A links golf course, which is featured mainly in Scotland, Ireland, and England, will test a golfer’s patience and skill.
Links courses make golf a game that is played near the ground rather than airborne. It differs a great deal from modern golf, and there, in a big way, lies the game’s appeal.
The traditional links golf course is far different than American versions with their sprawling greens barricaded by forests of trees – shields that serve as barriers against wayward breezes and unexpected rains.
One of the Best Players of Links Style Golf
One of the best links players known today is Tom Watson. Watson admits that playing links golf was surprisingly challenging when he first visited a Scotland course in 1975. He added, in 2015, that links golf was an “uncertain game.”
He said that a player never knew just what was going to happen. “You just don’t know where the ball [will go] . . . until it stops rolling.” He said, playing on a links course was “always a struggle.”
Needless to say, playing with patience is both a virtue and prerequisite for a links player. A good shot can easily turn into a bad shot from 1 uncertain bounce – an event that is beyond even the most astute golfer’s control. How you respond to these kinds of shots will determine how you will recover and the type of score you shoot.
Still, the links course is classified as the most famous golf course design in the world. The term, “links,” comes from the Old English translation, “hlinc,” which means a ridge or piece of ground located in a sandy spot along the shore.
While some golf courses claim to be links courses or state that they offer links-style play, a true links course is usually found in Scotland, England, or Ireland.
The course, which is situated along the coast, always has sand beneath its surface. Links golf was founded in these places, as the land was ideal for playing golf, but not good for farming or other types of developments.
True Links Courses in the UK and US
Some of the true links courses include –
- The Old Course at St Andrews, in Scotland
- Royal Troon (Scotland)
- Bandon Dunes Golf Resort courses in Oregon (duplicating typical Scottish links)
- Lahinch Golf Course (County Clare, Ireland)
Many golfers who picture links play think of a golf course that can be played next to the ground – featuring lots of dunes, an undulating landscape, and no trees.
Links courses also feature pot bunkers with a steep face, as compared to a normal bunker with a slight incline. They are right in making this assessment, as they often play against the wind, sleet or rain.
The lack of trees and near-waterfront location makes the wind and general weather conditions major factors when playing on a links designed course.
Golf architects are now honing their skills to replicate links features on land that is not considered the right type for links golf play.
For example, an architect may build a course featuring wide open spaces, with less trees, while, at the same time, giving the ground an undulating design – one that invites a windswept appeal.
While these courses really are not true links courses, they are fun and interesting to navigate, and provide a good intro to links play.
The Parkland Golf Design
By comparison, a parkland course design is built away from a seafront location, and frequently features lush green lawns and plenty of trees.
If you watch PGA tournaments, you have viewed the terrains of plenty of parkland golf courses. As you might guess, these courses look like you are in a park – thus, the name “parkland.”
Unlike links courses, the soil and grass for a parkland course can be more difficult to maintain. That is because the sand beneath the links courses captures rain water and provides good drainage when the precipitation is heavy.
A lot more goes into a parkland design to make the course intriguing to play. The most famous parkland course is the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
Whether you play links golf or hone your golf skills on a parkland course, you will always be met with a challenge.
However, if you want to play on a traditional course that will really test your skills, playing on a true links course will provide you with a memorable and exciting golfing experience and holiday.
How Links Courses are Different
If you have never played on a links course before, plan your next vacation and enjoy golf play on a true links course. The main differences between parkland play and links play is revealed by the descriptions of links courses below:
- Links courses use the natural lay of the land and are more natural in their design than their parkland counterparts.
- Sand dunes on links courses shape the holes as well as downhill, uphill, and sidehill terrains – used for testing approaches and putts. Parkland courses offer more artificial features in their course designs.
- Links courses always drain well because of their sandy foundations.
- When playing a seaside links course, expect firm greens as well as fast-running fairways, plus less protection from the wind and rain.
- Because a links course has a fast and firm ground and experiences wind conditions more often, you need to hit the ball low or under the wind, or play pitch-and-run shots over the course’s green. Good ball-striking will prevent the ball from being impacted as much by the breezy conditions involved in links golf play.
Wherever you choose to play links golf, it will be a golfing experience unlike any golf play you have experienced so far. If you want to level up your golf game, playing on a links course is one way to experience golf in a whole new way.
Photo by Tom Piotrowski from Pexels
