Ever stand on a tee box, feel the wind whip sideways off the ocean, and see a golf course that looks less like a manicured park and more like rugged, rolling dunes? If so, you might have been looking at a links course. Understanding links golf is about more than just knowing a definition, it's about appreciating a totally different, ancient style of the game. This guide will walk you through exactly what makes a links course unique and, more importantly, how to adjust your game to conquer its distinct challenges.
The term "links" comes from old Scottish dialect, referring to the specific type of land that *links* the sea to the more fertile farmland further inland. This coastal strip wasn't good for growing crops because of its sandy soil and salty air, but it turned out to be perfect for a game involving hitting a ball with a stick. True links courses are always found on this type of land.
The defining feature born from this location is the turf. The sandy soil drains almost instantly, which means the ground is almost always firm and fast. Unlike lush, green parkland courses where your shot stops where it lands, on a links course, the ground is an active part of the game. A drive that hits the fairway might roll for another 50 or 60 yards, for better or worse. This is why you'll often hear commentators talking about the "ground game" during The Open Championship - professional golfers have to account for these massive skips and rolls.
Another classic feature is the relative lack of trees. The blustery, salty coastal winds make it very difficult for large trees to take root and grow. This leaves the course exposed and completely at the mercy of the weather, which is its primary defense.
While a coastal setting is a must, several other features truly define the links experience. When you spot these, you know you're in for a special round of golf. From a coach's perspective, each of these features demands a specific adjustment to your strategy.
As we mentioned, the sandy soil creates a hard, fast-playing surface. It plays more like a sun-baked runway than the soft, receptive fairways you might be used to. A topped shot might run 150 yards, while a perfectly struck high draw could take a hard bounce right into the rough.
Actionable Advice: Embrace the "bump and run." This shot is your best friend on a links course. Instead of attacking every pin with a high-lofted wedge, think about using a lower-lofted club like a 7, 8, or 9-iron. Plan to land the ball 20 or 30 yards short of the green and let it release and roll up towards the hole like a long putt. It’s a much higher-percentage shot, especially when the wind is gusting.
Forget the sprawling, fluffy, white-sand bunkers of Augusta. Links bunkers - known as pot bunkers - are small, deep, and utterly terrifying. Often camouflaged by the surrounding mounds, you might not even see one until you're right on top of it. They tend to have very steep, sod-stacked faces that can act like a wall.
Actionable Advice: Your first priority is to get out, period. Do not try to be a hero and attack the pin if it means you have to clear a 5-foot revetted face. Take a quick look and find the lowest point of the bunker lip, even if that means hitting your ball sideways or completely backwards onto the fairway. Take your medicine. To get the ball up quickly, open your clubface wide, dig your feet into the sand for a stable base, and take a steep swing, hitting the sand a couple of inches behind the ball.
Links courses were not built with bulldozers. The fairways follow the natural contours of the land, meaning flat lies are a rarity. You'll constantly find yourself with the ball above your feet, below your feet, or on a sidehill. These random lumps and bumps, sometimes called 'hummocks', can also lead to strange bounces and blind shots where you can't see the landing area.
Actionable Advice: Focus on landing zones, not perfect yardages. Before your shot, walk to the side to see what the ground does around the green. Maybe there's a slope that will funnel the ball toward the hole. Instead of aiming directly at the flagstick, aim for that feeder slope. Firing directly at the pin from the fairway can easily lead to a bad bounce into a hidden bunker.
With no trees to block it, the wind is a constant presence and the architectural centerpiece of any links course. It dictates club selection and shot shape on every single hole. A gentle par 4 can become a brutal beast requiring a driver and a 3-wood if you're hitting into a 30 mph headwind.
Actionable Advice: A common phrase among links veterans is "when it's breezy, swing easy." Gripping down a bit on the club and making a smoother, 80% swing helps keep the ball down and imparts less backspin, meaning the wind won't affect it as much. Learn to flight the ball lower. Play the ball slightly further back in your stance, put your hands a little ahead, and focus on finishing your swing low. This is the classic "stinger" shot you see pros hit, and it’s invaluable in the wind.
What links courses lack in trees, they make up for in prickly, nightmare-inducing vegetation. Gorse is a thick, thorny yellow-flowered bush that acts like a solid wall. If your ball goes in, don't even bother looking. Tall fescue is that wispy, golden-colored grass that looks beautiful waving in the breeze but is unbelievably thick and grabby when you're trying to hit out of it.
Actionable Advice: Be exceptionally realistic. Coming out of fescue, the heavy grass will grab your hosel and shut the clubface, sending the ball left with very little power. Take your most lofted wedge and just hack it back out to the fairway. Fighting it is a recipe for a double bogey or worse.
Many of the oldest links courses, most famously the Old Course at St. Andrews, feature massive double greens. One huge putting surface might serve two different holes coming from opposite directions. This means you might hit a great shot onto the correct green, only to leave yourself with a 150-foot putt with triple-breaking contours.
Actionable Advice: Your lag putting needs to be sharp. Before your round, spend 10 minutes on the practice green hitting putts from one edge to the other to get a feel for the speed. On the course, don't be afraid to use your "Texas Wedge" - your putter - from well off the green. The tight lies of the fairways will allow the ball to roll smoothly, and putting is often a safer play than trying a delicate chip.
Many classic links courses have a traditional routing where the front nine holes travel "out" away from the clubhouse in a relatively straight line to the farthest point on the property. The nine then turns ("the turn") and the back nine holes travel "in," running parallel back towards the clubhouse. While modern courses often return to the clubhouse after 9, this classic routing has strategic implications.
Actionable Advice: Pay attention to the wind on the first tee. If it's a helping wind for the first two hours as you go out, that means it's almost certain to be a punishing headwind for the last two hours as you come back in. You have to score while you have the advantage and then hang on for dear life coming home.
Ultimately, a links course feels like it was discovered, not built. The paths are worn by foot traffic, not paved with asphalt. The hazards are pot bunkers and bushes, not artificial water features. It harmonizes with its environment, presenting a raw and authentic version of golf that connects you to the origins of the game.
Actionable Advice: Mentally, you must accept this. You will get bad bounces. You will hit perfect drives that end up in unplayable positions. The golfer who wins on a links course is the one who accepts this "rub of the green" with a shrug and focuses on the next shot, not the one who complains about fairness. Creativity and a positive attitude are your 15th and 16th clubs.
A true links course is shaped by nature: the sandy soil, the coastal winds, and the rugged, rolling land. Playing one successfully means leaving your "target golf" mindset at home and embracing a creative, low-trajectory game that uses the ground as an ally. It's a test of patience, imagination, and shot-making that every golfer should experience.
Facing a links course for the first time can be a test, especially when you’re figuring out how to handle a 3-club wind or a strange lie in the fescue. This is where having the right information can build confidence. With our Caddie AI, you can get instant strategy and advice right on the course. For example, you can describe the wind and hole layout for a smart club recommendation, or even snap a picture of a rough lie to get an opinion on the best way to play it. We believe having an on-demand golf brain in your pocket helps you adapt to these unique challenges, commit to your shots, and truly enjoy the one-of-a-kind experience of links golf.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
