A true Scottish links course is golf played how it was originally intended - on the rugged, sandy coastline where the game was born. It challenges you with firm turf, howling winds, and unpredictable bounces that reward creativity and strategic thinking over raw power. This guide will walk you through what defines a links course and, more importantly, give you practical advice on how to tackle one and enjoy every minute of the experience.
The word "links" literally refers to a specific type of land. It’s the sandy, rolling ground found along the Scottish coast that "links" the sea to the more fertile farmland inland. This land wasn’t good enough for crops, but it was perfect for a game involving a stick and a ball.
Over time, this landscape became the blueprint for golf's original playing fields. So, when someone talks about "links golf," they are referring to a course built on this type of sandy, seaside terrain, defined by a specific set of natural characteristics that shapes how the game is played.
While some modern courses might be called "links-style," a true links course is dictated by its geography. Here are the core features you’ll find on an authentic Scottish links layout.
Understanding these features is the first step to adjusting your game and your mindset. A links course isn't just about different scenery, it’s about a completely different style of golf.
The single most important feature of a links course is the ground itself. The sandy soil drains water with incredible speed, creating a very firm and fast-playing surface. Unlike the lush, soft fairways of a parkland course where your ball plugs upon landing, on a links course, the ball hits the ground and runs.
This is the heart of what’s known as "the ground game." You don't just think about how far your ball will fly (its carry distance), you have to calculate how far it will roll after it lands. A 7-iron might fly 150 yards but roll another 30. This changes everything, from club selection off the tee to how you approach the greens.
You won’t find the massive, sprawling bunkers of modern courses here. Links bunkers, known as "pot bunkers," are typically small, circular, and shockingly deep. They’re often built with steep, sod-walled faces that can be nearly vertical.
Their purpose isn’t just to be a hazard, they are ball-magnets, strategically placed to swallow up slightly errant shots. Finding yourself in one is a real penalty. Most of the time, the only shot you have is to hit out sideways or even backward just to get back on the grass.
Links courses are built on exposed, coastal land, meaning the wind isn't just a possibility, it's a baked-in feature of the round. It can switch direction in an instant and change a gentle par-4 into a menacing beast that requires a driver and a 3-wood to reach.
Learning to play in the wind is non-negotiable on a links course. Fighting it with brute force is a losing battle. The key is to work with it, hitting lower, more controlled shots that pierce through the air rather than ballooning up into it.
Links layouts are not bulldozed into existence. They follow the natural contours of the land, resulting in rumpled fairways full of humps, hollows, and random bounces that can send a perfect tee shot sideways into the rough. This is where luck, both good and bad, becomes part of the game.
You’ll almost never have a perfectly flat lie. You will have to learn to play shots with the ball above your feet, below your feet, and from uphill and downhill slopes. This is also where strategy comes in. Smart players learn to use the slopes, landing the ball on a hill to feed it toward a pin or using a ridge as a backstop.
You won't find many trees on a links course. The primary trouble waiting for you off the fairway is waist-high fescue grass, thorny gorse bushes, and purple-flowered heather. Fescue grass wraps around your club hosel and makes it nearly impossible to control the clubface. Gorse is worse - if you hit your ball into a gorse bush, it's almost always lost or unplayable.
Simply put, the penalty for missing a fairway is severe. Links golf places a tremendous premium on accuracy and course management, not just bombing it down the middle.
Now that you know what to expect, how do you string it all together for a successful round?
The "hero shot" - the high-arcing flop shot you see on TV - is a low-percentage play on firm links turf. It’s far too easy to slide the club directly under the ball or mis-hit it thin. Instead, think "low risk." The putt from off the green or the low-running 8-iron is almost always the smarter, safer play.
Before every shot, ask yourself two questions: "What is my target landing area?" and "What will the ball do once it hits the ground?" A fade might land softly, but a draw will hit the fairway and run for miles. You have to consider both the flight and the roll to get the final distance right.
You will hit a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway that kicks hard right into a pot bunker. It’s going to happen. The best links players accept this as part of the challenge. Getting mad will only lead to more mistakes. Take a deep breath, accept your fate, and focus on your next shot. Links golf rewards patience as much as skill.
Playing a Scottish links course is an experience that connects you to the historical roots of the sport. It's a game of imagination, creativity, and mental toughness that challenges you to use the ground, manage the wind, and think your way around the course rather than just hitting for distance.
Navigating the unique challenges of a links course requires a different kind of thinking, especially when you're faced with an unfamiliar shot or a tricky situation. With our app, Caddie AI, you can get tour-level guidance right in your pocket. If you're standing on the tee trying to decipher the best strategy with the wind howling, you can ask for a clear plan. When you find your ball in a tough lie next to a gorse bush, you can snap a photo, and we will analyze the situation and suggest the smartest way to play it, helping you turn a potential disaster into a managed recovery.
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