Does anyone dislike links?

[raygrinberg]

erova, you are so right. Too many places add some mounding along the fairways and consider themselves to be a "links" course.

[TourSpoon]

I like the variety that you get with a links course as it opens new avenues to shot making that aren't always there with a typical parkland course.

As far as appearance, I like it when the course fits the topography and the architect has taken the natural features of the land and worked with them not totally changed them.

[powerfade]

I wish I had the opportunity to play links courses. I primarily play desert target golf or parkland. There is one course I do play a lot that is a pseudo-links course. It looks like one with virtually no trees, tight fairway grass, mounds and usually a pretty good prevailing wind from the south.

I realized last year that it really doesn't allow for bump and runs from most of the fairways (only a few). For this, I guess it can't truly be a link style course. Hey, it's in the So Cal desert, so what can I say.

[MarkJ]

Nay nay and thrice nay!!

I'm lucky enough to stay in an area blessed with the finest links courses on the planet...east lothian, Scotland.

This season I've played Archerfield,Kilspindie,Longniddry,kingsbarns,Luffness and the jewel in the crown for me....gullane #1 ( #2 is pretty good too!)

For anyone planning a trip to Scotland for golf, forget the old course, it takes too many rounds per year and is too dug up.Get down to Gullane and get a time for 1 or 2, followed by lunch in the old club house...it's the perfect golfing experience in the perfect golfing area.

[sabram]

Links are beautiful in their own way. I like all types of courses. Woodland, desert, parkland, links, mountain... Variety is the spice of golf. Here is a link to photos I took at some true links. i think theyare beautiful. Especially Turnberry and Western Gailes


http://sports.webshots.com/album/558380032gZHwdf

[Chas]

I actually play better on the more traditional courses. I feel when I step to the tee and see a tight fairway with trees on both sides I tend to either concentrate more or have a better sense of where I need to put the ball. Strangely enough I don't like wide open courses.

Easy for you to say, Champ

Just kidding - I know what you mean really. I used to prefer wide-open courses for their forgiveness off the tee (so would you, if you had my swing plane issues), but these days I'm starting to tighten things up a bit and see the virtues of a narrower target. Out here in SoCal we have some courses that are almost like nature parks. I refer to canyons filled with cacti, yucca and other succulents of wonderful variety - as well as Queen palms and other native trees that I have no idea what they're called. Queen palms have a poorly understood appetite for golf balls, I know that for sure. The one time I played a true links course - St. Andrews Old - was in the late 60s and it was an unmitigated disaster, score-wise. I have not allowed this to cloud my opinion of links courses since however. I'd go back in a heart-beat, if my accountant would let me.