Rosapenna golf club Donegal

Members Achievements

Ryan Griffin was one of four Irish players selected for the Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch Golf Club from 5th to 7th July 2024, the other three were Max Kennedy (The Royal Golf Club), Kate Lanigan (Hermitage Golf Club) and Sara Byrne (Douglas Golf Club).

Rosapenna Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes on Friday 8th August 2014 when they beat Balmoral Golf Club by 4-matches to 1-match in the Final having beaten Bangor Golf Club by 3-matches to 2-matches in the Semi-Final.
They made the journey to Warrenpoint Golf Club to take part in the All-Ireland deciders. They met Munster Champions Waterford Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Friday 4th September.
They were led out by Pat Boyce with Ann Currie who lost their match by 5 and 4 against Ben Murray with Patsy Garry, they were followed by club owner Frank Casey Jnr. with Terri McBride who had a 2-hole win over Sam Power with Bridget Tierney, next up were Enda Kennedy with Dympna Kelly who lost their match against Pat Madigan with Anna Glavin by 3 and 2, in the penultimate match Marty McDermott with Orla Lenny had a 3 and 2 win over Niall O'Connell with Kay Walsh, the bottom match of Con Boyce with Susanne Gallagher went 4 and 2 to Denny Sinnott with Fiona Fitzgerald.
Waterford Castle went on to win the All-Ireland Final when they beat Leinster Champions Castlecomer by 3-matches to 2-matches.

Rosapenna Golf Club won the Ulster Final of the Irish Senior Cup when they beat Fortwilliam by 3 ½ matches to 1 ½ matches at Royal Co. Down Golf Club on Sunday 18th August 2013.  
They made the long journey to Royal Tara Golf Club to participate in the National Deciders. They were drawn against Leinster Champions Carton House Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. They were led out by Michael McDermott who lost his match against S. McGlynn by 4 and 3 he was followed by Enda Kennedy who went all the way to the 21st before putting the first point on the board against D. Carey next up was Donal Boyle who beat Niall McGlynn by 3and 1 in the penultimate match of Frank Casey Jnr. against Sean O’Connor the owner of this golfing paradise delivered a 6 and 4 win and a place in the All-Ireland decider the bottom match of Patrick Kennedy was halved against Colin Cunningham when called in.

They met a strong Co. Sligo team in the decider on Saturday 21st September they were lead out this time by Donal Boyce who lost his match to Mark Morrissey by 3 and 1 next up was Michael McDermott who went to the 18th before conceding the point to Gary McDermott he was followed by Enda Kennedy who recorded a comfortable 4 and 3 win over Sean Flanagan the penultimate match of Frank Casey Jnr. against Declan Reidy gave Rosapenna their second point on the board with a 3 and 2 result. So it was all down to the bottom match of Patrick Kennedy against Rosses Points Steffan O’Hara to decide where the green pennant would go it was not until the 16th that O’Hara got his nose in front and finished the job on the 17th when he sank a 5-footer. The team was Donal Boyce, Michael McDermott, Enda Kennedy, Frank Casey Jnr. Patrick Kennedy and Con Boyce, they were captained by Frank Casey Jnr.

Having won their first All-Ireland in their history when they won the Irish Mixed Foursomes in 2012 it was not to be to add the most coveted green pennant of all to their collection.

Rosapenna Golf Club won the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes at Clontarf Golf Club on Friday 7th September 2012.

They met Leinster Champions Rathfarnham Golf Club in the All-Ireland Semi-Final on Thursday 6th September and recorded a 4-matches to 1-match win over the South Dublin team.

They were led by Enda Kennedy with Dympna Kelly who beat Stuart Walker with Deirdre McDermott by 3 and 2, they were followed by Pat and Kit Boyce who had a 2 and 1 win over Rory Crerar with Nikki Campbell, next up was Frank Casey Jnr. with Terri McBride who halved their match against Stanley Lew with Vicky Jones when called in. In the penultimate match Con Boyce with Suzanne Gallagher had a comfortable 6 and 4 win over Declan Sweeney with Jane Jones; in the bottom match of Marty McDermott with Orla Lenny was halved against Mick Doyle with Grainne Moyles when called in.

They played Munster Champions Dromoland Castle Golf Club in the All-Ireland Final the following day and recorded a 3½-matches to 1½-matches win over the Clare Club.

 This time they were led by Con Boyce with Suzanne Gallagher who went all-the-way up the 21st before clinching the point against Mark Reynolds with Maria Nolan, next up was Pat and Kit Boyle who went down by 2 and 1 to Tony Cleary with Dorothea Madden, they were followed by Frank Casey Jnr. with Terri McBride. In the penultimate match Enda Kennedy with Dympna Kelly recorded a 3 and 2 win over Nicholas Duggan with Angela White, the bottom match of Marty McDermott with Orla Lenny was a very comfortable 4 and 3 win over Mark Hogan with Yvonne Shanahan and the result that gave Rosapenna Golf Club its first Green Pennant.  

Ruairdri McGee was a credible joint 3rd in the Irish Boys' Close Championship at Malahide Golf Club on Friday 24th August 2007, shooting rounds of 72, 73 and 70 and 74 for a total of 289. He finished 3-shots behind the Champion Gary McGrane from The Royal Dublin Golf Club. This is very encouraging to see this magnificent Links in North Donegal producing good young players.

Rosapenna Golf Club won the All-Ireland Final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes at Clontarf Golf Club on Friday 7th September 2012.

Members who played representative golf for Country or Province;

Ruairdri McGee represented Ireland at Irish Boys level in 2007 playing 3-times won 1-match halved one and lost 1-match accumulating 3-points. He represented Ulster at the Boys Interprovincial Championships from 2006 to 2007 playing 8-times won 4-matches and lost 4-matches accumulating 8-points;

History of Rosapenna

Instituted 1895 affiliated 1898

The "Sportsman's Holiday Guide" in 1897 records "The Rosapenna golf links were discovered quite by chance by Tom Morris of St. Andrews. A few years ago, this veteran golfer, being employed by the late Lord Leitrim to lay out a nine-hole course in the neighbourhood of the Manor House, after completing his task, was taken to Rosapenna to see the beautiful scenery to be found there. His practiced eye was at once struck by the adaptability of the ground to the requirements of the game and with his prophetic instinct he predicted before long the redcoats would be seen driving the gutta over the fine slopes. There are eighteen-holes and circuit is about three and a half miles. It has been found necessary to lay only three greens, the other fifteen being natural and remarkable for their size and quality. The turf is excellent and of a true golf nature. There is no clubhouse the first tee and home green being the hotel door.

In a letter to Lionel Hewson from the Earl of Leitrim, he states that the course had been started in 1891 by his father, with the help of Tom Morris. In 1906, Harry Vardon suggested some new holes "to compensate for the new, rubber-core ball." He was followed by James Braid with further modifications. In 1990 the late great Eddie Hackett added another eight new holes. Pat Ruddy has just completed another ten holes, giving Rosapenna a second 18-hole links. 
The first President was C. J. Stewart, the Captain was A. Manning, the Hon. Secretary was Rev. M. Vance and the patrons were the Earl of Leitrim and the Earl of Dartmouth.