[Brad Tufts]

I saw for the first time on the recent feature interview with Scott Whitney and Richard Phinney that it appears that the Nicklaus Group has abandoned the St. Patrick's project in the North of Ireland.  Is this true?

Any new news about somebody taking it over?  I'm convinced that with four courses total in Rosapenna someday, it will be a great destination...not to mention the St. Patrick's site is a beautiful one!

-Brad

[Tony_Muldoon]

In late April this year this was allthat had happened, a few fairwys stripped down.   I was told the Developer had a big judgement agianst them on another site and money for this ran out.  With the current state of the Irish banking industry it may be some time before it gets restarted.




This winter I'll try and sort out the pictures of my trip. I was pleased to see Richard Phinney single out Rossapenna in the interview.  Playing "on top of the dunes" is a fantastic experience and makes it one special course.

Next year see's 9 holes by Tom Doak on a rearranged OTM course.

[Johnny_Browne]

I know St Patricks very well and have played there.  I am not really surprised because financially in a relatively remote part of Ireland it would seem to be hard to see making a profit as realistic - Rosapenna Hotel closes from October end until Easter - but it does very well during the time it is open and is very often full.  Tom Doak has restored 9 holes on the Rosapenna complex but Pat Ruddys Sandy Hills, in spite of great write ups from many visitors, is unpopular with many members and visitors who will not play it because it is too difficult.
I do believe that if someone like Tom Doak had control of St Patricks it could be the best 36 hole complex in Ireland - the problems of planning etc are not an issue as there are 36 holes there already and it is fantastic golfing terrain.  It could be something along the lines of Bandon/Pacific Dunes and with many holes available at Rosapenna over the fence and Ballyliffin not too far away NW Ireland could be a fantastic place for a golf trip. 
Johnny Browne

[Aidan Bradley]

I may be wrong but I was under the impression that Pat Ruddy had designed the new nine holes due to be opened in the near future. However, Tom Doak was brought in to re work the greens.......

[Tom_Doak]

Aidan:

That is partly correct.  Pat Ruddy did lay out and build nine holes which will replace the nine holes "across the road" on the Old Tom Morris layout.  We were asked to come in and consult, and Eric Iverson from my firm rebuilt all of those nine greens, mostly on his own (one walk-through from me).  We are talking to the owners about more extensive work there but have not agreed to anything as yet.

I have only peeked across to St. Patrick's but it is a shame to see that hillside stripped and just lying there and not even regrassed while they sort things out.

[Brad Tufts]

I still wish the old hill 9 could be kept at Rosapenna, but I have to admit the road crossings aren't ideal, and the land is probably more valuable as house lots.  There were/are some unique holes up there with great views.  Namely the long par 4 cascading down the hill (like 17/18 at kapalua, ireland style), and the following par three with the lay-of-the-land ladies tee set up on the 45-degree uphill slope, and the 18th, where you gamble on carrying the road off the tee or being stymied by the fence on the short side if you miss it just a little.

[Tim Pitner]

When I was at Rosapenna (10+ years ago), Sandy Hills wasn't built yet and I had a look around but didn't play golf.  The holes on the water (the OTM holes on the hotel side of the road) looked very cool--great rumpled land, as I recall. 

[Mike_Trenham]

Bump:

Does, anyone have any facts or rumors to share on this project?  Seems unlikely much will happen in the near future given the economy, hopefully the property ends up in the right hands.

[Tom_Doak]

Mike:  I went and walked St. Patrick's last summer.  The stripped holes are still out there blowing around, a real shame.

I had never walked the St. Patrick's property before, just peeked over the fence from Rosapenna.  I'm not sure the ground was right for 36 holes, but there are some wonderful features out there and they should have been able to build at least ONE of the best courses in the world.

Alas, I doubt that's going to happen now.  The would-be developers paid a fortune for that land [11 million Euros] on the premise of building 36 holes and a hotel ... they aren't likely to want to sell it for 2 or 3 million just a couple of years later.  But, that's all it would make sense to pay for an 18-hole golf-only site in a remote corner of Ireland.

[Rich Goodale]

Sad, but probably true, Tom.

More importantly, happy Guiness and Bushmills Day!

Rich

[Jack_Marr]

Yes, the hotel trade is suffering as much as any other here. Lots closing down.

[Mike_Trenham]

Tom:

Yes 36 holes were jammed onto the property, the second 18 was a real waste of some good land.  Maybe 27 holes would have worked.  The Hackett course is on some pretty good land and not cramped in any way that could not be fixed with a mower.  There were a few awkward (impossible) holes like the uphill par three near the end of the round.

I had assumed that they had purchased more land when the announced Jack's involvement in the project, there is plenty of open land adjacent to the St Patrick's' parcel.

BTW if you looked over the fence I don't think you saw Eddie Hackett's work.

This maybe the most poorly managed property in golf... But I guess you'd suggest a few others lately, like Apache Stronghold, Beechtree or St Andrews Beach...

[Brad Tufts]

Maybe someday...

There are still some decent pics on their website, which is interestingly still up.

http://www.stpatricksgolflinks.com/

[Matthew Hunt]

Tony, the banks in the North have some of he best balanced books  in then Western world, though they would need a great business plan to bring them out of their ultra-conservative ways. I fear that golf for them is an excuse for a corporate outing which is eating at the money that should be my interest payments

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