What does the term "links golf" mean?
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 does the word Link Mean in 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.
Why is golf course called links?
Sep 21, 2003 · 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.
Why are golf courses called Golf 'Links'?
‘Links Golf Course’ - meaning. A 'links golf course' refers to the type of soil and terrain on which it is built. Only 92 of the golf courses in Scotland (17%) are true links courses, though this includes most of the historic courses. Another 5% of Scottish courses are coastal with some properties of 'links' courses and moorland vegetation.
What is a link in golf terms?
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 is 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
How do you play links golf?
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.
Do links courses have bunkers?
The deeper and steeper they are, the harder they become. Huge amounts of turf are required to revet a full set of bunkers on a links course that can have more than 100 – some clubs have even bought neighbouring properties to feed the demand.Jun 5, 2018
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 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 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.”.
Why is it important to keep your ball flight low?
Putting from close off the green is also seen quite often on links-style golf courses and keeping your ball flight low helps to lessen the effects the usually violent coastal winds have on your ball flight.
Why were coastal lands useless for agriculture?
Most farmers claimed that these coastal lands were useless for agriculture because of their sandy soil. This is about the time when early era golf course designers began to make alternate use of the land.
Do all links golf courses have water?
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 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.
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 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 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 ...
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 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 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, ...
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.
Why was golf played in winter?
Because there were no mechanical grass cutters before the mid-nineteenth century , golf was predominantly played in winter when the grass was naturally short following animal grazing. The links area on the east coast was accessible to the golfers of the time and coincides with the area of minimal rainfall in Scotland.
What percentage of Scottish golf courses are coastal?
Another 5% of Scottish courses are coastal with some properties of 'links' courses and moorland vegetation. Apart from links courses, the other main types of Scottish golf courses are parkland (61%) and moorland (17%). The meaning of words changes over time.
What is a link golf course?
A 'links golf course' refers to the type of soil and terrain on which it is built. Only 92 of the golf courses in Scotland (17%) are true links courses, though this includes most of the historic courses. Another 5% of Scottish courses are coastal with some properties of 'links' courses and moorland vegetation.
Where did the word "links" come from?
Originally a 'links' was any rough grassy area between the sea and the land and the word itself is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word 'hlinc', of about 931 AD, meaning a ridge. Later the word was used to denote any common grassy area and today the term 'The Links' is commonly used to refer to any golf course. Montrose Links sand, grass and gorse as ...
Where is the grass in the rough?
Links land is common on the east coast of Scotland from Wick to Berwick, but it is also found in ...
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.
What are the characteristics of a links 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. The layout of the holes is also part ...
Why is golf played closer to the ground?
Generally, the game is played closer to the ground. Since the terrain on a links course is naturally firm , players employ more bump-and-run shots. Putting from close off the green is also encouraged. And keeping your ball flight low helps to lessen the effects the usually brisk coastal winds have on your ball flight.
Why did the game Links originate?
One reason the game originated on this type of land was because it suited play. Course designers had limited resources for moving earth to shape a course. Many modern links-style courses are not necessarily coastal and have been shaped to take on traditional links characteristics.
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.
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 ...
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.
When did Bobby Jones play St Andrews?
The first time he played St Andrews, in the 1921 Open Championship, the great Bobby Jones walked off in disgust after 11 holes. It wasn’t a popular move at the time, but Jones would later learn to love the links and the Old Course at St Andrews in particular.
Do you have to study the slopes to play golf?
You must study the slopes and consider how they might affect your shot, and you must avoid the cavernous pot-bunkers that pock mark most links courses, as well as the unforgiving gorse that bounds them. Above all though, you must simply enjoy the experience of playing golf as it was meant to be.
What golf courses are there in Augusta National?
Many resorts are beginning to put in short courses including Sand Valley (the Sandbox), Pinehurst (The Cradle) and Bandon Dunes (The Preserve).
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 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.
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 short courses so fun?
Short courses are great because they take up less land (which makes them cheaper and environmentally friendly), are quicker to play and can be playable even for a first-timer.
What is the difference between a parkland course and a links course?
The difference between a parkland course and a links course is considerably greater than is commonly known. They are both ‘somewhere to play golf’ but that’s about where any similarity ends. Most people (well, golfers anyway) know that a golf links is a golf course on the coast – a seaside course. However, the definition is even narrower than that.
What is a parkland course?
Parkland courses in general are fashioned out of the existing ‘geography’ of the area and maximum use is made of the natural features of the landscape. If there is a convenient lake or stream it can be incorporated, as can any thickets or woodland. The important thing to look for in the design of a parkland course is variety from one hole to ...
Why is it important to play on a links course?
A great advantage of playing on a links course is that it can usually be kept open all year round. The sandy soil encourages fast drainage and offers a firm playing surface even through wet weather. Links players have another aspect of weather to contend with and that is the wind.
Where does the word "link" come from?
The word ‘link’ or ‘links’ comes from the Old English word ‘hlinc’ meaning a ridge or a stretch of flat, undulating land along a seashore. Nothing to do with a succession of holes linked together like a chain. Before looking at the characteristics of a links let us just define a parkland course. Well, it’s almost a case ...
Is everything parkland except links?
Well, it’s almost a case of ‘everything is parkland except a links’. But there is an exception in that there are a number of courses (usually northern) which are ‘moorland’. And mountainous courses are rare for obvious reasons. Gravity mainly.
Can grass wrap around golf clubs?
The nature of the grass is such that it can wrap itself around your club and cause all sorts of problems – hence the need to accustom yourself to a rather different style of golf and adapt to conditions that you won’t find on the parkland 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 …