Course Details
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Roscrea Golf Club |
| Year Established | 1892 |
| Course Architect | Dr Arthur Spring |
| Date Played | 15 May 2026 |
| Course Type | Traditional Parkland |
| Location | Derryvale, Roscrea, County Tipperary |
| Head Professional | Bobby King |
| Practice Facilities | Single practice net, chipping area and putting green |
| Green Fee Paid | €35 |
| Championship Back Tee | White: Par 71, 6,411 yards, 5,862 metres |
| Championship Rating and Slope | Course Rating 71.1, Slope Rating 123 |
| Standard Club Medal Tee | Green: Par 71, 6,117 yards, 5,593 metres |
| Standard Rating and Slope | Course Rating 69.7, Slope Rating 121 |
| Women Red Tee | Red: Par 72, 5,451 yards, 4,985 metres |
| Women Rating and Slope | Course Rating 71.5, Slope Rating 124 |
| Signature Hole | Hole 4, water laden par 3 |
| Condition | Flawless greens, but poor tee boxes |
Snapshot
The 15th of May turned out to be an ideal day to venture into County Tipperary for a round at Roscrea Golf Club.
I was originally scheduled to tee off at 10 in the morning, but, as is often the case when I am eager to play, I arrived quite early. Nestled quietly in Derryvale, with scenic views towards the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Roscrea holds a special place in Irish golf history as the oldest golf club in Tipperary, having been founded all the way back in 1892.
Walking up to the course in the fresh morning air, you can immediately feel that deep sense of heritage. It originally started life as a modest nine hole layout and remained that way for nearly a century, until Dr Arthur Spring was commissioned to remodel and extend the course to a full eighteen holes in time for the club’s centenary celebrations in 1992.
The setting is beautifully mature, with gentle rolling terrain providing a scenic backdrop for a relaxed day of golf.
The Pro Shop and First Impressions
My first impressions of Roscrea were defined by a wonderfully old school, unpretentious charm, though things started in a slightly unconventional manner.
When I arrived early, there was no active pro shop to walk into. Instead, I was directed towards the clubhouse bar to pay my green fee, but the barman had not yet arrived for his morning shift.
Just as I was wondering whether I would have to delay my start, a friendly local club member stepped in. He told me there was absolutely no problem at all and that I should just head out onto the course and settle up after the round.
We duly followed his advice and paid our fees later in the afternoon.
It was a relaxed, trusting, and very traditional sort of welcome. No fuss. No drama. Just a local member making sure visiting golfers could get out and enjoy the course.
Facilities and Warm Up
Before heading to the opening tee, I took a look around the practice facilities to get a quick warm up session in.
Roscrea does not have a driving range, but it provides the bare essentials for players looking to loosen the shoulders before a round. The warm up area is compact, consisting of a single practice net and a modest chipping and putting green.
While you will not be working through the entire bag or sending full driver swings into the distance, the practice green gives you an immediate and necessary introduction to the speed of the putting surfaces.
It was a brief and quiet warm up, but given the peaceful atmosphere of the club early in the morning, it was a pleasant way to prepare without the noise and rush you often find at larger commercial venues.
Course Condition and Layout
Once out on the course, the layout quickly revealed itself to be a formidable parkland test. It honestly felt quite long throughout the day.
Dr Arthur Spring did a fine job of using the natural rolling terrain to create a course that requires thought, patience, and strategy. A common theme across the round is the number of narrow par 4 holes where finding the fairway with your tee shot is essential.
If you spray your drive into the mature tree lines, you are immediately blocked out and forced to play a recovery shot rather than attacking the green.
The course plays to a par of 71 and features a strong balance of holes, including five par 3s. That is slightly unusual, but it works well here, keeping the routing fresh and varied as you move through the front and back nines.
The absolute jewel in Roscrea’s crown is, without question, the condition of the greens.
They were tip top on our visit and can only be described as fast, pure, and flawless. The greenkeeping staff deserve enormous credit, because these putting surfaces rolled beautifully with a true and consistent speed that would put many higher priced courses to shame.
However, they are far from easy.
There is plenty of undulation built into these greens, meaning that if you leave yourself on the wrong side of the flag, you are faced with some incredibly slippery breaking putts. They require total concentration and a delicate touch.
Signature Hole
The signature hole at Roscrea is the beautiful and nerve wracking 4th hole.
This is a memorable par 3 measuring roughly 150 yards from the back white tees, and it introduces the first major water hazard on the card.
The shot requires a confident, precise medium iron over a water feature that guards the front and left sides of the green complex. When the wind picks up across the rolling Tipperary fields, this short hole can quickly turn into a card wrecker.
The green itself shares the same flawless and undulating qualities as the rest of the course, making par here a fantastic result. It is a hole that settles you into the round, or unsettles you completely, depending on how well you strike the tee shot.
It also showcases Arthur Spring’s ability to blend natural water features with testing green complexes.
The Scorecard
The scorecard at Roscrea shows a total championship distance of 5,862 metres from the white tees, which may not sound overwhelming on paper. Out on the course, though, it plays significantly longer.
The rolling topography adds extra bite, especially on the longer par 4s. Alongside the excellent collection of five par 3s, the card includes several demanding holes that test both accuracy and endurance.
The 13th hole, for example, is a lengthy 403 yard par 4 and plays as index 1. It features a tight left dogleg fairway, demanding a long and accurate drive just to give yourself a realistic view of the green for your second shot.
It is a true test of length and nerve, and it anchors a very challenging stretch on the back nine.
The Not So Good Bits
Unfortunately, the day was not entirely perfect.
Some of the tee boxes were simply in poor shape. In fact, a few could hardly be described as proper tee boxes at all. Many were uneven, heavily worn, and lacking grass, which made finding a flat and stable stance a real struggle throughout the round.
This stood out as a frustrating contrast to the pristine condition of the greens.
It did not ruin the day, but it was noticeable. With putting surfaces that good, the weak tee boxes felt even more out of place.
Final Verdict
At a green fee of just €35, Roscrea Golf Club represents outstanding value for money and offers an authentic slice of Irish golfing history.
It is a proper traditional parkland course that rewards precision over brute force. The narrow fairways ask for discipline, while the complex greens test your touch and patience from start to finish.
The experience of arriving early and being told to head out and pay the barman after the round added a lovely layer of old school hospitality to the day. It felt relaxed, genuine, and very much in keeping with the character of the club.
Despite the poor state of some tee boxes, the exceptional quality and speed of the undulating greens make this Tipperary gem an absolute joy to play.
Roscrea is an honest, challenging, and highly enjoyable golf course. For €35, it is very easy to recommend.
