what is a links style golf course definition

Are links courses the best form of golf?

Whilst these golf courses might not tick every box to lay claim to being a true links golf course, the experience is very similar, expect a focus on shot-making, the ability to keep the ball low to the ground and utilising the natural contours of the land to try to find your way to the putting surface and the hole.

Why are golf courses called Golf 'Links'?

What Is a Links Golf Course?

• Links golf is, it's often said, "played on the ground" as opposed to being "played in the air," as with parkland-style golf courses. ...
• There are plenty of beautiful, historic links courses still open for play in Scotland, including the famous St. ...
• The difference between a parkland course and a links course is considerably greater than is commonly known. ...

How is links course different from other golf courses?

What Is a Links Golf Course?

• Links Golf Course Geography. The British Golf Museum says that "links" are coastal strips of land between the beaches and the inland agricultural areas.
• Hallmarks of True Links Courses. A true links course is not just any golf course that is treeless. ...
• See Links Courses. ...
• Source. ...

Why is golf course called links?

Popular Links Golf Courses

• Whistling Straits is a popular links golf course in the United States in Wisconsin. ...
• Another popular links golf course in the States is Pebble Beach Golf Links, which has hosted several major championships and major tournaments.
• In Europe, Ballybunion Golf Club Old Course and Turnberry Golf Club are some links golf courses that come to mind.

What is the difference between a golf course and a links?

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.

What is a link style golf course?

A links course is along the sea, consists of sandy soil and has little vegetation other than tall sea grasses and gorse, a hearty low-growing evergreen plant. The natural terrain is used to develop the golf holes. Many of the bunkers were once natural windswept dunes.

Why is it called a links golf course?

Links course The term derives from the Old English word hlinc meaning rising ground or ridge and refers to sandy area along coast. While many courses claim to be links, call themselves links-style, or have the word links in their name, the category is more specific than that.

Is Augusta a links course?

MacKenzie and Bobby Jones, both having studied the Old Course, created Augusta National on the links principle of giving players options.

Is Pebble Beach a true links course?

In fact, less than 1% of all the golf layouts in the world would be defined as “true links,” with just a handful in the U.S. Many of the most famous American golf destinations – including Pebble Beach, Whistling Straits and the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island – are links-style courses.

How do you play links style golf course?

To play links courses well you need to drive the ball low and straight, under the wind, with less spin so that it lands and runs down the fairways. You can do this by hitting the “knuckle ball” with your driver. This shot creates a low top spinning flight that releases and runs on landing.

What are the two types of golf courses?

Most American courses fall into one of three main types.Links Course. Golf originated in Scotland, and links golf, too, has its roots in Scotland. ... Parkland Course. ... Desert Course. ... Executive Course. ... Regulation Course. ... Municipal Course. ... Daily-fee Course. ... Semi-private Course.More items...•

Why do they call it hitting the links?

The word "links" comes via the Scots language from the Old English word hlinc: "rising ground, ridge" and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland; it is cognate with lynchet.

What is a link golf course?

What is a Links Golf Course? A links golf course is regarded today as a golf course that has few trees, a lot of wind, thick grasses or thick heather, and a lot of bunkers. They are built on sandy soil and in most cases are on a coastline of a body of water. The term “links” actually has Scots origins and means “rising ground” or “ridge”.

What does "links" mean in golf?

The term “links” actually has Scots origins and means “rising ground” or “ridge”. The reason for this is because links courses really do play true to the contour of the course and is not usually very flat. Some people might argue that links golf courses have fewer or more characteristics, but that seems to be the general consensus ...

Why Are Links Golf Courses Popular?

There are several reasons for links golf courses and why they are popular, but the main reason is because of the challenge and uniqueness of the course.

What is the best style of golf course to play?

Links golf courses are an important part of golf’s history and are the best style of golf courses to play in my opinion.

What are the different types of golf courses?

There are links, parkland, and desert golf courses and even executive courses. The type of golf course that I am going to talk about today is a links golf course.

Which is flatter, a golf fairway or a links fairway?

The fairways tend to be more forgiving and flatter when compared to the rolling fairways on a links golf course.

Where did golf originate?

The country of Scotland is where golf originated, and it has a ton of history with the game of golf and its traditions. Flash forward to today, and there are links golf courses all over in the United States and in Europe. The majority of links golf courses are usually on the coastline of major bodies of water.

What is a link course?

Links courses are buffeted by strong winds that require deep bunkers to prevent the sand from blowing away. They are also completely or largely treeless. There are other criteria that specifically define a links course. All the first golf courses in the sport's history were links courses in Scotland.

What is a true link golf course?

A true links course is not just any golf course that is treeless. The term "links" historically applies specifically to strips of land in seaside areas that feature sandy soil, dunes, and undulating topography, and where the land is not conducive to cultivated vegetation or trees.

What are the links in the British Open?

Photo galleries of courses in the British Open rota, all of them links, are instructive. The Old Course at St. Andrews is the "home of golf" and the most famous links. Others links golf courses in the Open rota featured in photo galleries include Royal St. George's, Royal Birkdale, and Royal Troon. Two more links that have been the sites of multiple British Opens are Turnberry and Muirfield. All of these are the type of golf course called links.

Why did golf courses have bunkers?

But such bunkers had to be deeply recessed to prevent sand from being blown away by the constant wind.

Why did the early links golf courses follow an out and back course?

Because they were built on narrow strips of land, early links courses often followed an "out and back" or "out and in" routing. The front nine went out from the clubhouse, one hole stringed after another until reaching the ninth green, which was the point on the golf course farthest from the clubhouse.

What is links land?

The British Golf Museum says that "links" are coastal strips of land between the beaches and the inland agricultural areas. This term, in its purest sense, applies specifically to seaside areas in Scotland. So "links land" is land where the seaside transitions into farmland.

What golf course is part of the British Open?

A view across the Carnoustie Links, one of the golf courses that make up the British Open rota.

What is a link golf course?

Links courses tend to be on, or at least very near to, a coast, and the term is typically associated with coastal courses, often amid dunes, with few water hazards and few, if any, trees. This reflects both the nature of the scenery where the sport originated and the limited resources available to golf course architects at that time. Soil movement, for example, had to be done by hand, and thus was kept to a minimum, as was irrigation. Even today, some links courses do not employ a greens staff, use only basic machinery such as hole cutters without boards, resulting in a hole that is cut unevenly, and use grazing animals to keep the grass cropped.

Where are links golf courses played?

The first exception to this was the 2004 PGA Championship, which was played on a links-style course, Whistling Straits, located near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The 2015 U.S. Open was played at Chambers Bay, a British links-style course in University Place, Washington. Royal Adelaide Golf Club is a links course in Adelaide, South Australia , and was partly designed by Alister MacKenzie where he stated, "One finds a most delightful combination of sand dunes and fir trees. I have never seen a seaside course possess such magnificent sand craters, as those at Royal Adelaide."

What is links land?

Links land is typically characterised by dunes, an undulating surface, and a sandy soil unsuitable for arable farming but which readily supports various indigenous browntop bent and red fescue grasses. Together, the soil and grasses result in the firm turf associated with links courses and the 'running' game.

Where is Royal Adelaide Golf Club?

Royal Adelaide Golf Club is a links course in Adelaide, South Australia, and was partly designed by Alister MacKenzie where he stated, "One finds a most delightful combination of sand dunes and fir trees. I have never seen a seaside course possess such magnificent sand craters, as those at Royal Adelaide.".

Where is the 18th hole in Kinsale?

The 18th hole at the Old Head Golf Links on the Old Head of Kinsale. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019) Although the term links is often used loosely to describe any golf course, few golf courses have all of the design elements of true links courses, including being built on linksland.

Where are the Whistling Straits?

On the other hand, some courses located hundreds of miles from a seacoast, such as Whistling Straits, near Kohler, Wisconsin, on the Great Lakes, can have all of the characteristics of a seaside links except for proximity to saltwater.

Where did the word "links" come from?

The word "links" comes via the Scots language from the Old English word hlinc: "rising ground, ridge" and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland.

What is a links golf course?

Firstly, a links style golf course is the oldest style of course you can play . The word “links” is derived from old Scotland and refers to an area along a coast that includes sand dunes or high fescue and very few, if any, trees. Back in that time course designers had limited resources for moving ground and shaping a course to their liking. Traditionally, most of this type of course are found near a coastline but not all links style courses have water nearby. Some golfers feel that a links course is easier and more unobstructed due to the lack of trees, however, the high dunes and grass are rarely forgiving and can swallow your ball easily.

What are the characteristics of a link course?

Links Characteristics. A true links course will usually run alongside a body of water and normally consists of sandy soil with very little vegetation other than tall sea grasses and fescue. The bunkers on a links course are usually deep and known as “pot bunkers.”.

What does "let's hit the links" mean?

The phrase “let’s hit the links” has become synonymous with golfing in general but have you ever heard someone say, “it’s a links course” and wondered what they exactly they were talking about? Spoiler alert…it has nothing to do with sausages.

What do pro golf instructors say about the game?

They will quite often say that the game is played “closer to the ground” and since the terrain on a links course is normally firm, players will use more bump-and-run type shots.

What are the advantages of a link green?

Greens on links courses tend to be free of front hazards, which allow golfers to bounce the ball onto the green rather than sticking the green and hoping for backspin.

What is a true links course?

A true links course will consist of an “outward” nine in one direction along the coastline, and an “inward” nine which returns in the opposite direction. The challenge here lies in a player’s ability to play one set of nine holes with one wind direction and the next nine with the opposite wind pattern.

Is it fun to play links golf?

Playing a links golf course can be very different than what most of us are used to but it can also be a fun way to gain a new perspective on your golf game. We encourage everyone to try playing a links golf course if ever presented with the opportunity.

What is a link course?

Links courses tend to be on, or at least very near to, a coast, and the term is typically associated with coastal courses. However, links conditions can be duplicated on suitable ground, even hundreds of miles or kilometers inland. One especially notable example of an inland links-style course is Sand Hills Golf Club, ...

Where did links golf originate?

A links golf course is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. The word comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes, and also sometimes to open parkland.

What are the challenges of links golf?

Firstly the nature of the courses themselves, which tend to be characterized by uneven fairways, thick rough and small deep bunkers known as “pot bunkers”. Secondly, due to their coastal location many links courses are frequently windy. This affects the style of play required, favoring players who are able to play low accurate shots. As many links courses consist literally of an “outward” nine in one direction along the coast, and an “inward” nine which returns in the opposite direction, players often have to cope with opposite wind patterns in each half of their round.

Where is Bruntsfield Links?

At Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh, Scotland, the course (a considerable distance from the coast) is still used for pitch and putt golf, and boasts a sign erected by the City Council which asserts that golf may have been invented there. The challenges of links golf fall into two categories.

Is the Open Championship played on links?

The Open Championship is always played on links courses, even though there are some celebrated courses in the United Kingdom which are not links, and this is one of the main things which differentiates it from the three major championships held in the United States.

What is links golf?

When most people think of links-style golf, they are picturing golf that can be played along the ground with lots of undulation, plenty of dunes and little to no trees. These courses also usually feature pot bunkers as opposed to the larger sprawling American-style bunkers.

Where are links courses found?

True links courses are mostly found in Scotland, Ireland and England. The course must be along the coast with sandy soil underneath.

Why are parkland courses called parkland courses?

They’re called parkland courses because they look and feel like you are playing golf in a park. It’s usually the case that parkland courses are well-manicured, and are full of man-made features like dug bunkers, ponds and built-up rough. Parkland courses are often built in places that don’t have ideal conditions for golf.

What golf courses are in Bandon Dunes?

Some of these courses include The Old Course at St. Andrews, Royal Troon, Lahinch, and several of the courses at Bandon Dunes golf resort. The 18th hole at the Old Course at St. Andrews. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

What is the best golf course in Britain?

The terrain is often undulating in a similar way to links and the sandy soil is similar as well. Many of the best courses in Britain are heathland courses, including Woking Golf Club, Sunningdale Golf Club, and Alwoodley Golf Club. Woking Golf Club in the UK. Woking Golf Club.

What is the most famous parkland course in the world?

Augusta National is among the most famous parkland courses in the world.

What is a beginner's guide to golf course design?

Welcome to A Beginner’s Guide to Golf Course Design, where we’ll dig into the history, design and meaning of golf course architecture terms you’ve probably heard before but might not fully understand. We’ll explain all of the above, and better yet, teach you how to identify these features and plan your attack for the next time you see one, saving you strokes along the way. In this installment, we’re breaking down the different types of golf courses.

Definition

A links golf course is a type of golf course that is built on or near a coastline and contains very limited plant life and trees. Links courses are most commonly found in Scotland and Ireland, where golf originated.

Wind

Since links courses typically do not have trees, wind becomes a greater factor when selecting what kind of shot to play. Links courses are often found near large bodies of water or areas where inclement weather can affect the outcome of a player's score.

Green and Fairway Undulations

While holes on a links course may seem much more wide open considering the lack of wooded areas, even the best tee and approach shots can provide unwanted lies in the fairway or green. This is due to the hilly nature of links courses, which feature major undulations in even the shortest of grass, presenting golfers with yet another challenge.

Rough

On a links course, another major factor in the difficulty of the course relies on the thickness of the first and second cuts of rough. Typically, links courses will have thicker grass in the first and second cuts when compared to other courses, and may even feature grass as tall as five feet.

Pot Bunkers

Links courses often contain deeper bunkers compared to traditional American courses. These bunkers are also called pot bunkers, and they add a different and difficult element to the golf course. Pot bunkers are more difficult to hit out of due to their increased height.

Why are golf courses called parkland?

When golf started, it was originally played in coastal areas called links land. It was the somewhat useless tracts of land between the beaches and the ocean and inland farming areas. After all, Scotland was an agrarian society, ...

Where was golf born?

But on that links land between the ocean and the farms of Scotland, golf was born. Most golf courses in the world are called parkland courses, meaning courses not built on the links land but rather on land consisting of fields with trees. Now, there are links-style courses that use parkland but remove trees, build up fake dunes ...

What did rabbits do in golf?

Rabbits made holes there. Early golfers, like shepherds, basically took sticks, maybe their staffs, and hit rocks into holes, seeing who could do it in the least number of strokes. Over time, as golf became more sophisticated, the equipment did, too.

Is a golf course a link?

However, strictly speaking, unless those courses were built on that space between beach and ocean and farm or parkland , it's not a links.

Overview

Geographic location and course management

Determining factors

Notable courses

Playing style