DESTINATION GOLF 2022
There are four obvious elements : 1 . Hole & Landscape Variety The towering dunes of the opening three holes hide the rippling fairways that then flee to the west , towards a mother dune around which several holes entwine . Those opening holes lead you inexorably towards the sea which is on full display from the 4th tee . This is the big reveal , the most dramatic moment of many . The views and sea are cast before you like a deck of cards spread in a perfect fan . The air fizzes with ozone and ocean air . And from the 4th tee you can see what is coming . Holes 4 and 5 stretch along the coastline below while holes 6 , 15 and 16 lie inland of them . Look at those wide swathes of fairway galloping towards that mother dune . Look at those blow-out bunkers that pockmark the landscape like the moon . It combines the crafts of old with the brazenness of the new . It ’ s an adrenaline rush that makes you swing harder than you should .
Elsewhere , further inland , holes crash over the landscape : the par four 7th , from a high tee , descends between more wave-rolling dunes to leave you with an approach that could be blind , while on the short uphill par four 8th alongside you will see nothing more than the top of the flag . These are the shapes you will have to deal with and while most links courses ( even the flatter ones such as Portmarnock and Royal Dublin ) require repeat plays to appreciate them fully , St Patrick ’ s is both wide enough and adventurous enough that you could be playing two different courses depending on where your shots finish .
2 . Greens You won ’ t have played on or around greens like these – at least not in Ireland . Each shape is unique but it goes further than that as the greens and their broad surrounds are seamless , with runoffs , swales and humps galore . The grasses are cut at the same height and that makes the greens appear larger than they are . As such , a ‘ missed ’ green will leave an intriguing recovery that can , in all likelihood , be played with a lob , a bump-and-run or a putt from 20 yards away . My opening putt was played from that distance and the roll on the ball was perfect . I simply couldn ’ t tell where the fringe became green .. and neither could the ball . Even more pronounced is the par three 17th , where the flag appears to hover in the middle of the fairway which stretches beyond and up towards the 18th tee . It is an illusion and , on first play , you don ’ t know where the green begins and ends . It is an extra dimension that adds to the appeal and shows how Doak teases you … and yet presents you with opportunities to explore your abilities .
3 . The Fairways Typically , they are generous – the Index 2 par four 16th looks a mile wide as you stand on the 4th tee – but the endless contours and ripples guarantee you nothing . Balls do not automatically migrate to a flat spot which will leave you with different stances . It adds to the challenge but that width also adds to the accessibility .
4 . The Bunkers Ripped , raw and ragged , and with numerous blow-out dunes and waste areas around the site you ’ re never sure which ‘ bunkers ’ are natural and which are not . They are not invasive , they do not swamp the greens but they are called hazards for a reason . If you find one it is unlikely you played a good shot . As you drop down from the 4th tee keep an eye out for the enormous blow-out : it is some 20 feet deep and 60 yards wide . It is not the only one here .
The Best Holes
An unfair heading for sure . Even the less dramatic and more inland stretch ( holes 10 to 13 ) possesses intrigue and calls for confident shot-making , especially around the greens . That , however , is true of every green here .
The rollercoaster 1st is an immediate contender for best opening hole on the island . It is a captivating and deceptive tee shot that heads blindly into a maze of dunes . The green lurks behind a big shoulder and has an amphitheatre feel . The sharp dogleg par four 14th ( the only serious dogleg here ) drops down towards the sea before whipping right to a green perched above the beach . It promises two dramatic shots . The 120 yard uphill par three 15th is captivating and demands absolute precision as you head towards the top of that mother dune . Overall , however , the run from the 4th to the 9th steals the show for its brilliant and intuitive design .
I could go on – there are so many different elements which make this a special place – but perhaps I am over-awed by the fact Ireland has a new 18-hole links for the first time in 20 years and that it has been designed by Tom Doak . It is thrill-a-minute golf , pure and simple .
The good news for Irish tourism is that many international golfers who believe they have ‘ done ’ Ireland , now have an excellent reason to return , while those searching for their next bucket list destination have just found it . Irish golfers , too , will be eager to visit and they will discover exactly how good the golf offering is at Rosapenna . After all , golf has been played here since 1893 , and it keeps getting better and better .
www . rosapenna . ie
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