Golf Terms Explained – What is a Links Golf Course?

The phrase “let’s hit the links” has become synonymous with golfing in general but have you ever heard someone say, “it’s a links course” and wondered what they exactly they were talking about?  Spoiler alert…it has nothing to do with sausages.

So what is a links golf course?

Firstly, a links style golf course is the oldest style of course you can play. The word “links” is derived from old Scotland and refers to an area along a coast that includes sand dunes or high fescue and very few, if any, trees. Back in that time course designers had limited resources for moving ground and shaping a course to their liking.  Traditionally, most of this type of course are found near a coastline but not all links style courses have water nearby.  Some golfers feel that a links course is easier and more unobstructed due to the lack of trees, however, the high dunes and grass are rarely forgiving and can swallow your ball easily.

The History of Links Style Golf

It is believed that the game of golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century and the first courses were developed on stretches of land known as links. Most farmers claimed that these coastal lands were useless for agriculture because of their sandy soil.  This is about the time when early era golf course designers began to make alternate use of the land.

There are plenty of beautiful, historic links courses still open for play in Scotland, including the famous St. Andrews, a course that is widely known as the home of golf.

You’ll find many links courses in Ireland, Wales and England, but it is believed that Scotland has the most concentration of courses of this specific type.  You’ll also find many links style designs in the United States; in fact two of our favorites, Twisted Dune and Ballyowen, are among the most beautiful in the state of New Jersey.

Links Characteristics

A true links course will usually run alongside a body of water and normally consists of sandy soil with very little vegetation other than tall sea grasses and fescue. The bunkers on a links course are usually deep and known as “pot bunkers.”  These courses are also typically much windier than a normal style course due to the lack of trees that would normally provide some deflection.

Of course, playing a links course requires a different strategy of attack and these courses usually favor players who are able to play low, accurate shots.

A true links course will consist of an “outward” nine in one direction along the coastline, and an “inward” nine which returns in the opposite direction. The challenge here lies in a player’s ability to play one set of nine holes with one wind direction and the next nine with the opposite wind pattern.

Greens on links courses tend to be free of front hazards, which allow golfers to bounce the ball onto the green rather than sticking the green and hoping for backspin.

Players navigate a typical links-style golf course.

Playing a Links Course

Pro golf instructors will usually advise players to adjust their playing style when heading out on a links course. They will quite often say that the game is played “closer to the ground” and since the terrain on a links course is normally firm, players will use more bump-and-run type shots. Putting from close off the green is also seen quite often on links-style golf courses and keeping your ball flight low helps to lessen the effects the usually violent coastal winds have on your ball flight.

Playing a links golf course can be very different than what most of us are used to but it can also be a fun way to gain a new perspective on your golf game.  We encourage everyone to try playing a links golf course if ever presented with the opportunity.