A links course is a golf course built on "linksland": the strip of sandy, rolling ground between farmland and the sea. True links have firm, fast-draining turf of fine fescue and bent grasses, very few trees, deep bunkers and wind that changes every hole. Almost all of them are in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland, which is where golf grew up.
What makes a golf course a true links?
- Location: coastal, usually on dunes or old seabed next to the water.
- Sandy soil: it drains fast, so the ground stays firm and the ball runs a long way after landing.
- Native grasses: fine fescues and bents kept alive by sea air and sandy soil, not lush watered turf.
- Natural shapes: humps, hollows and dunes left by nature rather than bulldozers.
- Few or no trees: nothing blocks the wind, so the weather is part of the course.
It is a loose definition, and golf writers argue over borderline cases. The book True Links by George Peper and Malcolm Campbell counted 246 true links courses worldwide in 2010.
Where does the word "links" come from?
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, "links" is a Scottish and Northumbrian word for undulating sandy ground near the shore, and it has been used in golf course names since at least 1728. It goes back to the Old English hlinc, meaning rising ground or a ridge. The popular explanation that the land "links" the farmland to the sea is a nice way to remember it, but the word itself comes from that older sense of ridges and slopes.
Which famous golf courses are links?
The Open Championship has always been played on coastal links. Venues include St Andrews, Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Troon, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool, Royal St George's, Royal Lytham & St Annes and Royal Portrush, and the first Open was played at Prestwick in 1860.
Are there real links courses in the United States?
Very few. PGA.com puts it well: the U.S. has many links-style courses but very few actual links. Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes on the Oregon coast are the examples most people agree on. Chambers Bay, which hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, sits on sand beside Puget Sound and is seeded with fescue, but it was built in an old quarry with a lot of earthmoving, so some purists don't count it. Plenty of courses use "Links" in their name, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, without playing like a true links. Here in Texas, a course called "links" is almost always links-style: open, few trees and firm when it's dry, but not seaside.
How do you play a links course?
- Keep it low. Wind punishes high, spinning shots. Take more club and swing easier.
- Use the ground. A bump and run with a 7 or 8 iron, or a hybrid from just off the green, is often safer than a high pitch. Putting from off the green (the "Texas wedge") works too.
- Stay out of pot bunkers. Small, deep bunkers can cost you a shot just to get out sideways. Play away from them, even if it means a longer putt.
- Plan for roll. Firm fairways can add a lot of run after landing, so pick landing spots, not just targets.
- Accept bad bounces. Humps and hollows send good shots in odd directions. That's part of the game.
The same skills help on any firm, windy Texas day in late summer. A used hybrid is one of the easiest clubs for low running shots, and the right wedge matters on tight lies. See wedge bounce explained for why low bounce suits firm turf.
FAQ
Is every course with "Links" in its name a true links?
No. Many use the word for marketing or style. A true links is coastal, sandy linksland.
What is the difference between a links course and a parkland course?
A parkland course is inland, with lush grass and lots of trees. A links course is coastal, firm, open and windy.
Why does the ball roll so much on a links course?
Sandy soil drains quickly and the turf is kept firm, so the ball bounces and runs instead of stopping where it lands.
What is the oldest links course?
The Old Course at St Andrews is the most famous of the old links, with golf played there since the 1400s. Several Scottish links lay claim to being the oldest, so you'll see that debated.
More golf words: see the Golf Terms Glossary, plus what par means and how handicaps work.
