what are the types of golf course

by Jeramy Fritsch 4 min read

Here are the 6 different types of golf courses, explained

  • Links course. First up is the most famous type of golf course, the links course. ...
  • Parkland course. Parkland courses are built inland, away from the ocean. ...
  • Heathland course. ...
  • Sandbelt course. ...
  • Stadium/Championship course. ...
  • Par-3 course. ...

There are three main types of golf courses found around the world. Links, parkland and desert golf courses are commonly found, but each is very different.

Full Answer

What are the different styles of golf courses?

May 31, 2020 · Here are the 6 different types of golf courses, explained Links course. First up is the most famous type of golf course, the links course. The term derives from the Old English... Parkland course. Parkland courses are built inland, away from the ocean. These courses often feature lots of trees ...

What are the best golf courses in the US?

What are the characteristics of a good golf course?

What are some examples for golf courses?

What are the 5 different areas of a golf course?

To play with the right club, you have to have a better understanding of the hole you are playing, especially its parts. Each hole in a course has 5 major parts namely Tee, Fairway, Green, Rough and Hazards. Understanding these parts allow you to plan your shots right.Aug 31, 2019

What is the most common type of golf course?

Types Of Golf Course GrassesBermuda Grass. Bermuda grass is the most popular type of grass used on a golf course. ... Bentgrass. If you are living in a state where the temperatures tend to get a bit colder during the year, chances are you are playing on a lot of Bentgrass. ... Fescue Grass. ... Ryegrass. ... Zoysia. ... Poa Annua Grass.

What are the four course types in golf?

Here are a few types of courses you should add to your golf bucket list to play in the future.Links Courses. Many golf courses claim to be a links course in their name or title, as it sounds trendy, and most people have heard the term. ... Desert Courses. ... Championship Courses. ... Parkland Courses. ... Par 3 Courses.

What are 3 parts of a golf course?

Of the three basic components of a golf club, — grip, shaft and clubhead — the clubhead is what changes most noticeably from club type to club type, and within each club type, as well.May 12, 2014

Why is golf called links?

First up is the most famous type of golf course, the links course. The term derives from the Old English word hlinc meaning rising ground or ridge and refers to sandy area along coast.May 31, 2020

What's the difference between links golf and regular golf?

The difference between a links golf course and a regular course is that the golfer is forced to work with the natural elements of the course. The links course is not manufactured and maintains the original lay of the land. This emulates how it was in the earliest days of the game.Feb 11, 2020

What is a par 72 golf course?

A typical golf course has 18 holes. So, if you add up all 18 par numbers, you could get around par 69 to 74 total. A regulation golf course has a par of 72 which is equivalent to four (4) par-3, ten (10) par-4 and four (4) par-5.

How many par-5 holes does a golf course have?

There are usually from two to six par-5 holes on a full-sized 18-hole golf course, with four (two on the front nine, two on the back nine) being the most common number of par 5s.May 24, 2019

What is double fairways continuous?

Double Fairway Continuous. The double fairway continuous 18-hole course uses approximately 150 acres, offers 25,000 feet of lot frontage, and requires a minimum width of 500 feet between developed areas. It uses one-sixth less land a single fairway course. The double fairways mean the layout is less flexible.

What is the golden rule of golf?

Play the ball as it lies. Don't move, bend, or break anything growing or fixed, except in fairly taking your stance or swing. Don't press anything down. You may lift natural objects not fixed or growing, except in a water hazard or bunker.Nov 27, 2011

What is the difference between a 4 and 7 iron golf?

A 7-wood is easier to hit off the deck. The club promotes a higher launch which also enables you to stop the ball quickly on the green. Even if you don't connect it, you will still get your ball airborne and carrying consistently. The 4 iron on the hand is more consistent, accurate and workable for better players.

What is a par 3?

Par 3 holes are the shortest and give players three shots to make par. Par 3 holes are exciting to play as you can easily reach the green from the tee box. The excitement that par 3 golf courses provide have led to the creation of golf courses that consist of only par 3 holes. These courses are known as par 3 courses.

1. Links Course

One of the most common golf course types is a links course. But, if you find yourself asking “what is a links golf course?”, you’re hardly alone. A links golf course is one of the oldest styles you’ll find. These originated in England and Scotland, where the game was first played.

2. Heathland Course

Heathland golf course aren’t all that different from links courses. These are also most common in Europe. For the most part, they embody a lot of the same characteristics such as sandy soil and bunkers that won’t quit. Again, a lot of what defines these types of courses is where they lay on a map.

3. Parkland Course

Parkland golf courses are what most Americans usually play. This type of course carves its way through a natural landscape and is surrounded with trees, which serve as the biggest hazard. Parkland courses use what is available to them. If the area is hilly, you have a hilly course.

4. Desert Course

Desert golf courses are, you guessed it, found in the desert. This doesn’t mean they are all sand, but that the land surrounding it is. Depending on the course, the desert terrain can be 5 yards or 50 from your intended tee-to-green path.

5. Championship Course

A championship golf course comes less from design features and more of what the course is all about. While it’s not easy to define, a championship golf course is almost something you know when you see it—or someone tells you about it.

6. Par-3 Course

When a course has only par-3 holes, it is a par-3 course. These courses can also be referred to as pitch and putt courses. Most golf course types have names that aren’t as descriptive. A par-3 course is all par-3’s (with the rare exception).

7. Executive Course

Want to play a shorter course with some hole variety? Then you want to play an executive golf course. An executive course is like a par-3 course in that many of the holes are par-3’s, but this option lets you take the driver out of your bag a couple times. Additionally, an executive course with 18 holes is also fairly common.

What is municipal golf course?

A municipal course is a course that is run by the county or the city so that the town’s residents have a place to go play. These types of golf courses are open to local residents and out-of-towners alike.

How many holes are there in a 9 hole golf course?

A 9-hole course is just what it sounds like, a course with nine holes, most of them being par four holes. It also features a few pars three and par-five holes, but not as many, and is nine holes, so it is shorter in length.

Why are parkland courses called parkland courses?

They are fast greens that are mostly located in inland regions. They are named parkland courses because the setting is so park-like. These are the types of courses that most PGA tour courses are played on and a good example of the type of golf course you can expect if you choose to play on a parkland course.

What is resort access golf?

Our second type of access golf course is the resort course. This type of golf course is just what it sounds like, a course that is on the property of a resort. These are usually open to the public, but the best tee times and greens are reserved for guests of the resort. While these are technically public courses, many times, the resort will make staying at the resort’s hotel a requirement in order to use their greens.

Is golf course grass good?

While golf courses are designed for having a good game, sports, and competition, if you have ever looked around at the course you’re playing on, you will notice that it is very well manicured. There are quite a few types of grass that are perfect for the landscape of a golf course.

What is an executive golf course?

An executive course is one where the course will always be shorter but will feature 9 to 18 holes. It will include more par three holes, than par four and par 5. The purpose of an executive course is to be able to finish the course in less time, which makes it perfect for a short game on a busy day.

What is a par 3 golf course?

Par 3 courses are designed where all of the holes on the course are par three holes. This type, of course, will be shorter than an executive course and will be even faster to play.

What are the characteristics of a golf course?

Apart from the obvious temperature issues, characteristics of these golf course types include: 1 Snow blindness and movement constrictions due to thermal clothing. 2 Rough surfaces due to a layer of snow lying over the course – graphite clubs are discouraged as they may shatter! 3 The danger of seal dens and crevasses.

What is a link golf course?

Built on sandy soil between the coast and farmlands of Scotland, links are the most popular types of golf courses. They’re mostly known for their large, slow greens and fast fairways. Its wide use has rendered the links course to be recognised as any course that is relatively treeless, or as a synonym for ‘golf course’.

What is desert golf?

(Copyright Brocreative/shutterstock.com) Popular in parts of the USA and the Middle East , desert golf courses are as they sound: built in the desert. Greenery from this range of golf courses is sometimes the only green seen for miles, and they require heavy irrigation as a result of their location.

What is a championship golf course?

Many regulation golf courses are known as championship courses, even if they may never host an official championship. These courses have excellent playing surfaces, and they are often par-72 courses. However, this is not an official standard, and championship courses are sometimes par 70 or 71.

How many holes are there in an executive golf course?

The course leans toward par-3 holes with just a few par-4 or par-5 holes thrown in. An executive course can have 9 or 18 holes.

What is landscape golf?

Landscape Style. Golf course architecture is an art form. Many courses incorporate elements of the natural setting into their designs. How the architect uses or reshapes the natural terrain determines the landscape category of the course. Most American courses fall into one of three main types.

Where did golf originate?

Golf originated in Scotland, and links golf, too, has its roots in Scotland. Links courses are built on narrow sections of sandy land between coast and farmland. Links courses work with the natural landscape of these strips of lands along the Scottish and Irish coasts. They incorporate the land's slopes and turns, ...

What is a parkland course?

A manicured golf course with careful landscaping and an abundance of green grass and trees is usually known as a parkland course. The land is more tailored, so fairways are typically smooth. Unlike links courses, which are, by definition, found in coastal areas, parkland courses are often far from the shore.

How often do you stop at a parkland golf course?

Casual golfers may prefer to stick with stopping in at the municipal parkland course once or twice a year. Those more committed to the game will appreciate what a challenging-yet-enjoyable, championship-level private golf club has to offer.

Do golf courses charge fees?

There is a fee to play at pretty much any golf course. However, some courses charge you each time you visit while others offer the opportunity to pay upfront for continual access to the facilities.

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Links Course

  • One of the most common golf course types is a links course. But, if you find yourself asking “what is a links golf course?”, you’re hardly alone. A links golf course is one of the oldest styles you’ll find. These originated in England and Scotland, where the game was first played. Considering golf has been around since the 15th Century, some might consider the design ancient. Yet, links golf …
See more on golfandcourse.com

Heathland Course

  • Heathland golf course aren’t all that different from links courses. These are also most common in Europe. For the most part, they embody a lot of the same characteristics such as sandy soil and bunkers that won’t quit. Again, a lot of what defines these types of courses is where they lay on a map. Heathland golf courses are inland, away from the sea. One of the biggest differences this …
See more on golfandcourse.com

Parkland Course

  • Parkland golf courses are what most Americans usually play. This type of course carves its way through a natural landscape and is surrounded with trees, which serve as the biggest hazard. Parkland courses use what is available to them. If the area is hilly, you have a hilly course. If the land is flat, architects can get a bit more creative, but the course is still flat. While links and othe…
See more on golfandcourse.com

Desert Course

  • Desert golf courses are, you guessed it, found in the desert. This doesn’t mean they are all sand, but that the land surrounding it is. Depending on the course, the desert terrain can be 5 yards or 50 from your intended tee-to-green path. If you’re playing a desert course, goal number one is to have fun. Just kidding, it’s to stay on the grass and off the sand. Keep yourself on the grass and …
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Championship Course

  • A championship golf course comes less from design features and more of what the course is all about. While it’s not easy to define, a championship golf course is almost something you know when you see it—or someone tells you about it. Championship golf courses have a variety of definitions. To help with your understanding of the basic types of golf courses, we’ll walk you thr…
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Par-3 Course

  • When a course has only par-3 holes, it is a par-3 course. These courses can also be referred to as pitch and putt courses. Most golf course types have names that aren’t as descriptive. A par-3 course is all par-3’s (with the rare exception). Pitch and putt courses are ones with holes so short pitch shots are all it takes to get around. If there is one distinction to make between the two, pitc…
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Executive Course

  • Want to play a shorter course with some hole variety? Then you want to play an executive golf course. An executive course is like a par-3 course in that many of the holes are par-3’s, but this option lets you take the driver out of your bag a couple times. Additionally, an executive course with 18 holes is also fairly common. When this type of course began popping up, it was through …
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What Are Most Pro Courses?

  • Nearly all professional golf tournaments are held at links or heartland courses. Besides being the oldest and most common types, these courses are tweaked to be a tougher test of player ability. With only the rarest of exceptions, any time you watch a pro tournament in Europe, it will be on a links course. Watch the players tee off in the United States and the ratio is a bit different. If it’s cl…
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Golf and The Occupied Environment

  • As you can see, types of golf courses are more than if it’s 9 or 18 holes. Much of what determines the type of course is the environment around it. Unlike sports with standard courts, fields, and tracks, golf has more freedom. Every time you step onto the first tee of a course, you get something different. Much like no two rounds are ever the same, no two courses are the same. F…
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Landscape Style

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Golf course architecture is an art form. Many courses incorporate elements of the natural setting into their designs. How the architect uses or reshapes the natural terrain determines the landscape category of the course. Most American courses fall into one of three main types.
See more on stgeorgesgolf.com

Length of Play

  • Unlike many sports, golf does not have a regulation field size. Differing hole lengths and challenges on each course mean that it takes less time to play some courses than others.
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Course Access

  • There is a fee to play at pretty much any golf course. However, some courses charge you each time you visit while others offer the opportunity to pay upfront for continual access to the facilities.
See more on stgeorgesgolf.com

Types of Golf Courses For You

  • Golfers are as varied as the different types of golf courses. Casual golfers may prefer to stick with stopping in at the municipal parkland course once or twice a year. Those more committed to the game will appreciate what a challenging-yet-enjoyable, championship-level private golf club has to offer.
See more on stgeorgesgolf.com