Jump to content
IGNORED

What is more difficult links golf or parkland golf?


Jeremie Boop
Note: This thread is 3539 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

0  

1 member has voted

  1. 1. What's harder to score well on?

    • Links
      6
    • Parkland
      7
    • Neither
      13


Recommended Posts

I voted links being harder, for me at least.

I grew up in hills and trees and consequently, parkland style golf. I would truly love to experience some links golf, but have not yet. I have played some flat courses with no trees, but they were mainly just flat treeless goat farms, nothing like the links courses you would find in the Northwest, Michigan, or of course the true links of GB. On the flat courses I have played, the lack of reference points or trees to frame my target has been a little disorienting, and even though they were "easier", I usually play better with trees.

I agree with Hardballs that links would transfer to parkland better than parkland to links. I think with links, you would really have to focus on a target, which you should anyway, but with parkland it is often framed for you.

I would certainly like the opportunity to prove or disprove my theory though!

Don

In the bag:

Driver: PING 410 Plus 9 degrees, Alta CB55 S  Fairway: Callaway Rogue 3W PX Even Flow Blue 6.0; Hybrid: Titleist 818H1 21* PX Even Flow Blue 6.0;  Irons: Titleist 718 AP1 5-W2(53*) Shafts- TT AMT Red S300 ; Wedges Vokey SM8 56-10D Putter: Scotty Cameron 2016 Newport 2.5  Ball: Titleist AVX or 2021 ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

There are easier and harder versions of both. Neither is necessarily tougher that the other simply because of the style of course.

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I'm a member at a links course in the UK, it's not quite the the same as you see in Scotland etc because it's quite high up on the cliffs, but there's still plenty to contend with, mainly the tight fairways, wind and the undulations.  One thing that makes a links course easier is the roll out you get with the ball, when it's dry you you can get 90+ yards of roll on a drive which carries 230-240, making some of them holes very easy, something which I rarely see happen on a parkland course.  The greens can also dry out quite alot, which poses problems.

Here's a picture from one of the tees at my course, which is made up of 28 holes, with elevation changes of 90feet.  Hard work to play.

Saying all this, the picture above isn't much like the Scottish links courses, as you go further down the cliff it becomes more "linksy"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Can't say because I've never played a links course. I'm goin to Ireland next summer though and am definitely looking forward to getting the chance.
my get up and go musta got up and went..
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

... I would argue Pebble Beach, ...

I wouldn't.  Other than having "Links" in the name, being next to the ocean, and having a traditional "loop" type layout, I don't thing Pebble qualifies ... at least as far as what I imagine links courses being.  Pebble has lush grass, and nice green rough, and you aren't ever really playing on the ground there.

The ones that I imagine as qualifying out here (and I'm speaking out of my rear cuz I've played exactly zero of them :-P ) are the Bandon Courses, Chambers Bay, maybe Half Moon Bay??, and maybe Spanish Bay too, but I really have no idea.

The logical answer to me seems to be what @David in FL said.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I'm going with neither as we ll.

Any type course can be a bear with a penal hazard here or there, a few clicks of mower deck height, or some well placed trees or brush.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Administrator

I voted for links golf. Not only do you have to execute the shot, you have to choose it to begin with. Often on a parkland course your shot choice is virtually dictated to you.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I play a links course every week in the south-west of England and it's superb fun. But I also played the Montgomery course at Celtic Manor last week, and that was great fun - it's carved out of fam, woods and parkland on top of a hill - about as far from a links course as you can get.

Play links on a lovely calm summers day and you will think it is the true test, but play it in 40 mph winds and sheer rain, you will hate the experience.

I voted neither. The links taliban will not appreciate this view. Keep away from them.

Taylor Made R11S 9 Degree

Callaway X 3 Wood

Taylor Made 3 & 5 Rescue

Mizuno MP57 5-PW

Titleist Vokey 52, 60

Ping Scottsdale Anser

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Well i play a parkland course fairways are tight and loads off trees there, be off the fairway and you most likely have to chip out.

But this is my home course, i play more park courses nearby and those are easier to play.

But because i play parkland courses most of the time, i think Links is more difficult to play, I find it hard to hit the right distances on links courses.

and heavy rough is not my favorite also.

Dirver: Mizuno JPX 825 9,5 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 65 g.
3 wood: Mizuno JPX 825 14 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 75 g.
Hybrid: Mizuno JPX 825 18 Fujikura Orochi Red Eye Stiff 85 g. 
Irons: Mizuno MP 59 3 / PW KBS Tour stiff shaft ( Golf Pride Niion )
Wedges: Taylormade ATV Wedges 52 and 58 ( Golf Pride Niion )
putter: Taylormade ghost series 770 35 inch ( Super Stroke slim 3.0 )
Balls: Taylormade TP 5

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I voted for links golf. Not only do you have to execute the shot, you have to choose it to begin with. Often on a parkland course your shot choice is virtually dictated to you.

You could use the same argument to support the opposite opinion. In links golf you often have more choices, whereas on a parkland course you're forced to play a specific shot.;-) Of course, giving amateurs multiple choices doesn't necessarily help them.... ;-)

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
You could use the same argument to support the opposite opinion. In links golf you often have more choices, whereas on a parkland course you're forced to play a specific shot.

That's the point: choice is a difficulty factor.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

That's the point: choice is a difficulty factor.


So is standing there and having one option and it's a shot you know you can't hit that day. :surrender:

I have no first hand experience with that because I have all of the shots all of the time. (Lying). :-D

Link to comment
Share on other sites


  • Moderator

I've played 5 or 6 true links courses in Scotland. Closest I came in the US is Kiawah Island and a seaside course in Rhode Island. The US courses felt much different but I'm not sure that disqualifies them as being true links.

Which RI course @Gunther ?

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Which RI course @Gunther ?

I believe it was Winnipaug Country Club but it could have been Weekapaug. Not the best I've played but fun because of the views.

In my Bag: Driver: Titelist 913 D3 9.5 deg. 3W: TaylorMade RBZ 14.5 3H: TaylorMade RBZ 18.5 4I - SW: TaylorMade R7 TP LW: Titelist Vokey 60 Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I believe it was Winnipaug Country Club but it could have been Weekapaug. Not the best I've played but fun because of the views.

I believe it was Weekapaug because I remember it being semi-private. Have you played them?

In my Bag: Driver: Titelist 913 D3 9.5 deg. 3W: TaylorMade RBZ 14.5 3H: TaylorMade RBZ 18.5 4I - SW: TaylorMade R7 TP LW: Titelist Vokey 60 Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I believe it was Winnipaug Country Club but it could have been Weekapaug. Not the best I've played but fun because of the views.

I hope this comment didn't offend. I've done that inadvertently before. I only say it because the course wasn't maintained great the day I played, had been a few days since it had been mowed but it was a lot of fun and I'd definitely go back.

In my Bag: Driver: Titelist 913 D3 9.5 deg. 3W: TaylorMade RBZ 14.5 3H: TaylorMade RBZ 18.5 4I - SW: TaylorMade R7 TP LW: Titelist Vokey 60 Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Both parkland and linksland courses put a premium on certain shots, at the expense of rarely using others.

For many Americans, the challenge of linksland holes involves the wind and the ability to hit longer chip and run, and to putt from the edge of the fairway. Part of this results from recent U.S. golf design trends in which some architects put in lots of crowned and elevated greens that call for lob shots. Many U.S. architects turn the short game into dart throwing, with demand for lots of high, spinning shots, and little chance for players to play longer running shots.

St. Louis area has at least two linksland courses which I'm aware of:

And we have several other courses with stretches of clearly linksland style holes amid the 18.

Focus, connect and follow through!

  • Completed KBS Education Seminar (online, 2015)
  • GolfWorks Clubmaking AcademyFitting, Assembly & Repair School (2012)

Driver:  :touredge: EXS 10.5°, weights neutral   ||  FWs:  :callaway: Rogue 4W + 7W
Hybrid:  :callaway: Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  :callaway: Mavrik MAX 5i-PW
Wedges:  :callaway: MD3: 48°, 54°... MD4: 58° ||  Putter:image.png.b6c3447dddf0df25e482bf21abf775ae.pngInertial NM SL-583F, 34"  
Ball:  image.png.f0ca9194546a61407ba38502672e5ecf.png QStar Tour - Divide  ||  Bag: :sunmountain: Three 5 stand bag

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I selected "neither" since I only played one links style course, Ballyowen in Northwest NJ.  I did not find it terribly difficult and do have much more trouble hitting the ball into the woods (It was also not windy and 48F).  And many of the courses in my area are not like parks between holes but are inpenetrable brush or woodlands.

There is also another style which was shown at the US Open at Pinehurst, and is also represented at Pine Valley and other courses in Southern NJ.  These courses have waste area that can be brutal with a combination of gritty, stoney sand, and lots of scrub pines and weeds to create problems.  There are many types of terrain for golf courses and each on can be a bear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3539 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • I did not realize that, I was thinking a more traditional golf club.  
    • Thanks for the feedback. @StuM, we are a "club without real estate" so no facilities or pro. We have a membership of around 185 players and we only play together as a group at our tournaments, which are held at public access courses. A group of us setup the tournaments, collect the money and dole out the prizes.
    • In general, granting free relief anywhere on the course isn't recommended.  Similarly, when marking GUR, the VSGA and MAPGA generally don't mark areas that are well away from the intended playing lines, no matter how poor the conditions.  If you hit it far enough offline, you don't necessarily deserve free relief.  And you don't have to damage clubs, take unplayable relief, take the stroke, and drop the ball in a better spot.
    • If it's not broken don't fix it. If you want to add grooves to it just because of looks that's your choice of course. Grooves are cut into putter faces to reduce skid, the roll faced putter is designed to do the same thing. I'm no expert but it seems counter productive to add grooves to the roll face. Maybe you can have it sand-blasted or something to clean up the face. Take a look at Tigers putter, its beat to hell but he still uses it.     
    • I get trying to limit relief to the fairway, but how many roots do you typically find in the fairway? Our local rule allows for relief from roots & rocks anywhere on the course (that is in play). My home course has quite a few 100 year old oaks that separate the fairways. Lift and move the ball no closer to the hole. None of us want to damage clubs.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...