What Is a Links Golf Course?
A links is a golf course built on sandy coastal land, usually the strip of dunes and grassland between the beach and the farmland behind it. Links courses have firm, fast turf, very few trees, deep pot bunkers and lots of wind.
It's the original kind of golf course. The game grew up on links land on the east coast of Scotland, and St Andrews, the most famous links of all, is often called the home of golf.
Where the word comes from
"Links" comes from an Old English word, hlinc, meaning a ridge or rising ground. In Scotland it came to describe the sandy, rolling ground near the shore: land too poor for crops, but good for grazing and, eventually, golf. The ground "linked" the sea to the farmland, which is a handy way to remember it, even if it isn't quite the true origin.
Today people sometimes call any golf course "the links". Strictly, though, a links is a particular type of course on a particular type of land.
What makes a course a links
| Feature | What it means for your golf |
|---|---|
| Sandy soil | Drains fast, so the ground stays firm and the ball runs a long way |
| Fine, hardy grasses | Tight lies on the fairway, wispy rough off it |
| Few or no trees | Nothing to block the wind, and little shelter |
| Dunes and humps | Uneven stances and unpredictable bounces |
| Pot bunkers | Small, deep bunkers with steep walls, often hidden from the tee |
| Gorse and marram grass | Thick plants off the fairway that can swallow a ball |
| Wind | Often the biggest factor in choosing a club |
Many links courses also follow an "out and back" routing: the front nine heads out along the coast and the back nine returns, so you play into the wind for one half and with it for the other.
How links golf is played differently
On a parkland course with soft, watered fairways, the ball usually stops close to where it lands, so golfers fly the ball all the way to the target. On a links, that often doesn't work: the ground is firm, the wind is strong, and high shots get blown about.
Links golfers lean on the ground game:
- Keep the ball low into the wind, with less loft or a shorter swing.
- Land the ball short of the green and let it run on. See carry vs roll in golf.
- Putt from off the green when the grass is tight, even from several yards away.
- Avoid the pot bunkers at all costs, even if that means aiming away from the flag.
There's more on reading the breeze in how wind affects a golf ball.
Famous links courses
The Open Championship is always played on a links course. Venues used over the years include:
- The Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland
- Carnoustie, Scotland
- Muirfield, Scotland
- Royal Birkdale, England
- Royal St George's, England
- Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland
Ireland, Wales and other coasts around the world have well-known links too.
Links vs parkland vs heathland
- Links: coastal, sandy, firm, windy and mostly treeless.
- Parkland: inland, on softer soil, with lush grass and plenty of trees, like a park.
- Heathland: inland but sandy, with heather, gorse and pine trees.
A course next to the sea isn't automatically a links. Some clifftop and seaside courses are built on heavier soil and play more like parkland.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy has its own seaside nine, Salty Links, with big wind, pot bunkers, dunes and the beach. Check the wind indicator before every shot, take an extra club into the breeze, and remember that a ball in the dunes counts as out of bounds. For contrast, play Dogleg Downs, Mashy's parkland course, straight afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Why are golf courses called links?
The word comes from an Old English term for a ridge or rising ground, which in Scotland came to mean the sandy coastal land where golf was first played. Because so many early courses were on that land, links became a word for golf courses in general, though strictly it means the seaside kind.
Is St Andrews a links course?
Yes. The Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, is the most famous links in the world. It sits on sandy ground beside the sea, has very few trees, is full of pot bunkers and has hosted The Open more times than any other course.
What is the difference between a links and a parkland course?
A links is built on sandy coastal land, with firm turf, few trees and lots of wind, so the ball runs a long way after landing. A parkland course is inland on softer ground, with lush grass and many trees, so shots tend to stop closer to where they land.
Is every seaside golf course a links?
No. A true links needs the sandy, dune-backed ground that sits between the shore and farmland. Some courses by the sea are built on clifftops or heavier soil and play more like parkland or heathland, even though they have a sea view.
Is The Open always played on a links?
Yes. The Open Championship, organised by The R&A, is always played on a links course in the United Kingdom. The venues rotate between a small group of courses in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, with St Andrews hosting most often.