of style over substance. No doubt Sandy Hills gets a bit easier if you play it again but I won't. Be warned about the facilities too. If you arrive of a morning (we visited in June) hoping for some coffee and rolls forget it. You have to leave the clubhouse and drive to the hotel where, if you are lucky, there might be a table available among the hotel guests and you can have a 20 quid (!) breakfast. Then again The Old Tom Morris is excellent and I would recommend it to anyone - once the temporary 8 holes "over the road" (truly awfull hillside golf) have been replaced. To see how a course should be contructed through towering dunes visit Portstewart on the Causeway Coast. THAT'S what awesome looks like. |
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| 11 June 2007
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| Response: | | | Cedric | 12 June 2007 | | Truly agree with the facilities,really poor,especially considering the beauty and setting of the new club house...Totally disagree with the course though,I loved every second and found the course really AWESOME!!!! | | | ringo | 12 July 2007 | | I endorse this review - they say golf is a good walk spoiled. The writer must have played this course beforehand. What IS the fascination with making every par 4 over 400 metres and every par 3 over 200? Why was each fairway constructed below small greens on such long holes and why were the greens impossible to hold? One particular hole of over 400 metres on the back nine even had a bunker guarding the green and with a long iron in your hand made it comical. If you want a fair, picturesque and imaginative challenge rather than a page from the fantasy golf hole calendar then look no further than the first 8 of the adjacent Tom Morris designed links. That type of links is Open Championship in the quality of its design - a slightly longer version to challenge better clubs and longer flying balls is where links design should go! |
| | | Thought that is was a very predictable links course. I expected better because i hears so many raving reviews. It was very expensive too! Thought the course was to unforgiving and the greens were in poor condition. |
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| 29 May 2007
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| Response: | | | Chris Jones | 29 May 2007 | | Predictable? Cannot agree with you... |
| | | A very good dunes links course that compares favourably with the likes of Ballybunion, Doonbeg and Lahinch. It's a really tough test and the rough is truly savage, but I understand that work is in planning to make it a little more user friendly for the higher handicapper. It will be better for it, but I hope they don't tame it too much - it's tough and good for being so. Excellent routing, full of stunning vistas, yet with a rare sense of seclusion. Well worth the effort to get there and a course I look forward to playing again. |
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| 12 April 2007
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| | Rosapenna, Sandy Hills - The most dramatic and well routed new course in Ireland in the past decade. This links is extremely challenging and beautiful, the dune structure of this virgin property is the best in Ireland and the architect Pat Ruddy has used it to perfection. It is still being refined and slight adjustments are being made that will make the Sandy Hills Links a definite contender for a top 20 course in Europe. The value and the level of play here can not be matched anywhere in Ireland or the UK. |
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| 26 October 2006
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| | Sandy Hills is one of the most exacting tests of golf I have ever played but in such stunningly beautiful surroundings it is a joyful struggle. Rosapenna, including its flatter Old Tom Morris Course, is right up there at the top of Irish golf in more ways than one. True heavenly links to play over and a delightful place to stay for a few never to be forgotten days of golfing pleasure! |
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| 26 October 2006
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| | A fantastic links course that will continue to rise up the ratings over time. Criticism of the rough is unfair as each hole rewarded good shots and was not tricked up in anyway.
The welcome afforded to our party was second to none and our stay at the attached hotel was superb.
I would rate this course within the top twenty links courses in Britain and Ireland, highly recommended.
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| 08 October 2006
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| | We played Sandy Hills recently and contrary to the previous review, our foursome loved this course. I agree with one of the comments below in that it’s a tough and long walk made even more difficult if you have to go ball hunting regularly in the enormous energy sapping dunes. Make sure you play off the tee that reflects your ability… we are all decent golfers ranging from low single digit to 12 handicap and found the white tees exceptionally challenging, some of the par fours into the wind were simply impossible to reach in regulation. Put your bravado aside and play off the yellows unless your game is hot… some of the carries can be quite daunting too. Most fairways are tight and you need to keep the ball in play, so use your driver sparingly and avoid spraying the ball around otherwise you will lose plenty of balls. I totally disagree that Sandy Hills is uninspiring and unexciting. This is a fun course that not only makes you think and constantly re-evaluate your shot making but it comes with magnificent 360-degree ocean/bay views and this is a course not only for the golf addict but also for the dune junky. The raised and, in some cases domed greensites would have Donald Ross smiling in his grave and the par threes are simply magnificent. Perhaps the only weakness of the course is that the bunkers are sometimes hidden from view and are a little untidy around the edges but that aside, this is a world-class course that simply must be played by any serious golf course aficionado. I loved every moment of it, even the sheer exhaustion that transpired as a healthy glow when we sipped our Guinness in the wonderful new clubhouse after what was a truly memorable round. |
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| 06 October 2006
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| | My foursome really disliked this course for several reasons. First, it's a difficult walking course and secondly it isn't forgiving. We lost about 8 or 9 balls each as the fescue here is some of the toughest we encountered. The caddy told us that the owners have been cutting the fescue back to widen fairways as too many golfers walk off #18 saying that the course is too unfriendly and that they won't return. I agree. The layout doesn't inspire. There was just nothing exciting about plying this course. |
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| 12 September 2006
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| | Had a tee time at 10.00 in late august and there were no signs of life when I arrived 20 minutes ahead of time. After looking around a couple of times I finally found someone who told me I should go to the hotel a couple of hundred meters down the road where you get a beautiful stroke saver with your green fee. The course was fantastic and in great condition. The round was very enjoyable with great holes and no weak one. But why on earth don’t they use their newly built pavilion to serve meals as you get a fantastic view from there of the course!!! Instead you have to go back to the-beautiful-hotel… |
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| 05 September 2006
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| | Strewth! That’s the first word that comes to mind in reviewing this course. I was fortunate enough to have recently been on a golf trip that covered much of Ireland’s “hidden” gems. The course that gets spoken of greatly is Carne, and rightly so, the back 9 at Carne was the best 9 holes of my trip. However, Carne does have weaknesses; holes that you feel can be improved. Not so here at Sandy Hills. What an outstanding, and most importantly, complete golf course. From hole 1 to hole 18, there is not a weak hole. Yes, I know reviews say this all the time, but Sandy Hills certainly does not suffer. Enniscrone has 3 weak holes on the front 9, Carne has a couple also, and as for Ballyliffin Glashedy, the final 3 holes do not match the rest of the course. Sandy Hills wins hands down on end to end strengths. It’s a very tough course to play, I am a single figure handicap player and was well and truly beaten! Of all the courses I played in West Ireland, it is this course that would draw me back again. Play it! |
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| 08 June 2006
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| | Sandy Hills is undoubtedly a superb golf course. Weaving it's way through the dunes it offers wonderful views out to sea and across the excellent old course at Rosapenna. The changes in direction and elevation test your club selection on every hole making this a truly mammoth challenge even in calm conditions. There are many wonderful holes to pick out with most enjoying the isolation of their own little valley through the dunes. My only criticism would be that the greens are absolutely rock hard. That's what you would expect from a links course but as this is not a natural old links there is no option to run the ball into the greens. The result is many approaches to greens require you to carry the ball over bunkers, mostly to elevated greens with run-offs and when the greens are so hard it offers very little help to the golfer. A little more thought to this design aspect would have made it all the more enjoyable for its many visitors. |
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| 31 May 2006
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| | Firstly I must declare a very distant family relationship on my wife’s side of the family, notwithstanding this, my sons and I played both courses, Old Tom Morris and Sandy Hills, at Rosapenna daily for five days in October 2005. Sandy Hills I rate as being one of the most testing courses I have ever played on, added together with the fact that it is a links course with the variable weather to contend with, this course is a true test of ones golf and if you let it get the better of you it has the ability to destroy your self belief. Playing straight golf is not good enough you must be able to shape your shots. The greens are true and straight however it is an absolute imperative to read the greens correctly, very expensive if you cannot do this. Rosapenna is a gem. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful with probably the most exhilarating golf in the world. Royal County Down, Ballybunion, Royal Portrush, Lahinch, Waterville, and dare I say it The European Club eat your heart out you have been well and truly matched and overtaken. |
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| 26 February 2006
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| | Although new, this will in time become one of the top 3 courses in Ireland! No exaggeration.
The course shows its teeth at the 1st and doesn't let up at the second.
The run from the 4 to 9 is simply breathtaking.
With not a weak hole, just pray it isn't blowing or your card will disappear along with your ball!
A little off the beaten track but worth getting to....
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| 23 October 2005
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| | If you have played the Glashedy at Ballyliffin, you would know exactly who the course architect of Sandy Hills Links was as you stood on the first tee looking out into dunes to the first hole - it could only be Pat Ruddy, the Irish golfing magician with the ability to create big dipper, thrill a minute, links golf in and amongst the most inhospitable of terrain. Ruddy design hallmarks abound: spectacular elevated tees, clearly visible landing areas and subtly undulating raised greens where anything short is easily gobbled up by protecting bunkers at the front - golf here is designed to be exhilarating and if your pulse is not racing as you go round then you should be packing away your clubs and taking up lawn bowling! It is demanding and far from easy to play but if you like your links golf to be spectacular then this is the place to play. A brand new clubhouse has been built which is enormous - serious cash has been spent on the fitting out of the locker rooms and shop downstairs plus the lounge and dining room upstairs - Rosapenna have invested heavily in the future of golf in this remote north west corner of Donegal. And that investment continues as the Old course is to be revamped in the very near future, removing the old back nine and replacing it with new holes that venture into the same dunes that the Sandy Hills course is built on. When updated, the Old course should be able to rival its big brother next door as it doesn’t quite come close enough at the moment. Oh, and the greenkeepers told me there are fifty new bunkers planned for Sandy Hills so there’s no resting on laurels there either. James McCann |
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| 02 September 2005
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| | Played here only last week and I was hugely impressed. Not quite up to Ballyliffin but not far behind. The location has to be seen to be believed and the views are awesome. North west Ireland in my view now has some of the best courses in Ireland at a fraction of the price of the touristy south west. Superb |
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| 06 July 2005
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| | I played this in late October 04 and had read very little about it. It is an absolute cracker, all 18 holes in among the dunes and no hole disturbing another. This is a golf course that makes you think your way around, rewarding sensible play and cruelly punishing wayward shots. The greens are still settling but already I would rank this course ahead of Glashedy, Donegal and the Old Rosapenna. A real gem and worth the trip alone. |
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| 25 November 2004
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| | We went on a golfing trip to Donegal last summer, our original plan was to play the two Ballyliffin courses, Donegal itself and Portsalon and we pencilled in the Old course at Rosapenna. Well what can I say? We heard about Sandy Hills from one of the locals when we were propping up the bar so we decided to play both the Old and Sandy Hills. What a top decision! We played the Old in the morning and I have to say that we really enjoyed it. We then had a spot of lunch and ventured into the dunes. Sandy Hills is a gobsmacking golfing orgasm, the proverbial big dipper. If you only play one course in Donegal make it this one. Well done to Golf Monthly for putting this outrageous course onto their list...a stroke of genius. Hugh |
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| 23 November 2004
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