Have You Ever Experienced the Challenge of Playing on a Links Golf Course?

[Luke James]

It was a quite exciting experience for me when I played on a links golf course, Melbourne, Australia’s sand belt region. I would say that every golfer should try at least once. Links courses are characterized by rolling hills, tight fairways, and bunkers made of native grasses — all of which make for a unique challenge. Moreover, the links style has been around since the early days of the sport and is an important part of golf's history. So why not give it a shot? What's your opinion? Do share your experience..!!

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Luke James said:

Links courses are characterized by rolling hills, tight fairways, and bunkers made of native grasses — all of which make for a unique challenge.

I'd disagree with that: links courses are built on land that links the land to the sea. Like St. Andrews, or North Berwick… both of which I've played. Turnberry counts, even though it's on a cliff… etc.

Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of links courses in the U.S. Bandon. Sand Valley may play like links courses (and is at least built on sand, and you could make an argument that it's a links course given the history). Cabot. Not many others, though…

[Luke James]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

I'd disagree with that: links courses are built on land that links the land to the sea. Like St. Andrews, or North Berwick… both of which I've played. Turnberry counts, even though it's on a cliff… etc.

Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of links courses in the U.S. Bandon. Sand Valley may play like links courses (and is at least built on sand, and you could make an argument that it's a links course given the history). Cabot. Not many others, though…

Yeah but it's not typically a links course but sort of. 

[Elmer]

According to the interwebs- 

"Today, a links golf course is more broadly defined as a golf course with a natural and open lay-out, lying on sandy soil that is heavily affected by the wind. It has few to no trees, but with thick rough grasses."

If we are to stick to the old definition of "links courses are built on land that links the land to the sea", then I think what we have here in the US, tends to be a links inspired course
 

I am not fortunate enough to have played St. Andrews or a true links course.
However, I have only played 1 Links inspired course, The Links At Union Vale.
I played there in the fall about 8 years ago. Really enjoyed the course. Open, few trees, wind at your back and in your face. If you were not in the fairway you had a challenge. 

Course Gallery

https://www.luvgolf.com/ 

[DaveP043]

I've played a moderate number of links courses, in Ireland and Scotland.  I love the experiences and the settings, its certainly different from the courses I normally play, which fall into the "parkland" description.  I do agree with @iacas, the original links courses in general were established on very sandy land which wasn't great for agricultural use, most often the "link" between the cultivated fields and the ocean.  I've also played a bit on inland courses where very sandy soils produce turf conditions similar to links, including Sand Valley in Wisconsin and the Pinehurst area in North Carolina.  I've played a couple of places where links-like topography was created on non-links settings, including Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, and Kingsbarns in Scotland.  I've played a few links with immense dunes Enniscrone and Carne in Ireland, I've played some that are rumpled but nearly level (St Andrews New and Old).  I love them all.

[CarlSpackler]

I’ve played on “links style” golf courses. 

[pganapathy]

The course I was a a member on and played for many years in Maputo, Mozambique was a links course given it was maybe half a km from the waterfront as the crow flies.  Didn't have a lot of ups and downs given that area is relatively flat, was quite windy at times and of course built over mud/sand.  Loved playing it

[billchao]

8 hours ago, Elmer said:

However, I have only played 1 Links inspired course, The Links At Union Vale.
I played there in the fall about 8 years ago. Really enjoyed the course. Open, few trees, wind at your back and in your face. If you were not in the fairway you had a challenge. 

You don't have to be in your fairway, just a fairway, right @boogielicious?

The Links at Union Vale may be links-style in design, but definitely not in turf.

[boogielicious]

10 hours ago, billchao said:

You don't have to be in your fairway, just a fairway, right @boogielicious?

The Links at Union Vale may be links-style in design, but definitely not in turf.

That’s how you get birdies!

[Elmer]

14 hours ago, billchao said:

You don't have to be in your fairway, just a fairway, right @boogielicious?

 

There are days where I would honestly settle for anyone's fairway!

[NZ Golfer]

My local GC is a links based course yet its about as far as you can get from the ocean here in NZ ..but it is.sand based ,hard ground.... tight lies esp around greens .limited trees/bunkers to deal with.. (many natural sandy bunker like features just off the fairways) ..and even on some of the fairways we have some not so nice lies .. 

I personally love the links style courses esp the real links courses which I've played some of the best on the South Island ..much more challenging costal weather...  ocean smells sounds ... the tough lies one can get even on the fairways ...  ...the dry hard grounds ...isolation 

Also as I drive the ball pretty low so windy links style courses can really work well for me most of the time Vs the Parkland trees bushes everywhere courses ..

 

 

[SEMI_Duffer]

I don't know how close it comes to a traditional, current, or any other definition of a true links course, but, The Links At Crystal Lake is only about fifteen minutes away from me and has been on my list for a while.

Rates well and has very affordable greens fees, too.

[phan52]

I feel at home on links-style courses. The first time I played one was at Bandon and immediately took to it. I have been to Ireland and Scotland multiple times since and can't get enough of it. Played Royal Dornach a month ago and that may be THE classic links course on the planet. By the sea, nine out-nine back, firm turf, preferably with some wind. No earth moved to build it, just lay the course out on the dunes land that's there. 

[Beastie]

We played Silloth this afternoon. It’s an old school links course out and back with an excess of heather in the rough , nicely interspersed with gorse bushes so it really pays to be RDFM.

It’s a tough track on a balmy summer day and a total beast on a windy day or, like today, a complete mare in a 40mph+ gale. 

I hit a 125 yard flat out 6 iron into the wind and later a 205 yard 9 iron down gale, so about a 4 or 5 club breeze. It is great fun but I am really looking to a calm day back inland next.

 

[billchao]

1 hour ago, Beastie said:

We played Silloth this afternoon. It’s an old school links course out and back with an excess of heather in the rough , nicely interspersed with gorse bushes so it really pays to be RDFM.

 

I know depth can be hard to judge in a picture but I swear that fairway looks like it’s 400 yards away.

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, billchao said:

I know depth can be hard to judge in a picture but I swear that fairway looks like it’s 400 yards away.

The little mowed strip IS the fairway!

[Beastie]

10 hours ago, billchao said:

I know depth can be hard to judge in a picture but I swear that fairway looks like it’s 400 yards away.

It’s about 160-200 depending on the angle but it is quite visually intimidating. 🫤

[mcanadiens]

When you live in the midwest of the United States, you got a really long way to travel to find anything that fits the classic definition of links golf.

The word links shows up in the name of certain courses around here, but mostly that just means there are few trees, they probably builid more mounding into the course and use tall grass as a hazard to create a challenge. Rest assured it is typical Ohio farm dirt resting under the grass.

As for the wind, I get annoyed if the breeze goes over 15 mph around here. So it's kind of hard to imagine getting blown around a real links course by the sea.