What is the difference between a golf course and 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.
Is links slang for golf course?
The term, “links” has two meanings within golf. It is used generally to refer to the course that golf is played on. A golfer might say to a friend of hers, “sorry, I can't come over and collect kindling with you because I'm going to hit the links today.
Why are links golf courses?
So, let's explain where the term came from and why most golf courses are 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.
Why is it called links?
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.
What is links slang?
So let's look at this word today. Link spelt L-I-N-K is a slang verb meaning to meet or connect with someone. It can be used to suggest a meeting such as: 'hey are you free to link tonight?
What is a link course?
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. It also retains this more general meaning in the Scottish English dialect.
What does hitting the links mean?
You might hear the term “links golf” which refers to old-school type courses that are found in Europe. Links golf courses are usually flat and have bigger greens than most US courses. You might also hear “Let's hit the links” which just refers to going out and playing a round of golf.
Why is the Open always played on a links course?
The Championship has always been played on a 'links', or seaside style of course: this had been the tradition from 1860 until 1921, but was enshrined in the Championship rules in 1922 when the Committee declared that “The Open shall henceforth be played only on links courses, to provide a true test for the skilled ...
Why are golf courses called links?
They are called links due to the fact that that area between the sea and the crops was very sandy. So golf courses were built so they could “link” the oven to the coutnryside.
Where did the name Links Golf Course come from?
The name links golf course comes from the Scots language. It refers to an area of coastal sand dunes. These are the oldest style of golf course with relatively little earth moving compared to modern parkland courses.
Where did golf originate?
Early golf developed on links land. In time the golf links were cultivated and the sand and burns (small rivers) that crossed the links were shaped into the hazards that they are today, the Bunker and the Water Hazard.
Why are links so sandy?
True links soil is sandy and because of the lack of its moisture, the grass tends to have short blades with long roots. The grass in the rough is often wispy long grass which makes play very difficult even in a good lie. Links courses drain well and provide a very firm golfing surface all year round, and are thus the preferred choice of most good golfers.
What does "links" mean in golf?
The meaning of words changes over time. 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.
What is a link golf course?
A 'links golf course' refers to the type of soil and terrain on which it is built.
Where was golf invented?
When golf was “born” in Scotland, courses were created along the coastline. Thus, the courses were a link between the interior land and the ocean. Links has now become a generic name for all golf courses, even those nowhere near an ocean.
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."
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, ...
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.
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 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 does "links" mean in golf?
The meaning of words changes over time. 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.
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.
When was golf banned?
When golf was banned by royal decree from 1457 to 1502, the fact that golfers could retreat to the links, out of sight of the populace, would have made it easier for golf to be played despite the official prohibitions. The same would also have true of Sunday golf during the period of religious persecution for Sabbath golf from 1580 to 1724.
What terrain was ideal for golfing in the early days?
Links terrain was ideal for golfing in the early days for several reasons.
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.
How many Scottish links are there?
More details about links land can be found in Robert Price's book 'Scotland's Golf Courses'. More details of 84 of the Scottish links courses can be found in True Links by George Pepper and Malcolm Campbell as well as details of 162 links course elsewhere in the world.
Why are links important in Scotland?
The Links in Scotland may not just be why people come to play golf here , but why golf developed into the popular and successful game that it is . With club and ball, the links is one of the Golf Trinity which only Scotland had and which enabled the game to develop properly.
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 ...
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 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.
Why are links golf courses so 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. The high winds and rolling fairways make the course play different each time because you never know how the course is going to turn out on that particular day.
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.
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 is the difference between a parkland and a links golf course?
The main differences are that a parkland golf course is heavily developed by an architect and not as natural as a links golf course. The fairways tend to be more forgiving and flatter when compared to the rolling fairways on a links golf course. The best examples of each type would be St Andrews for links courses and Augusta National ...
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 …