Links Or Parkland?

[woodzie264]

i like the scenery of Parkland and mountain...admittedly never played links

[kmarkham]

Some entertaining points about what makes a links a links. To be honest, it causes confusion over here (in Ireland) too, with some seaside courses claiming they are 'links' when they're not. Take the Old Head of Kinsale, which is not a links although it calls itself that - I suspect that's in an effort to attract more Americans!

I played all the courses in Ireland last year, and there are a few courses that claim links status when maybe only two or three holes are actual links. It's a badge of honour isn't it, and that's why America has so many 'links-style' courses. It harks back to the origin of the game.

One of the posters said that all links must be seaside courses. That's 99.9% true: one little interesting fact - there's a course called Massereene in Northern Ireland that calls itself (partially) a links and it is miles from the sea. But it was formed on the shores and from the waters of Lough Neagh. It has certain natural sand features. Does that qualify as a links? I'm not convinced.

If you haven't played a real links, then come to Ireland and I'd be delighted to give you a game.

And in case you haven't figured it out - I'm a links man.

[James_Black]

Some entertaining points about what makes a links a links. To be honest, it causes confusion over here (in Ireland) too, with some seaside courses claiming they are 'links' when they're not. Take the Old Head of Kinsale, which is not a links although it calls itself that - I suspect that's in an effort to attract more Americans!

Old head is a links course! I know it doesn't have knee high rough but I'd still call it a links course.

[kmarkham]

Old head is a links course!

I guess it's something we could argue, but a links course is built on land that links the land to the sea, i.e. on land created by the sea - so it should all be sand based, which is what gives a links course its unique qualities.

Old Head is built on cliff tops - 300 foot cliffs - and there's no sand here. The developer moved hundreds of tons of earth onto the site so it could be given the luxurious curves it possesses today. Don't get me wrong, it's an unbelievable course and one of my favourites, but calling itself a links is a stretch too far. But 'links' sounds a lot better than 'seaside'. My Old Head photos

[flopdarock]

too bad the survey didnt include other types of courses

[sabram]

" Originally Posted by James_Black
Old head is a links course!
I know it doesn't have knee high rough but I'd still call it a links course.

I guess it's something we could argue, but a links course is built on land that links the land to the sea, i.e. on land created by the sea - so it should all be sand based, which is what gives a links course its unique qualities.

Old Head is built on cliff tops - 300 foot cliffs - and there's no sand here. The developer moved hundreds of tons of earth onto the site so it could be given the luxurious curves it possesses today.

Don't get me wrong, it's an unbelievable course and one of my favourites, but calling itself a links is a stretch too far. But 'links' sounds a lot better than 'seaside'."

Hi KMarkham - Great pix of Old Head. Thanks for posting the link. One day I'll get there (and to Tralee, Ballybunion, Waterville, Lahinch, Doonbeg, Killarney.....).

I think you are correct in your comments. Old Head is high on the bluffs similar to Pebble Beach. Not really linksland

[James_Black]

too bad the survey didnt include other types of courses

I forgot about the different types sorry.

Over here we've mainly only got parkland or links.

[Blades4me]

iacas has it right about the US courses not being "true" links courses for the most part. Since I've never played on a real links course, I voted for parkland, as - another poster noted - "its purrrdy". Love the walk in the country.

We here in the US of A have a few real links courses. The one's I know of are in the NW, namely Bandon and Chambers Bay.

Links golf is a little different type of golf and having been to and watch ppl at the above mentioned places I'd say Americans are pretty clueless when it comes to links conditions and how to play them, IMO.

[golfro]

reviving an old thread.

closest links course I've ever played would be one of the Dunes back in the early 2000's. While I find links courses visually intriguing and stimulating... I grew up playing parkland courses all my life. Being a pacific northwesterner, i like my trees! I will say though, there are courses that incorporate elements of link courses and parkland courses fairly well. I enjoy playing those kinds of courses.

[zeg]

I've played a couple "links" courses down here in Southern California (Olivas Links, which was probably the closer to a real links, as it was actually near (but not quite on) the coast; Rustic Canyon, discussed above, which I'd say is probably a desert links) and would describe them as "linksy" but neither really sold itself to me as a real links course. They're fun, but I like to have some trees around so I voted parkland.

I need to get back to Rustic Canyon. It's a steal at $24 to walk on a weekday twilight. If only it were a bit closer, but then I guess it wouldn't be $24 on a weekday twilight...... I shot my absolute worst round of my golfing career there a couple months ago, and I need to prove it was just a bad day

[Shorty]

Old head is a links course!

It is NOT a links course.

[James_Black]

It is NOT a links course.

I haven't been there myself/ seen many pictures of it.

I thought it would be if it's so close to the sea. Looking at the picture again, I can see that it's more parkland than links

[jamo]

The only links characteristic missing from Long Island National (which I played a little over a week ago) is the water.