Rosapenna Golf Resort: Sandy Hills

Rosapenna Golf Resort is located in Donegal, Ireland, an hour from Derry and two hours from Belfast. The Sandy Hills course at Rosapenna is one of three stunning courses and was designed by the team of Pat Ruddy and Frank Casey Sr. in 2003 before Beau Welling made adjustments in 2013. The design team carved the Sandy Hills course through towering sand dunes resulting in dramatic elevated playing surfaces that feature panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The front nine is highlighted by the par-4 sixth showing off SheepHaven Bay and Muckish mountain as well as the downhill par-3 seventh tucked into dunes and protected by a penal pot-bunker. The second nine is known for the par-4 10th that turns toward the water and plays down into a valley of sand dunes and then to an elevated green with a view of the mountains in the background. The course is known to be difficult, featuring challenging sightlines, penal beachgrass and fast sloping wind blown greens.