The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Get into the swing of luxury with a getaway in Donegal
AS you gaze out the window upon what is more than likely another grey and miserable Scottish winter’s day, take solace from the fact that very soon, the peak golfing season will be upon us.
If you are planning a society or group outing for the spring or summer, then why not look out over the Irish Sea for something a bit different?
The Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort in North-West Donegal offers a wonderful golfing experience amid spectacular scenery – and a real test for any level of golfer.
There is a rich golf heritage on the site dating back to 1891, when Lord Leitrim brought Old Tom Morris of St Andrews to Rosapenna to design the first links course there, which opened in 1893.
The course is still there today, with modifications made by
Harry Vardon and James Braid, meaning that the three men responsible for the main layout of the course had a rather impressive 16 major titles between them.
In 2009, the new ‘Strand Nine’ opened to replace the original back nine, but all of the undoubted character and ingenuity of Old Tom Morris’s design has been retained.
The timber constructed hotel built back then has come a long way, and there is now a luxury golf hotel on-site with top-class spa and leisure facilities, as well as delicious fare on offer in the Vardon Restaurant and a fine selection of beers and malt whiskies in the 19th hole – the James Braid Bar – to unwind after your round.
In 2003, the newer Sandy Hills links opened up on the site, designed to pose a real test for serious golfers with the Atlantic winds blowing in.
The course has fastgained a reputation as one of the finest in Ireland, and has been described as a must-play links course for real golf enthusiasts.