No 43 - Rosapenna - Sandy Hills
You won't find a weak hole on Rosapenna Sandy Hills, one of Ireland's favourites, in yet another fantastic setting
43 ROSAPENNA – Sandy Hills
Architect: Ruddy 2006 position: 65 Stats: 6,383 yds; par 71; SSS 71 GF: €50-€85 T: 00353 7491 55000 W: rosapenna.ie
“Modern designer goes head to head with Old Master and comes out on top,” is a fitting headline for north-west Ireland’s Rosapenna, home to Pat Ruddy’s 21st century Sandy Hills links and Old Tom Morris’ 19th century original.
No disrespect, it’s just that today’s construction techniques have allowed Ruddy to cut a swathe through the towering dunes that Old Tom must have looked wistfully across to in those more primitive course-building days.
There isn’t a weak hole here, and Sandy Hills will only be going one way in future rankings as more golfers discover it. JE
+ Superb setting; no weak holes; great value - Remote location; demands on accuracy may be too much for some
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Jeremy Ellwood (Jezz) has worked in golf since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all the Top 100 plus 94 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified to compare our premier tracks. He has played over 1,100 courses in 35 countries, from remote nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to grand international resorts, hitting the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he'll be blissfully content.
Contact Jezz on X - @JezzEllwoodGolf
Jeremy is playing...
Driver: Ping G425 LST
3 wood: Srixon ZX
Hybrid: Ping G425
Irons 4- to 11-iron: Honma TWorld TW747Vx
Wedge: Ping Glide 54˚
Putter: Ping Fetch