41 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Rosapenna

Stay and Play Rosapenna. Golf Monthly takes a look at the Top 50 places to Stay and Play in the UK and Ireland

Rosapenna

41 - Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Rosapenna

Located in the north-west corner of Ireland, this resort owes its existence and growing prominence to two men - Old Tom Morris, who spotted its links potential while holidaying here in 1891, and Frank Casey, who took the resort on in the 1980s. Since then he has created something very special. The hotel, looking out over the golden sands of Sheephaven Bay, has grown from 12 to 60 rooms, while Old Tom's course has acquired a new back nine, and a magnificent sibling - Pat Ruddy's highly regarded Sandy Hills links. And Old Tom's original back nine still exists as the Coastguard. Rooms & suites: 63 Courses: 3 - Old Tom Morris, Sandy Hills, Coastguard (9) Golfbreaks.com best Mar/Apr 2014 deal: One night's B&B and two rounds from £119pp. Visit www.golfbreaks.com

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x