Ever hear a beautiful, windswept golf course next to the ocean get called a links and wonder why? The term gets thrown around a lot, even by seasoned golfers, but it means more than just a course with a sea view. A links course isn't just a style, it's a specific type of land that gave birth to the game we know and love. This article will break down what links truly means, where the name came from, and what makes these courses some of the most challenging and cherished in all of sport.
You can't talk about links golf without a quick, painless history lesson. The word “links” comes from the Old English word ‘hlinc,’ which means "ridge" or "rising ground." This term described a very particular type of coastal land, primarily in Scotland, that was essentially useless for anything else.
Imagine the Scottish coastline centuries ago. You had the fertile, earthy soil further inland, which was perfect for farming (the “in-land”). Then you had the sandy, unusable beaches right at the water’s edge. The land in between - the ‘hlinc' - was a stretch of sandy, wind-beaten terrain with an often-undulating surface. The soil was too sandy and low-quality for growing crops, and its exposure to the salty sea-breeze made it a tough spot for most types of agriculture. It was the "link" between the productive farmland and the sea.
But while this land wasn’t good for farming, it was perfect for two things: grazing sheep and, as it turned out, playing golf. The native grasses were hardy, the sandy soil drained remarkably well, and the sheep kept the grass mown to a playable length. The natural humps, bumps, and hollows created by the wind and terrain formed the very first golf holes. There were no course architects, nature did all the work.
Calling any seaside course a "links" course is a common mistake. A true links course must be built on that specific type of linksland and have a collection of signature features. These traits aren't just aesthetic, they fundamentally change the way you have to play the game. As a coach, this is where it gets interesting, because links golf demands a totally different set of skills and a different mindset than what you'd use on a typical "parkland" course in Middle America.
The foundation of any links course is its sandy soil. Unlike heavy clay or loam found inland, sand drains almost instantly. This means that even after a heavy downpour, the ground remains firm. What does this mean for your golf shot? It means the ball is going to bounce, and it’s going to roll… a lot.
On a parkland course, you often play "target golf." You see a flag 150 yards away, grab a club that flies 150 yards, and aim for the pin. The ball lands softly on a watered green and stops quickly. On a links course, that same 150-yard shot might land 20 yards short of the green and bounce and roll all the way to the back fringe. You have to think differently. You need to embrace the "ground game," playing bump-and-run shots that land short and use the contours of the fairway and green to feed the ball toward the hole. For many golfers, this is a completely new way of playing.
Forget the sprawling, manicured bunkers you see at Augusta National. Links bunkers are small, deep, steep-sided cauldrons of doom known as "pot bunkers." Many were formed naturally by the wind carving out hollows or by sheep huddling for shelter from the elements.
Their small size is deceptive, they are some of the most punishing hazards in golf. The faces are often nearly vertical and shored up with sod or wooden walls. If you find your ball in a pot bunker, your first thought shouldn't be about reaching the green. Your first thought has to be, "Can I get out?" Hitting the steep face in front of you can send the ball right back to your feet. More often than not, the correct and only play is to take your sand wedge, open the face wide, and blast the ball out sideways back to the fairway, taking your medicine and trying to save your score from there.
With no trees to block the wind coming off the sea, a links course is a masterclass in managing the elements. The wind is more than just a factor, it’s the course’s main defense. It can turn a simple-looking 350-yard par-4 into an ordeal. A hole that was a driver and a wedge downwind yesterday might require a fully-struck driver and a 3-wood to get home today playing into the gale.
Playing in the wind demands shot-making creativity. It rewards players who can control the trajectory of their ball. Learning to hit the ball lower - the classic "knockdown" or "stinger" shot - is a huge advantage. This involves taking more club, choking down on the grip, moving the ball slightly back in your stance, and making a shorter, a more controlled swing. A lower-flying shot is less affected by the wind and will run out more on the firm turf, using the course’s natural features to your advantage.
While links courses are famously devoid of trees, that doesn't mean you can just spray the ball anywhere. The rough on a links course is often a thick, tangled mix of fescue grasses, gorse (a prickly, yellow-flowered bush), and heather. Hitting into this stuff is serious trouble.
Unlike parkland rough where you can usually muscle a wedge out, finding your ball in a gorse bush is a near-certain penalty stroke for an unplayable lie. The thick fescue grasses will grab your hosel and turn the clubface over at impact, sending even your best rescue attempt diving left. The strategy on a links course is to prioritize the fairway above all else, even if it means clubbing down off the tee for better control.
This is where the distinction becomes important. Many famous and beautiful courses are on the coast but are not true links. The key difference lies in the foundation of the course.
So while Pebble Beach has stunning ocean views, it's technically a "seaside clifftop" course, not a links. Its fairways aren't the firm, rumbling ground of a true links layout. Recognizing this difference helps you appreciate what makes each style of golf course a unique test of your game.
The term "links" is far more than a simple nickname for a golf course near the ocean. It refers to a specific piece of geography where the game was born and a style of play that is raw, strategic, and deeply connected to the natural landscape. Understanding this history and these characteristics adds a rich layer of appreciation next time you watch a Major Championship or get the chance to tee it up on one of these historic grounds.
Knowing the theory behind links strategy is one thing, but applying it successfully hole-by-hole, in constantly changing winds, is another challenge entirely. The difference between hitting into gorse and rolling a perfectly judged shot up to the pin often comes down to having a clear, confident strategy. We built Caddie AI for exactly that purpose - to give you access to expert-level strategy on any course, under any conditions, so you can stop guessing and start committing to your shots with confidence.
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