Great Value

Roscommon Golf Club

Roscommon town · Designed by Eddie Connaughton (expansion 1991)

The Mote Park Estate on which the course sits is one of the most historically layered sites in Connacht. The land was first granted to John Crofton in the reign of Elizabeth I; his descendant Edward Crofton was made a baronet in 1661 for services to Charles II. Mote Park House was built c.1777–87, later enlarged to a design by Richard Morrison around 1816, with the lion gates and gate lodges added c.1800 — attributed by tradition to James Gandon, the architect of the Four Courts and the Custom House in Dublin. The estate covered approximately 7,000 acres; the last Croftons vacated in the 1940s, the house was demolished in 1961, and the mature trees from the Crofton era survive on the golf course today — several are centuries old.

Golf was played here from 1904 on what was originally a nine-hole layout. Eddie Connaughton expanded it to 18 holes in 1991, adding 58 acres to the original footprint; a further redesign by Ken Kearney followed in 2009. The course runs to 6,069 yards at par 72 over gently undulating terrain, with fairways separated by semi-mature trees and water features on holes 1, 9, 12, and 14. The greens are consistently praised: moderately sized, true, and fair without being tricky.

Roscommon Castle (in town, 5 minutes) was built in 1269 by Robert de Ufford and is a National Monument. Roscommon Dominican Friary, founded in 1253 by Fedlim Ó Conchobair, King of Connacht, contains his effigy tomb — one of the finest medieval carvings in Ireland. Boyle Abbey (30 minutes north), a Cistercian house established in 1161, has remarkably preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

Holes worth knowing

112th (par-3) — pond-protected, requires a precise iron to a well-guarded green. The water comes into play on nearly every line of approach and the green offers little margin for error.

Highlights

Mote Park Estate: century-old Crofton trees; James Gandon-attributed gate lodges (c.1800)
Eddie Connaughton 18-hole expansion (1991) on 7,000-acre Anglo-Irish estate
Water on holes 1, 9, 12, and 14 — consistently praised greens throughout
Roscommon Castle (5 min) and Dominican Friary with Fedlim Ó Conchobair tomb
Boyle Abbey (30 min): Cistercian monastery (1161) with outstanding Romanesque architecture

Good to know

→Roscommon Dominican Friary (in town, free entry) contains the effigy tomb of Fedlim Ó Conchobair (King of Connacht, d.1265) — carved c.1290–1300, one of the finest medieval sculptures in Ireland. Often completely empty of visitors.
→Gleeson's Townhouse & Restaurant in Roscommon town is the best local dining option — traditional Irish food, good Connacht lamb and beef. The Abbey Hotel bar is the most reliable option for a post-round pint.
→Boyle Abbey (30 minutes north) is outstanding — well-preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture from the 12th century, National Monument, free entry. Combine with Lough Key Forest Park immediately adjacent.

Visitor Information

Getting There

50min drive

1h 30min drive

Common questions

What is Roscommon Golf Club like?

Roscommon is a mature parkland course in Roscommon town — the county capital of the overlooked midlands. Welcoming, good value, and well placed at the crossroads between Dublin, Galway and the northwest. The kind of club that suits golfers crossing the country who'd rather play than take a rest day.

Why play Roscommon as part of an Ireland golf trip?

Roscommon sits in the geographic centre of Ireland — a natural midpoint on cross-country itineraries. It is the kind of course that fills the practical gap between west coast links trips and east coast parkland: accessible, affordable, and friendly. Not a destination course, but a good addition to a broad Ireland golf trip.

How do I book Roscommon Golf Club?

Online through GolfNow. Last-minute tee times are usually easy to find here.

What is there to see in Roscommon?

Roscommon Castle is a 13th-century Norman ruin in the town centre — worth a short walk. The Strokestown Park House and Famine Museum, about fifteen minutes east, is one of the most important heritage sites in the country: the house has the only surviving archive from an Irish landlord during the Great Famine. Lough Key Forest Park north of Boyle is excellent for afternoon walks.