County Donegal Golf Deals to Watch, 2026
Donegal is Ireland's links frontier, wild, remote and increasingly world ranked since St Patrick's Links arrived. Here is how the 2026 stay and play deals work across Rosapenna and Ballyliffin, what the Three Links Ticket buys, and when to book.
Photo via Google.
Why Donegal packages work
County Donegal has gone from hidden corner to genuine links destination, and the catalyst is Rosapenna. The resort's St Patrick's Links, a Tom Doak design, climbed to a new high of number 44 in the GOLF Magazine Top 100 in the World for 2025 to 2026, and it sits alongside Rosapenna's Sandy Hills Links and the historic Old Tom Morris Links to give one resort three full links courses. Up the coast, Ballyliffin's Glashedy and Old Links add a second pillar, with Portsalon, Narin and Portnoo, Murvagh and Cruit Island filling out a deep county.
Because Rosapenna is a true stay and play resort with lodging on site and several courses to play, the deals here are built around multi round tickets and packages rather than one off green fees. St Patrick's Links is green fee play only and not part of the membership, so it is open to visitors, and the resort's Three Links Ticket is the natural way to take in all three courses on one trip.
Below is how the main package shapes break down, what they typically include, and the indicative cost picture for the 2026 season. Treat every figure as a planning guide rather than a quote, since rates shift with season and availability, and always confirm directly before booking.
County Donegal golf deals, 2026 at a glance
| Deal type | Typically includes | Indicative 2026 note |
|---|---|---|
| Rosapenna Three Links Ticket | Rounds across St Patrick's Links, Sandy Hills Links and the Old Tom Morris Links | The natural way to play all three resort courses; confirm directly before booking |
| Rosapenna stay and play | On site lodging with multiple rounds across the resort's links | Hotel guests book tee times through reception or the golf shop |
| Donegal two centre trip | Rosapenna paired with Ballyliffin's Glashedy and Old Links up the coast | The full county trip; allow for coastal drive times |
| Season note | St Patrick's Links reopens for the 2026 season on Friday 10 April after winter closure | Green fee play only; book online or by email; confirm directly before booking |
The deals worth watching
The Rosapenna Three Links Ticket
The signature Donegal deal is Rosapenna's Three Links Ticket, which packages rounds across St Patrick's Links, Sandy Hills Links and the Old Tom Morris Links. With three full links courses on one estate, the resort stay and play is the efficient way to play them all, and it neatly solves access to St Patrick's, the world top 50 Doak design that is the reason most golfers now make the trip. St Patrick's Links is green fee play only and reopens for the 2026 season on Friday 10 April after its winter closure.
The two centre county trip
To see the breadth of Donegal, pair Rosapenna with Ballyliffin up the coast, where the Glashedy and Old Links offer two more championship links, and add Portsalon or Murvagh if time allows. The county's courses are spread along a dramatic coastline, so a two centre trip with a night near each cluster keeps the driving sensible and the golf varied.
Timing the booking
Donegal is exposed Atlantic links golf, so the season is shorter than the Irish southwest, with the prime window from late spring through early autumn. May, June and September typically offer the best mix of weather, daylight and value, while the marquee tee times at St Patrick's go early for summer dates. Book the headline rounds well ahead and build the package around them.
Our take
Donegal has become a must for the serious links traveler, and St Patrick's Links is the headline, but the depth of Rosapenna and Ballyliffin is what makes it a trip rather than a single round. Because the best golf is resort tied with multiple courses on one site, the stay and play and the Three Links Ticket are the natural and best value way to play it.
Our advice is to anchor on Rosapenna for St Patrick's and its sister links, add Ballyliffin for variety, and book early for prime summer dates. Our County Donegal golf hub and the best golf courses in County Donegal list set out the venues, and our team can hold the right tee times and price the trip to the head before you commit.
Plan a County Donegal golf trip
Want a Donegal links trip built around Rosapenna, St Patrick's Links and Ballyliffin on the best 2026 dates? Tell us your group and timing and one concierge will lock the tee times, lodging and transfers, costed to the head, with no obligation.
County Donegal golf deals, your questions
What golf packages are available in County Donegal for 2026?
The core offer is a Rosapenna stay and play built around the Three Links Ticket, which packages rounds across St Patrick's Links, Sandy Hills Links and the Old Tom Morris Links on one estate. Many golfers extend the trip up the coast to Ballyliffin's Glashedy and Old Links as a two centre tour. Hotel guests book tee times through the resort. Contents and prices change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play St Patrick's Links in 2026?
Yes. St Patrick's Links by Tom Doak is green fee play only and not part of the membership offering, so it is open to visitors, bookable online and by email. It reopens for the 2026 season on Friday 10 April after winter closure, and has risen to number 44 in the GOLF Magazine Top 100 in the World for 2025 to 2026. Always confirm rates and availability directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Donegal?
Donegal is exposed Atlantic links golf with a shorter season than the Irish southwest. The prime window runs from late spring through early autumn, with May, June and September offering the best mix of weather, daylight and value. Marquee tee times at St Patrick's go early for summer dates, so book the headline rounds well ahead.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. County Donegal package shapes and indicative details compiled June 2026 from resort and club sources; rankings per GOLF Magazine Top 100 in the World 2025 to 2026; prices and dates are indicative for the 2026 season and change with availability. Always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.