In modern terms, a "links course" is more broadly defined as:
- A golf course built on sandy soil that is buffeted by the wind.
- Has few, if any, trees, but has a tall, thick rough of native grasses.
- Features many bunkers, with many of them deep (including pot bunkers) to prevent sand from blowing away.
Are links courses the best form of golf?
Mar 18, 2021 · 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 are the benefits of living on a golf course?
In modern terms, a "links course" is more broadly defined as: A golf course built on sandy soil that is buffeted by the wind. Has few, if any, trees, but has a tall, thick rough of native grasses. Features many bunkers, with many of them deep (including …
Who is best at Links golf?
Jul 31, 2013 · 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.
What is the difference between links golf a normal golf?
Jun 23, 2016 · What exactly is a Links Golf Course? The Oxford Dictionary: Defines a Links Golf Course as “A golf course, especially on grass-covered sandy ground near the sea”; ‘A couple of days’ golf on a sunny Spanish links’ “. A rather bizarre example given Spain is rarely held up as a haven of Links golf courses! The British Golf Museum
What is the difference between a regular 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.Feb 11, 2020
What makes a golf course a links?
Links golf courses are situated along coastal regions. A links golf course is the oldest style of course. The word “links” is derived from ancient Scotland and refers to an area along a coast that often includes sand dunes and few, if any, trees.
What Makes A Links Course Different From Other Golfing Challenges?
You’ll need to challenge yourself to 18 holes around a links golf course before you can call yourself a proper golfer. But what exactly are links golf courses?
The Key Elements Of A Links Course
Despite all courses being commonly referred to as ‘links’, very few truly live up to the name. In order to be a true links course, the area in question must have each of the following eight elements to qualify:
What Makes Them So Different From Other Golf Courses?
With all of these elements in place, the difference between links courses and regular parkland courses are plain to see. The humps and hollows found on true links courses are generally flattened out on parkland courses, so an undeserved bounce into the rough off of the tee is fair more unlikely when playing away from the links.
Famous UK And Ireland Links Courses
There are dozens of links golf courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland, but there are one or two venues that are so famous even non-golfers will be aware of them.
Playing A Round
However, for the average handicapper to get involved themselves, there is no better way to take on the true links experience than to book a few days off work and set off to Scotland – the home of golf. Playing on the same piece of land that made Old Tom Morris famous will delight any golfer and leave them with memories that will last a lifetime.
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 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 is the home of golf?
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 ...
What is a golf course built on?
A golf course built on sandy soil that is buffeted by the wind. Has few, if any, trees, but has a tall, thick rough of native grasses. Features many bunkers, with many of them deep (including pot bunkers) to prevent sand from blowing away. Plays firm and fast with sometimes crusty fairways and greens that feature many knolls ...
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. "Links" and "links course" are terms that refer to a specific style of golf course whose hallmarks include being built on sandy soil along a coastline.
What is links golf?
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.
What is a link course?
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.” These courses are also typically much windier than a normal style course due to the lack of trees that would normally provide some deflection.
Where did golf originate?
It is believed that the game of golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century and the first courses were developed on stretches of land known as links. Most farmers claimed that these coastal lands were useless for agriculture because of their sandy soil.
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.
Is Scotland a link golf course?
There are plenty of beautiful, historic links courses still open for play in Scotland, including the famous St . Andrews, a course that is widely known as the home of golf. You’ll find many links courses in Ireland, Wales and England, but it is believed that Scotland has the most concentration of courses of this specific type.
Where is Whistling Straits Golf Course?
One of the few links style courses in the United States, Whistling Straits is located in Wisconsin and opened in 1998. There are two courses located here but the Straits Course is the more famous link course. It has hosted the PGA Championship 3 times and is set to host the Ryder Cup in 2020 or 2021. This is not a true links course but the goal was to replicate seaside courses found in Ireland and the UK. It runs along Lake Michigan and contains deep pot-bunkers, few trees and drastic wind conditions.
What is the oldest golf course in the world?
The most famous and well known links course has to be the Old Course at St. Andrews. It is the oldest course in the world (established in 1552) and most consider it the “Home of Golf”. It has hosted the Open Championship (or British Open) 29 times dating all the way back to 1873. The best part of St. Andrews is that it is a public course so we all can all hope to have an opportunity to play this legendary course one day.
Where is Royal Birkdale Golf Course?
Established in 1889, Royal Birkdale is located in Southport Engalnd and has hosted the Open 10 times so far. It has a very distinctive art deco clubhouse that you won’t find on any other links course around the world.
What is a link golf course?
Defines a Links Golf Course as “A golf course, especially on grass-covered sandy ground near the sea”; ‘A couple of days’ golf on a sunny Spanish links’ “ . A rather bizarre example given Spain is rarely held up as a haven of Links golf courses!
What is the oldest form of golf course?
The work “Links” comes via the Scots language from the old English word ‘ hlinc’ meaning rising ground, ridge and refers to a coastal sand dunes, an undulating surface, and a sandy soil unsuitable for arable farming.
What is a links 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.
Where are links golf courses located?
Links golf courses are situated along coastal regions. A links golf course is the oldest style of course. The word “links” is derived from ancient Scotland and refers to an area along a coast that often includes sand dunes and few, if any, trees. One reason the game originated on this type of land was because it suited play.
Which country has the most links golf courses?
Andrews. Ireland, Wales and England also have true links courses, but Scotland is believed to have the most.
What are the most famous links courses in the world?
St. Andrews, Royal Troon, and Royal Dornach are considered three of Scotland's most famous and most traditional links courses. In Ireland, there are also traditional links, including Waterville, Ballybunion and Lahinch. The United States also has several famous links courses. One of them is the highly ranked Pebble Beach. Sinnecock Hills in New York and Bandon Dunes in Oregon are also traditional links.
When did golf courses start?
Links History. In Scotland, where golf is believed to have originated in the 15th century, the first courses were developed on stretches of land known as links. Farmers deemed these coastal lands useless because of the sandy soil, so golf course designers began to make use of them. There are a number of true links courses still open ...
What is links golf?
Links golf is the original golf course style, presenting many challenges different to those found on Parkland courses. Here in the UK, we are spoilt for choice with some of the best Links courses in the world.
What are the factors that affect golf?
If you’re not used to Links golf, keep in mind the main factors: 1 Quick, firm, uneven fairways, and greens. 2 High chance of strong offshore winds. 3 Uneven footing. 4 Approach shots.
Where was golf invented?
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, as you'd expect in the Middle Ages.
What is a parkland course?
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 and have wide-open vistas to simulate links land.
What Makes A Links Course Different from Other Golfing Challenges?
The Key Elements of A Links Course
- Despite all courses being commonly referred to as ‘links’, very few truly live up to the name. In order to be a true links course, the area in question must have each of the following eight elements to qualify: 1. Few, if any, trees lining the fairways 2. The course should run alongside a body of water (commonly coastal) 3. Soil underfoot should be sandy, which allows for maximu…
What Makes Them So Different from Other Golf Courses?
- With all of these elements in place, the difference between links courses and regular parkland courses are plain to see. The humps and hollows found on true links courses are generally flattened out on parkland courses, so an undeserved bounce into the rough off of the tee is fair more unlikely when playing away from the links. The lack of water is a boon to many who are pr…
Famous UK and Ireland Links Courses
- There are dozens of links golf courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland, but there are one or two venues that are so famous even non-golfers will be aware of them. Places such as Royal Troon, St Andrew’s, Tralee, Royal Lytham St Annes, Portrush, Muirfield and Turnberry are all synonymous with the game and hold a place close to any golfers heart thanks largely to the won…
Playing A Round
- However, for the average handicapperto get involved themselves, there is no better way to take on the true links experience than to book a few days off work and set off to Scotland – the home of golf. Playing on the same piece of land that made Old Tom Morris famous will delight any golfer and leave them with memories that will last a lifetime. Scottish golf toursare the best way to get …
What Makes It A Links Course?
Playing Strategies For Links Courses
- As you can see these courses are extremely challenging and allows you to use as much creativity as you can think of to get the ball up and down for par. Most PGA Tour players have a total different play style or game plan when playing on links courses in Europe as opposed to when they play regular courses in North America. Some strategies that can help you conquer a links c…
Famous Links Golf Courses
- The Old Course at St. Andrews
The most famous and well known links course has to be the Old Course at St. Andrews. It is the oldest course in the world (established in 1552) and most consider it the “Home of Golf”. It has hosted the Open Championship (or British Open) 29 times dating all the way back to 1873. The b… - Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Established in 1889, Royal Birkdale is located in Southport Engalnd and has hosted the Open 10 times so far. It has a very distinctive art deco clubhouse that you won’t find on any other links course around the world.