
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. ...
Full Answer
What are the best golf courses?
Oct 01, 2019 · The most famous links course is the Old Course in St. Andrews. Others include Carnoustie, Turnberry and Royal Liverpool. Every course on the male Open rota is a links. Parkland. These are the bread and butter of golf courses, and …
What are the different styles of golf courses?
There are a 3 main types of golf courses that vary in landscape and design. These include the typically Scottish ‘Links course’, the ‘Parkland course’ and the ‘Desert course’. Links courses: these are courses often found in the UK. These types of golf courses are located on the sand and grass between the farmland land and the coast. The ground that is played on is typically sandy …
What are some examples for golf courses?
Sep 22, 2015 · The variety of golf courses provides golfers with a unique experience every time. In this post, we are going to take a look at different types of golf courses around the world. Parkland Courses; The most common style in the United States, parkland golf courses are characterized by “lush, well-kept fairways, mature trees, thick rough and bunkers.”
What is the most prestigious golf course?
Golf Course Directory. GolfNow offers a complete listing of golf courses across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and several other countries, many with discounted tee times. Our golf course directory contains detailed information on over 19,000 golf courses. Select a country below to begin your search.

What are the types of a golf course?
What's the difference between a golf course and a links course?
What are the 5 different areas of a golf course?
What is a short golf course called?
Why is golf called links?
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.May 31, 2020
What is a lynx style golf course?
What is the golden rule of golf?
What is a golf course field called?
What is the long grass on a golf course called?
Why do golf courses have 18 holes?
How long is a par 3?
Par | Men | Women |
---|---|---|
Par 3 | 0-250 yards | 0-210 yards |
Par 4 | 251-470 yards | 211-400 yards |
Par 5 | 471-690 yards | 401-575 yards |
Par 6 | 691+ yards | 576+ yards |
Are all golf courses the same?
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.
What is the shortest course in golf?
The approach course is the shortest course there is, even shorter than the par-three, and is designed for experienced golfers to get in practice. It is also the perfect type of course for beginners to the golf game, as it’s short and allows them to practice without getting frustrated or tired. These are perfect courses to practice and play a very quick round of golf. These are also called pitch-and-putt courses because of this, as well.
Is golf a sport?
Golf is a sport that many people enjoy. It’s relaxing, fun to play, and the perfect way to while away the hours on a Saturday morning and afternoon. The one mistake that new golfers make, however, is thinking that all golf courses are the same. In reality, there are a few different types of golf courses and even a few different types ...
Is a golf course open to the public?
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 ...
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.
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.
Where did golf originate?
The origin of golf is widely disputed, and to an extent we will never know the truth of where it began. However, we can be sure of where link style golf courses originated. Built on sandy soil between the coast and farmlands of Scotland, links are the most popular types of golf courses.
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.
Where are links golf courses?
Links golf course. Links golf courses were first found in Scotland. The country is regarded as the ‘home of golf’, and the first courses were all links style courses. Links courses are seen all over Scotland and there are many more around the world. In the United States, Pebble Beach is classed as a links course.
What is a desert golf course?
A desert golf course is built in an area with a natural desert. It is constructed amongst the sand dunes and natural desert features. The only grass found on this type of course is on the tee box, fairways and putting greens.
Is Pebble Beach a links course?
In the United States, Pebble Beach is classed as a links course. It is possibly the most famous links course in the US and hosts PGA Tour events each year. Of course, St. Andrews in Scotland is the most famous links course of them all. The links style golf course is far older than its counterpart, the parkland.
What is a parkland golf course?
While a links course is very natural, a parkland course is one that has been manicured and heavily constructed by a course architect. A parkland course will have flat fairways compared to the rolling ones on a links. The flat, well-manicured fairways make for gentle bounces. The fairways are also very forgiving.
Where is Pebble Beach?
Pebble Beach, which is located in California, overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The coastal location helps to create the hills, ridges and fairways. Golfers on a links course will play on sandy terrain that receives plenty of wind blowing off of the ocean.
What is golf course architecture?
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.
What is a semi private golf course?
Semi-private Course. At a semi-private course, you can pay to play each time, or you can purchase a membership. By becoming a member of a semi-private club, you may receive preferred or unlimited access to tee times.
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 links course?
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, and the fairways often have a natural roll to them. Wind can be a major factor in the game on a links course.
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.
What is a manicured golf 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.
What is a desert course?
Desert Course. Courses in the desert are often an oasis of green amidst the area's dry, sandy landscape. Although these courses work with the natural sand dunes and other features of the terrain, their abundant grass is unnatural for the area. Much irrigation is required.
How many holes are there in an executive golf course?
Executive Course. Executive courses are defined less by their scenery than by their length. The typical executive track is either an abbreviated 9 holes of par 4s and par 3s (there are rarely par 5s), or an out-and-out par 3 course, which, again, will typically only stretch to 9 holes.
What is a parkland course?
As the name suggests, parkland courses are comprised of park land – set in parks or other large expanses of grassy and typically wood-smattered areas.
Why are trees important in golf?
Trees are an abundant feature of the typical parkland, often set tight to fairways to force the golfer to hit accurate drives , and many park lands also rely heavily on water hazards, such as streams and lakes, to add difficulty to play. Compared to the typically browned links courses, parklands tend to be sumptuously green.
What are some examples of parkland?
Some well-known examples of the parkland type are The Grove, The Belfry and, in the States, of course, Augusta National. If you’re a member of a club in the UK, the chances are the course you’ve a member of is one of these.
Where are golf courses located?
The study revealed that 78% of the world’s supply of golf courses are located in just 10 countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Scotland.
Which country has the most golf courses?
With the release of Golf Around the World 2019 by R&A, we discovered the countries that have the most golf courses. The study revealed that 78% of the world’s supply of golf courses are located in just 10 countries: the United States, Japan, Canada, England, Australia, Germany, France, Republic of Korea, Sweden and Scotland.

Landscape Style
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.
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.
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.