Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna – History and Pure Fun
- Gunnar Kobin
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 23
Old Tom Morris Links: The Soul of Rosapenna
Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna is the type of course that you will remember long after your round is finished
It does not have the modern length or make dramatic visuals. It relies on it's history, natural design, and the ever present Atlantic wind.
Old Tom Morris Links is located on the shores of Sheephaven Bay in County Donegal and offers pure uninhibited links golf. From the first tee shot you see nothing but rolling linksland and open sky and that is when you know you are about to experience golf as it should be.
Laid out in 1893
Laid out in 1893 and designed by Old Tom Morris himself, the course has remained remarkably true to its design.
The land does most of the work. The fairways rise and fall, the turf is firm and fast with the open course wind is always a factor. It can be gentle.
The conditions on the day of my round were ever changing. One hole had a strong headwind while the next had a tailwind, and the next had a crosswind on the approach.
Keeps you active and presents more complex challenges instead of just repetition.
It’s Not About How Far You Hit It, But Where You Hit It
Old Tom Morris Links might not be the longest course but it’s definitely one of the most challenging.
This course requires strategic thinking over driving distance, as it is better to go for the right fairway position than the longest drive.
The Heart of Old Tom Morris Links: The Par 4s
The course has many remarkable par 4s. The most accessible ones have the most complex challenges to overcome as you get closer to the hole.
The course definitely incentivizes under the ball golf when the wind is too high. This is due to the course design and nature of the wind. It also places a premium on firm playing surfaces and friction.
The Greens At Old Tom Morris Links: Where Lots of Imagination Is Required
At Old Tom Morris Links the greens are not the most majestic, but have balanced and great design.
Shots landing short add more than high ones landing and dying, so also add more shots.
Each player will have different choices of shots, with numerous options available, both in type and in sequence. There are lots of shots available such as a putt, a bump and run, or a lofted shot. Practice and experiment with different shots and strategies.
Combining All Three
Playing all three of the Rosapenna golf courses gives a unique opportunity to see how links golf has developed. Each course showcases a different variation of how links golf has developed over time.
St. Patrick’s Links, designed by Tom Doak, is the modern expressive sibling with vast width and huge sand dunes to funnel play in interesting ways. Old Tom tends to be a bit more rhythmic and has some other more flow restrictive design elements. St. Patrick’s gives a much more free flowing and adventurous feel with lots of creative play options.
Sandy Hills is more of a powerhouse nature course with a more muscular design and more physically demanding play, with large elevation changes and continuous exposure to the Atlantic. Sandy Hills demands strong execution and stamina in your play, whereas Old Tom demands strong judgment and patience.
Old Tom Morris Links is the Rosapenna philosophical anchor, he sits in the middle of the three courses, and is designed to be more quiet and subtle. He is rooted firmly in the traditions of the game.
Designed To Be Walked
There are no distracting visual elements as the entire focus is the golf, and the land. There are no detached housing developments near the courses, and the land is free of other types of distractions that would divert the player’s focus to other man made developments.
The views of Sheephaven Bay are present throughout the course, but are never distracting. By the time a player reaches the final holes, he will feel a sense of excellence and mental calm that is a result of experiencing something genuine, and not something that has been mass produced.
Why It Matters
Old Tom Morris Links at Rosapenna isn't just another famous golf course to tick off. This is about a connection with history.
While St Patrick's Links embraces freedom and imagination, and Sandy Hills celebrates contemporary power and theatre, Old Tom Morris Links embodies the essence of Rosapenna—honest, thoughtful, and timeless.
For golfers who love traditional links golf, Old Tom Morris Links is a must— a course that earns respect one considered stroke at a time.
Some courses blow you away from the first hole. Others are a slow burn. Old Tom Morris Links does neither. It simply invites you to reflect on the reasons that made you fall in love with golf in the first place.
Read also St Patrick’s Links Rosapenna – Tom Doak’s Modern Masterpiece on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Coast
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