St. Patricks Links, Donegal

Swingguru

Does anyone know if there is to be any progress on the Jack Nicklaus revamp of St. Patricks Links in Donegal? This course (36 holes) is right next door to Rosapenna and was originally laid out by Eddie Hackett. I played the original Hackett layout a few years back and the holes were amazing, but condition was dreadful. A development company bought it, flew in Nicklaus and got him to redesign all 36 holes. Nicklaus said he had never seen such a wonderful piece of golfing terrain in his life. I agree, the setting is totally amazing. The course was staked out, bulldozers came in, ripped up 2 original fairways along the sea then the development company went bust leaving 2 bare fairways to the erosion of the Atlantic winds. Does anyone have any idea if the development can be resurrected? It is truly the most amazing piece of golf land in Ireland. Combine this 36 holes with the 36 next door at Rosapenna and you have links heaven!

Tipp-Boy

Swingguru,

I have to say I can't see this being resurrected for a very long time, if ever. I took a drive down to the site last summer and couldn't get over the layout, it would have been a magnificent course if completed. I was driving past the course every day for a week on my way to Rosapenna and kept seeing this little sign of St. Patrick's Links. I asked a local about it and he explaned what had happened so i ventured down the laneway!
Have you ever noticed how quiet that area is though - you have one of the best links courses in the country (Sandy Hills) and it's virtually empty all year long.

Swingguru

Tipp-Boy wrote: »

Swingguru,

I have to say I can't see this being resurrected for a very long time, if ever. I took a drive down to the site last summer and couldn't get over the layout, it would have been a magnificent course if completed. I was driving past the course every day for a week on my way to Rosapenna and kept seeing this little sign of St. Patrick's Links. I asked a local about it and he explaned what had happened so i ventured down the laneway!
Have you ever noticed how quiet that area is though - you have one of the best links courses in the country (Sandy Hills) and it's virtually empty all year long.

Have you noticed the heavenly silence down at St. Patricks? It is without doubt the most amazing site. When Donald Trump was having problems with Aberdeen Council I half thought he might have bought St. Patricks (thank God be didn't!). It's a crying shame that the development never took place. Sandy Hills is so empty because of the green fee and the relative difficulty for Joe Public. I play off 6 and if I have 30 points around it I'm delighted! It's an amazing layout but not worth 65 euro a round for Joe public. The new layout at the Old Tom Morris course is excellent. Some cracking new holes if your up there again this summer.

Swingguru

This is part of where the course should have been....not bad eh?

ThunderCat

Thanks for the pic Swingguru. Ive heard of the course before but only after seeing the picture do you get a feel for how perfect a site it is. Surely a piece of land that good, with that much potential can't sit idle for too long.

madds

My God that looks like a beautiful part of the country.

ThunderCat

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2012/11/17/rosapenna-acquires-st-patricks-to-become-81-hole-links-mecca.html

It seems the folks of Rosapenna have purchased the St.Patricks courses and are roumered to be getting in Tom Doak as the potential architect to revamp them. Great news.

amadain

Love Tom Doak's work (and Fazio too, among others)......hope this project goes ahead !




Side note:-

The next 'LINKS' Golf Course to be built in Ireland should be at INCH, Co. Kerry.
Would be a perfect compliment to its great neighbours and financially more viable than a new course in Donegal imvho.
Unfortunately, in the current climate, money for ANY golf course (new or existing) is not easily available.

The_Architect

These are only rumours about Tom Doak because he did some work up there in 2009. No decision has been made yet as far as I know.

The course at Inch has been on the agenda for 18 years. Great land. Needs a new developer and a lot of luck with the planning authorities.

Next links course to open in Ireland will be the new 9 at Carne.

amadain

The_Architect wrote: »

.....Next links course to open in Ireland will be the new 9 at Carne.

Thought the 18 in Belmullet were already open ?

Finlay Harp

Swingguru wrote: »

This is part of where the course should have been....not bad eh?

Reminds me a bit of Royal County Down with Donard on the horizon.