The St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna: Believe the hype for Ireland’s first new golf course since 2009

When Kevin Markham first heard Tom Doak was designing an Irish links, he had goosebumps for a week. The rollercoaster 1st is an immediate contender for best opening hole on the island, he reckons. Now read on...

The 15th hole at the new St Patrick's Links in Rosapenna, the first new golf course to open in Ireland since 2009. Photograph: Clyde Johnson

In the coming months, you will undoubtedly read and hear about the new St Patrick’s Links at Rosapenna, about how incredible it is, how it is a game-changer for Irish golf, and how it will make waves in the various national and world rankings.

I have played the course and I won’t dispute any of the above. It is a magical links with fire in its belly and genius in its soul. Ireland has world-famous golf courses adorned with the names of legendary designers that stretch back to Old Tom himself (including Rosapenna), but the names of the modern greats are a touch scarce on the ground.