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?
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...
Why are golf courses called Golf 'Links'?
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”.
How is links course different from other golf courses?
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.
Why is golf course called links?
Sep 21, 2003 · "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. 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.
What is considered a links style golf course?
What makes a course a links course?
What is the difference between a links golf course and a normal one?
Are links golf courses harder?
How do you play links golf course?
Why do they call it links golf?
What makes a true links golf course?
What is the opposite of a links golf course?
Unlike links courses, which are, by definition, found in coastal areas, parkland courses are often far from the shore. Most golf courses in the United States are parkland courses.Apr 3, 2018
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 ...
Where is the home of links golf?
The home of links golf is Scotland. The links golf courses in Scotland are the earliest recollection of golf and those courses were similar to links golf courses today. The Old Course at St Andrew’s is where the modern game started in 1764. The country of Scotland is where golf originated, and it has a ton of history with the game ...
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.
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.
Who is Nick Lomas?
Nick Lomas. Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world.
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."
Where did links originate?
A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. 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.
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 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 was the 2004 PGA Championship 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, ...
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.
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.
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 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 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 ...
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 ...
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?
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.
What are links courses?
By definition, links courses are designed around the natural hazards of a coastal landscape. While the sand bunkers of desert and parkland courses are added during the excavation, sand dunes and bunkers exist naturally on a links course. Though some trees may exist on a links course, they're rarely added if they weren't already there. Another hazard associated with links courses is high winds, a product of both being on the coast and the lack of wind breaks. Not to be forgotten, the ocean is an impressive hazard as well.
Is it rare to walk between the green and the next tee box?
In addition to the many other qualities that make links courses attractive, short distances between the green and the next tee box is another. Since the geography of a links course runs in a straight line along a coast, long walks between the last hole and the next tee box are rare. In fact, sometimes the walk around a hazard -- an inland cove, for example -- is considerably longer than the green-to-tee distance.
What is a links golf course?
Today, a links golf course is more broadly defined as a golf course with a natural and open lay-out, lying on sandy soil that is heavily affected by the wind. It has few to no trees, but with thick rough grasses.
Where did the term "links" come from?
Why the history lesson you ask? Well you may have noticed from above that the game of golf originated on the coast of Scotland – this in turn brought the term links. The word itself has actually evolved from the Old English word ‘ hlinc ‘ – meaning ridge or rising ground. This described the type of hilly land found in the coastal regions of the UK. This land is usually pretty rugged, sandy under foot, remarkably undulating and extremely windy. These conditions result in a scarcity of tree growth and tall, thick, rough native grasses that define the land. These qualities also define a links golf course.
Where did golf originate?
Golf allegedly originated somewhere on the eastern coast of Scotland. Now let’s go all the way back to the beginning of the sport to fully understand the meaning. It is believed that the game of golf originated somewhere on the eastern coast of Scotland.
Where is the oldest golf course in the world?
The Old Course at St Andrews Links in Fife, Scotland, is the oldest and most iconic golf course in the world. Evidence that people played on this golf links can be traced back to the year 1552.
Where is Royal St George's Golf Club?
The Royal St George’s Golf Club is located in the quaint English seaside town of Sandwich in Kent. The club has a distinguished golfing history and is proud to have hosted amateur and professional tournaments since the 1880’s.
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.
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.
Where are links golf courses located?
True links courses are mostly found in Scotland, Ireland and England. The course must be along the coast with sandy soil underneath. Links golf is where the game was founded as this sandy soil was perfect for the game and not great for much anything else.
What is the name of the golf course that is located along the coast?
Links course. 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.
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.
Where is the Sandbelt Course?
Sandbelt course. The sandbelt region in Australia is home to some of the most cherished courses in the world, though they can get lost in the shuffle due to their location. The sandbelt region is just outside of Melbourne, Australia and is home to several of the world’s finest courses.
What is a champion golf course?
But you could also define a “championship course” as a course that has hosted big tournaments, which cuts down the list dramatically. The 17th at TPC Sawgrass provides one of the best theaters in all of golf.
What is golf lite?
Short courses and par-3 courses can be looked at as “golf lite.” These courses are often extremely fun to play and friendly for beginners, kids or golfers of advancing age.
Where is the Sandbelt?
The sandbelt region is just outside of Melbourne, Australia and is home to several of the world’s finest courses.
Overview
A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. Links courses are generally built on sandy coastland that offers a firmer playing surface than parkland and heathland courses.
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 sometim…
Geographic location and course management
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 …
Determining factors
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. The presence of a seaside location does not guarantee a links golf course. Many famous courses regarded as links do not, as presently constituted, have all of the necessary characteristics (e.g., Pebble Beach Golf L…
Notable courses
Links courses remain most common in Ireland and Great Britain, especially in Scotland. The Open Championship is always played on links courses, and this is one of the main features which differentiates it from the three major championships held in the United States. 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 …
Playing style
The unique nature of links courses necessitates a distinct style of play. The challenges links traits present fall into two categories: topography, which tends to be characterised by uneven fairways, thick rough, and small, deep "pot bunkers"; and climatic, dominated by windy conditions created by their coastal location and lack of trees, and frequent intermittent rain squalls.
Links topography favours a controlled style of golf, as hazards abound. Low and even bouncing …