The origins of Rosapenna Hotel date back to October 1891 when Robert B. Clements, the 4th Earl of Leitrim invited Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews to lay out a golf course along the sand dunes of Sheephaven Bay. Shortly afterwards a hotel was commissioned to accommodate the many travelling golfers eager to test the skills of Old Tom.
It was in the early 1900's that two members of the Great Triumvirate of Golf, Harry Vardon and James Braid both journeyed to Rosapenna and made some changes to the course adding length and bunkering to Old Tom's layout but wisely leaving his perfect greens intact.
Rosapenna enjoyed many years of prosperous hotel keeping until May 1962 when the hotel fell victim to a disasterous fire.
With the original hotel completely destroyed by the fire the adjacent Sheephaven house was transformed into a small 12 bedroomed hotel with bar and clubhouse. It is at this site where todays Rosapenna Hotel stands, bought by Frank and Hilary Casey in April 1981.
The hotel has undergone a complete transformation over the years. The hotel now has 60 bedroom including 14 suites with as a magnificent dining room overlooking Sheephaven Bay and extensive leisure facilities.
Recent additions to Rosapenna are the second course, Sandy Hills Links designed by Pat Ruddy of European club fame, opened for play in 2003 and the Golf Pavilion an 18,000 sq. foot two storey structure to facilitate the many visiting golfers and which opened in 2005.
With a new generation now involved in the running of the hotel and the golf courses Rosapenna moves into it's third millennia.
It was in the early 1900's that two members of the Great Triumvirate of Golf, Harry Vardon and James Braid both journeyed to Rosapenna and made some changes to the course adding length and bunkering to Old Tom's layout but wisely leaving his perfect greens intact.
Rosapenna enjoyed many years of prosperous hotel keeping until May 1962 when the hotel fell victim to a disasterous fire.
With the original hotel completely destroyed by the fire the adjacent Sheephaven house was transformed into a small 12 bedroomed hotel with bar and clubhouse. It is at this site where todays Rosapenna Hotel stands, bought by Frank and Hilary Casey in April 1981.
The hotel has undergone a complete transformation over the years. The hotel now has 60 bedroom including 14 suites with as a magnificent dining room overlooking Sheephaven Bay and extensive leisure facilities.
Recent additions to Rosapenna are the second course, Sandy Hills Links designed by Pat Ruddy of European club fame, opened for play in 2003 and the Golf Pavilion an 18,000 sq. foot two storey structure to facilitate the many visiting golfers and which opened in 2005.
With a new generation now involved in the running of the hotel and the golf courses Rosapenna moves into it's third millennia.
