St Patrick's Links

A WORLD TOP 50 GOLF COURSE

Architect – Tom Doak 2021

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THE COURSE IS NOW CLOSED FOR THE WINTER SEASON

REOPENING FRIDAY APRIL 11th 2025

RANKED #49 IN THE WORLD'S TOP 100 COURSES  ðŸŒŽ  - GOLF MAGAZINE 2023-24

The Rosapenna Golf Resort acquired the St Patrick’s Links in late 2012, a former 36-hole facility developed by the Walsh Family of Carrigart. The Maheramagorgan Links designed by Irish architect Eddie Hackett and the Trá Mór Links designed by PGA Professional Joanne O’Haire, both opened for play in the mid-1990’s.

Discussions ensued with Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design, with Tom finalizing his lay-out with lead associate Eric Iverson in March 2013. The St Patrick's Links is routed in the adjoining dune system just south of the existing two courses at Rosapenna. Originally encompassing 36 holes, Tom has fashioned 18 unrecognisable and unforgettable holes over the same tract of land. The result? A sprawling links that is destined to become a modern great. It sits on the most magnificent piece of links land - huge scale, west coast of Ireland scenery, with enough variety in dimension to present a real diversity of golf holes. The routing takes golfers on a journey through huge dunes, to high above Sheephaven Bay, along the coast, then back over some more gentle dunes... and that's just the front nine! With plenty of width and an eclectic mix of naturalised bunkers, the course is unlike anything in the UK & Ireland... or anywhere else for that matter.

An intimate group of founding members including Frank & John Casey of the Rosapenna Golf Resort and architect Tom Doak have funded the construction of the new 18-hole course in a partnership between The Casey Family who have owned & operated Rosapenna for over four decades & Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. Construction began in April 2018, with all of the greens completed in 2019 to ensure that they are matured and at their best from opening day. Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, all of the finishing touches were carried-out in 2020. The course officially opened for play on Friday June 25th 2021.

A temporary Links House operates on site with all golfers checking in there rather than the main Golf Pavilion. See Google Maps for directions or CLICK HERE for directions from the Resort Hotel. Please note the Links House golf shop is a cashless facility, we only process cashless transactions via credit or debit card. We accept all major credit & debit cards, including AMEX. 

We offer stay & play packages including the St Patrick’s Links alongside the Old Tom Morris Links and the Sandy Hills Links, contact reservations@rosapenna.ie. Day visitors are also very welcome, we have a great value Three Links Ticket for golfers staying off-site which includes one round on each of the three links. An attractive same day replay rate is also available for the St Patrick's Links, email golf@rosapenna.ie

St Patrick's Links has risen 6 places to a new high of #49 on the GOLF Magazine Top 100 in the World rankings 2023-24 breaking into the World's Top 50 for the first time and into Ireland's famous Top 5. (Royal County Down #6, Royal Portrush #16, Ballybunion #24, Lahinch #37, St Patrick's Links #49 and Portmarnock #59). Doak & team are responsible for 8 of the 25 modern courses on the entire list (last 30 years), more than any other living architect. All 8 Doak designs are included in the Top 12 highest-ranked modern courses on the current list. 

All golf is bookable via Central Golf Reservations on 00353 (0)74 915 5000 or email golf@rosapenna.ie

To book a visitor round on our new St Patrick's Links directly online please CLICK HERE.

To submit a multi round booking request please CLICK HERE.  

"Might this rival Barnbougle Dunes as Doak's ultimate expression in architecture? I don't see why not, as all the key ingredients are present: ideal soil and land, one-off landforms captured within the fairways, lack of eye candy, and eye popping interior green contours with short grass often to the high side of the putting surfaces. Throw in knowledgeable owners and first-rate green keeping practices and you have a course with no flaws" 147 +2 Custodians of the Game, Ran Morrissett of Golf Club Atlas, January 2022

“So... I have a new favourite Doak course. The scale is insane. He had the canvas of what could've been 36 and instead it's an ultimate 18" - Matt Ginella, August 2021

“It’s not unrealistic to say that this is one of, if not the last truly great undeveloped links site in Ireland,” John Casey added. “So, we are beyond excited to see Tom and Renaissance Golf Design work amongst these dunes.” - The Fried Egg, June 2019

WHS Handicap table - Sandstone / Slate / Granite / Claret

t100 courses 2024 25 world

Recent Press

2024

Is it possible to build an Instant Classic? - Golf Monthly

Rick Shiels plays the BEST NEW COURSE IN THE WORLD 

GOLF AFICIONADO - Where is Belfast?

World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses - Golf Digest

No luck required in St Patrick's Links' ascent

The Most Scenic County in the UK & Ireland - Golf Monthly

Golfweek's Best 2024: Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland

A Tip of the Cap - Dream Golf Magazine

Why we love the links - GOLF Oklahoma

Planning a Golf trip to Ireland? Here are 5 regions you MUST visit

National Club Golfer - Classic course: St Patrick's Links by Tom Doak

2023

Official GOLF Magazine (golf.com) Top 100 Courses in the World 2023-24 (St Patrick's Links #49)

The 6 BEST golf courses in Ireland | GOLF Top 100 Courses in the World 2023-2024

These are the Top 100 Courses in the World that you can actually play!

GOLF Magazine's Top 100 in the World 2023-24 - Broken down by UK Golf Guy

Ruminations on a modern classic - Richard Pennell

The Wandering Golfers - BLOWN AWAY BY ST PATRICK'S LINKS

The Magic of Links Golf in County Donegal

Colorado Avid Golfer - An Instant Irish Classic

Golfweek's Best 2023: Top 50 modern courses in the UK & Ireland

2022

Skratch TV - Adventures in Golf (Season 7, Episode 1) - Ireland's Last LINKS

GOLF.com - Golf course design masterclass: Tom Doak's emphasis on adventure

Global Golf Post - Ireland's Last Dunesland Course?

GOLF Digest - New courses on natural links in Ireland & Scotland are almost unheard of 

Top 100 Courses in the UK & Ireland 2022-23: GOLF's first ever ranking of the golf mecca

Golf Digest - The most intriguing new International courses 2022

Golf World - The 25 Best Golf Breaks in GB&I (Donegal #6) 

GOLF Magazine - Design Principle: Deliver a great adventure

Golf Monthly - MUST Play 2022

Destination Golf - The Game Changer by Kevin Markham

LINKS Magazine - 10 Must-Visit Public Golf Destinations for 2022

LINKS Magazine - 21 Best Holes of the 21st Century

13 courses the Golf Monthly team are hoping to play in 2022

2021

Meet the 7 newcomes on GOLF's latest Top 100 Courses in the World ranking (St Patrick's Links #55)

Top 100 Courses in the World: GOLF's 2021-22 ranking of the best designs on the planet

GOLF's Top 100 Courses in the World, broken down by country (and state!)

Golf Digest US - Matt Ginella discovers Ireland's breathtaking North-West region

Rolling & tumbling - Adam Lawrence of Golf Course Architecture Magazine visits St Patrick's Links

Golfweek - Tom Doak's St Patrick's Links opens at Rosapenna in Ireland

The St Patrick's Links: Believe the hype for Ireland's first new course since 2009

Today's Golfer - Why St. Patrick's Links is the best new course in the WORLD

Irish Independent - A game-changer for golf in Ireland

GOLF.com - Inside St Patrick's Links, one of the most anticipated new courses of 2021 

LINKS Magazine - Tom Doak's New Design in Ireland

GOLFPASS - Top 10 destinations to visit in 2021

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St Patrick's Links - Hole 3 - 1 - September 17, 2020
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St Patrick's Links - Hole 15 - 1 - January 06, 2020
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St Patrick's Links - Hole 5 - 3 - September 13, 2020
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Please click on the link below for all non hotel guest green fee rates/offers on your choice of championship links. All hotel guests please contact the hotel reception or the golf shop directly to book tee times as part of your accommodation & golf package.

CLICK ON THE COURSE BELOW TO BOOK A TEE TIME DIRECTLY ONLINE

ST PATRICK'S LINKS

OLD TOM MORRIS LINKS

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