Rosapenna (Coastguard)
The Coastguard nine is situated on the other side of the road and used to be the original back nine of the Old Links. It dates back to 1893 but has seen some changes over the years although still makes a for a good warm-up before hitting any of the three main courses.
It is a par 34 and is just 2,588 yards on the card although I believe this may be even shorter now because the 5th had been reduced on my visit. I suspect due to a newly built house at the side of the fairway which was probably getting too many golf balls in its back garden.
Indeed there are houses dotted throughout the course and even a caravan park located at the top of the hill that the course works its way around.
The Coastguard nine is not really a links, certainly not any more. Maybe it once was but it has lost its links feel with broader leaf grasses now predominant.
There’s an eclectic mix of golf on offer. The 2nd is a tough hole with an approach played over broken ground to a blind green whilst the 7th is on a side slope which is perhaps too severe to promote good golf but it looks good and the view from the tee is splendid as it is from the 3rd where you overlook Mulroy Bay.
It very much feels that this course is now an afterthought to the other courses at Rosapenna and is certainly well below their standard. If you are staying on site and have a spare hour or two it may be worth a hit but otherwise there is not too much to recommend here.
Read the review of Rosapenna (St. Patrick's) here.
Read the review of Rosapenna (Sandyhills) here.
