What Does It Mean to Be a Links Golf Course?

Fewer terms in golf are as treasured, or as regularly misunderstood, as links. Playing a links course is often spoken of as a pilgrimage, a return to the very soul of the game. This article will cut through the noise and explain precisely what makes a golf course a true links layout. We'll explore the defining characteristics of these unique courses and, more importantly, give you practical, coach-approved advice on how to adjust your thinking and your technique to not just survive, but truly enjoy the links golf experience.

The True Meaning of "Links Golf"

Let's clear this up right from the start: not every golf course on the coast is a links course. The term has been so overused for marketing that its real meaning has become diluted. A beachside resort course in Florida with palm trees and soft, green fairways is beautiful, but it isn't a links course.

The name "links" literally refers to a specific type of land. It’s the sandy, wind-swept, and generally treeless ground that links the sea with the more fertile agricultural land (arable land) found inland. This type of terrain, common on the coast of Scotland where the game originated, was seen as useless for farming. The soil was sandy, the grass was tough, and it was constantly battered by the elements. But for a group of shepherds looking for a bit of sport, this bumpy, open land was perfect for hitting a ball with a stick towards a hole.

So, a true links course is defined by its geology and its environment. It’s built on this original sandy soil, shaped by nature more than by bulldozers, and demands a completely different style of play than the parkland courses most of us play every weekend. It's a ground game, a thinking game, and a battle with the elements.

The 5 Defining Characteristics of a Links Course (And How to Play Them)

To truly understand links golf, you have to understand the five key elements that define it. Mastering your approach to each of these is how you’ll learn to score well and have fun doing it.

1. Firm, Sandy Ground: Embrace the Bump and Run

The ground beneath your feet is the single biggest difference on a links course. The sandy soil drains water almost instantly, which means the fairways and greens are incredibly firm and fast. Think of it like comparing a paved road to a plush lawn. On a typical parkland course, you can fire a 7-iron into a soft green and expect it to stop quickly. Try that on a links course, and your ball will likely take one massive hop and bound through the back of the green.

The Coach's Playbook:

• The ground is your ally, not your enemy. You must learn to use it. The go-to shot here is the bump and run. Instead of trying to fly the ball all the way to the hole, your goal is to land it short of the green, on the fairway or fringe, and let it chase the rest of the way.
• How to play it: Take a less-lofted club than you normally would for the distance - think 8-iron or even 9-iron instead of a pitching wedge. Play the ball slightly back in your stance, make a simple putting-style stroke, and focus on landing your ball on a specific spot well short of the flag. Let the firm turf do the work of getting it close.
• Practice this feel: Imagine you're just trying to hop the ball over the first bit of rough and get it running on the smooth ground beyond. It rewards creativity and feel over brute force.

2. The Ever-Present Wind: "When It's Breezy, Swing Easy"

Since links courses are wide open and sit exposed by the sea, the wind is an ever-present defender. It's not just a slight breeze, it can be a three or even four-club wind that changes direction from one hole to the next. Balls don't just drift_ - _they are grabbed and thrown by the wind. This is why links courses have very few, if any, trees.

The Coach's Playbook:

• Flight your ball down. The golden rule is to keep the ball out of the teeth of the wind. Trying to smash a driver or swing harder into the wind is the worst thing you can do. A harder swing creates more backspin, causing the ball to "balloon" up into the air and get eaten alive by the wind, often ending up shorter than a well-struck, smoother swing.
• Learn the "knockdown" or "stinger." This is your primary weapon.
  • Take at least one extra club (e.g., a 6-iron for a 7-iron distance).
  • Position the ball a couple of inches further back in your stance.
  • Grip down on the handle an inch or two.
  • Make a shorter, smoother swing - think three-quarters of your normal backswing and follow-through.
  The goal is a low, piercing flight that cuts through the wind instead of climbing into it. This shot gives you predictability in an unpredictable environment.

3. Deep, Terrifying Pot Bunkers

Links bunkers are nothing like the wide, shallow, fluffy sand traps you see on TV at Augusta. They are often small, deep, circular pits, and they are genuine hazards. Many are "pot bunkers," revetted with steep sod walls that can be taller than you are. Their purpose isn't just to be a challenge, it's to gobble up golf balls and punish poor strategic decisions.

The Coach's Playbook:

• Your number one goal is avoidance. The smart play is often to lay up short of a fairway pot bunker rather than trying to fly over it. Don't be greedy, it's a hole-wrecker. One of the great joys of links golf is hitting a safe iron off the tee and watching your playing partner’s driver shot get swallowed by a tiny bunker they didn't even see.
• When you get in one, get out. If you find your ball in a deep bunker, your first priority is to escape. You may have to play out sideways or even backwards. Trying to be a hero and advance the ball 150 yards will almost always lead to the ball hitting the steep face and rolling back to your feet.
• The Escape Shot: Grab your most lofted wedge. Open the clubface as wide as you can. Dig your feet into the sand for stability. Then, make a steep swing, aiming to splash the sand about two inches behind the ball. The loft and the explosion of sand will pop the ball up vertically and get it back in play.

4. Bumps, Mounds, and Blind Shots

Fairways on parkland courses are often graded to be relatively flat. Links fairways are the opposite. They are a canvas of natural undulations, humps, and hollows left behind by coastal winds and shifting dunes over centuries. This means two things: you'll get odd bounces and you'll face blind shots where you can't see the landing area or the green itself.

The Coach's Playbook:

• Embrace the chaos. Good shots will sometimes get a bad bounce into the rough, and bad shots will sometimes get a good kick back into the fairway. You have to accept this as part of the charm. Getting angry about a "bad break" is a fast track to a ruined scorecard.
• On blind shots, trust your target. Most links courses have aiming posts, specific marker rocks, or distant landmarks to guide you. Pick your line, trust it, and make a confident swing. A knowledgeable caddie is worth their weight in gold for this very reason.
• Uneven Lies: You will rarely have a flat lie. For a right-handed player: if the ball is below your feet, aim left of your target as the ball will tend to move right. If the ball is above your feet, aim right, as the ball will tend to move left.

5. Massive, Contoured Greens

To match the scale of the landscape, links greens are frequently enormous and full of dramatic slopes and tiers. Sometimes two holes will share one massive green (a "double green," like those at St Andrews). It’s not uncommon to hit the green in regulation and still be faced with a 100-foot putt that has to navigate multiple breaks.

The Coach's Playbook:

• The "Texas Wedge" is your best friend. The turf around links greens is usually cut very tight and is just as firm as the green itself. This makes chipping with a lofted wedge incredibly difficult because there's no cushion of thick grass for the club to glide through. The leading edge can easily dig into the firm ground or bounce into the middle of the ball. Therefore, putting from several yards off the green is often the highest-percentage play.
• Lag putting is a premier skill. On these huge greens, just getting down in two putts is an achievement. Your goal on the first putt is not to make it, but to get it close - inside a three-foot "dinner plate" around the hole. Focus on speed, not just line. A good lag putt takes the stress out of the second putt and is the key to avoiding a dreaded three-putt.

Final Thoughts

Playing a true links course is about so much more than hitting perfect shots. It’s an intellectual and creative challenge defined by firm ground, bracing wind, cavernous bunkers, and natural contours that test your imagination and strategy. To succeed, you must abandon the aerial game and learn to use the ground, control your ball flight, and, above all, think your way around the course.

Navigating the puzzles that a links course presents is one of the most rewarding experiences in golf. Having a tool like Caddie AI in your pocket can feel like having a seasoned local caddie right beside you. When you’re faced with a blind tee shot and don't know the line, or you're stuck between clubs in a gale-force wind, our app helps you develop a smart strategy. You can even take a photo of a tricky lie in a gorse bush or a deep bunker, and we can give you a clear, simple recommendation on the best way to play it. By taking the guesswork out of these tough situations, you can play with more confidence and fully immerse yourself in the incredible challenge of links golf.