Standing on the first tee of a true links course feels fundamentally different - the rumpled ground, the salty wind, and the sound of the turf under your feet all tell you this isn't your average round of golf. It’s a raw, strategic version of the game that asks different questions of your swing and your mind. This guide will walk you through exactly what makes links golf so unique and, more importantly, give you practical advice on how to adjust your game to conquer its challenges.
The single biggest difference between a links course and a typical parkland course is the ground itself. Links courses are built on sandy soil, which drains instantly and creates exceptionally firm and fast-playing surfaces. Unlike the soft, lush fairways you might be used to, where your tee shot plugs with a satisfying thud, a links fairway will send your ball bounding and rolling, sometimes for another fifty yards or more.
This reality completely changes how you think about distance. On a parkland course, you focus almost exclusively on your "carry distance" - how far the ball flies in the air. On a links course, "total distance" is what matters. A well-struck 7-iron that carries 150 yards might roll out to 180. A drive that lands in the fairway could bounce left or right depending on the subtle contours of the ground. Learning to use this to your advantage is the first step toward scoring well.
Instead of firing directly at the pin on every approach shot, start looking for a "front door" to the green. Can you land the ball 20 or 30 yards short and let it run up? This is often the smarter play. It keeps the ball lower, out of the wind (more on that later), and removes some of the risk of an offline shot carrying into a deep bunker or thick rough.
Here’s how to put that into practice:
Because the turf is so firm, you have an option available around the greens that is rarely viable on softer courses: the bump-and-run. Instead of automatically reaching for a lofted sand or lob wedge, you can use a less-lofted club to get the ball on the ground and rolling like a putt as quickly as possible. It’s a higher-percentage shot for most amateurs because there's much less that can go wrong than with a delicate pitch.
How to Hit the Bump-and-Run:
If there’s no immediate obstacle like a bunker between you and the flag, the bump-and-run should be your go-to shot on a links course.
Linksland is almost always located along a coastline, meaning it's exposed to the elements. The wind is not just a nuisance, it's a fundamental part of the course's defense. It can change direction in an instant and affect every single shot you hit, from a 300-yard drive to a three-foot putt.
Your gut instinct when hitting into a stiff headwind will be to swing harder. This is the worst thing you can do. A harder, faster swing generates more backspin, which causes the ball to balloon up into the air and get eaten alive by the wind, often ending up shorter than if you'd made a normal swing. The pro's motto says it all: "When it's breezy, swing easy."
Instead, take one or two extra clubs and make a smooth, controlled three-quarter swing. That smoother rhythm will reduce spin and produce a lower, more piercing ball flight that can bore through the wind.
Hitting the "flighted" or "knockdown" shot is an essential links skill. It’s all about launching the ball on a lower trajectory to keep it under the strongest gusts of wind.
How to Hit a Lower Shot:
For crosswinds, don't fight them - _use them_. If the wind is blowing hard from right to left, aim for the right side of the fairway or green and let the wind carry your ball back toward your target. It feels risky, but trusting the wind is a hallmark of a good links player.
The hazards on a links course are designed to be truly penal. There are no fluffy, forgiving American-style bunkers here. You’ll be facing pot bunkers - small, deep, and often with steep, riveted faces. Alongside them, you’ll find fescue and gorse - thick, wiry rough that can swallow a golf ball and is nearly impossible to play from.
If you find yourself in a pot bunker, your mindset must immediately change. The goal is not to get close to the hole. The only goal is to get out in one shot. Trying to be a hero and advance the ball 30 yards toward the green often results in the ball hitting the steep face and rolling right back to your feet.
A sideways shot back to the fairway feels like a defeat, but it's far better than taking two or three shots to escape the bunker.
The same logic applies to the deep fescue rough. When your ball dives in there, take a moment to assess the lie soberly. If it's sitting down, your only play is to take a wedge and hack it back to the shortest grass. Forget the green. Trying to muscle a 7-iron out of deep fescue almost never works. Take your medicine, escape, and you can still save your hole.
Ultimately, links golf is about letting go of the pursuit of perfection and embracing creativity, strategy, and resilience. You have to learn to play with the wind, use the ground as an ally, and accept that sometimes a good shot will get a bad bounce. It’s a challenge that rewards smart thinking as much as it does a good swing.
Playing smarter golf on a tough links course is precisely what we designed Caddie AI to help with. When you’re facing a nasty lie in the fescue or unsure how a stiff wind will affect your club choice, we can give you an instant, expert recommendation. By snapping a photo of your ball's lie or describing the hole’s conditions, you get clear strategic advice that removes the guesswork, allowing you to play with more confidence and make the smart decisions that links golf demands.
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