Relaxing after laying a 9-hole course for Lord Leitrim, Tom Morris of St. Andrews in Scotland was taking in the sights of north Donegal when he arrived in Rosapenna. Being a veteran golfer, the spectacularly beautiful scenery of the area did not prevent him from recognising the potential of the ground for the game of golf.

That was in 1891. In 1895 the club was instituted. Tom Morris's design was later modified by two other great masters of the game, James Braid and Harry Vardon. Rosapenna is, to this day, one of the great natural golf courses in Ireland. Only three of the 18 greens had to be laid, as the other 15 are a vindication of Tom Morris's judgement of the turf.

The course is a combination of natural links and inland holes, which stand on a peninsula between two lovely bays. The first ten holes play along Sheephaven Bay between the beach and a range of tall sand dunes. The last eight play inland and uphill in meadow where the high grounds present distracting and delightful views. The 'clubhouse' for Rosapenna is the Rosapenna Golf Hotel, which is a pitching wedge from the first tee.