Links Golf

What is Links Golf and How to Play

Playing golf consistently requires all parts of our mind and body to score well.

Paired with tough weather such as wind and rain, challenging courses, and a variety of playing partners, you just never know what can happen.But if you want to make things even more challenging (and also more fun), it might be time to try out some links golf. 

This style of golf is how the founders of the game intended for it to be played and things have changed significantly over the years. Luckily, each year we get to see this style of golf play out with the British Open (also known as the Open Championship). 

As golf fans, get to see the world’s best players hit stingers, putt from 30 yards off the green, masterfully escape pot bunkers, and hack out of thick fescue. It’s a totally different experience than “normal” golf in the United States and presents challenges that many of us never get to tackle.

If you’re ready for the challenge, keep reading to learn what links golf is and how to play well on this type of golf course. 

If you’re like a lot of golfers, you’ve probably wondered, what is the difference between links golf and regular golf?

And honestly, it’s a good question! Because if you live in the United States, you might not have ever even played traditional links golf in your life.

Links is the oldest style of course in the world and was first developed in Scotland. According to Wikipedia, “The term “links” comes via the Scots language from the Old English word hlinc: “rising ground, ridge and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland.”

These courses are very different from the “normal” versions of golf courses that most of us play today. So what makes them so different?

  • Topography. The biggest difference is links golf is usually an undulated surface with a sandy soil underneath. Expect the ground to be firm and get plenty of roll out on your tee shots (especially if you’re downwind). The course architect of a links courses use the natural terrain on most golf holes and there are very few trees. Instead, there are usually large dunes throughout the course, which can lead to some interesting lies in the fairway and near the green.
  • Different style greens. Aside from all the dunes, the greens are usually quite larger than most courses and also very flat. Not to mention, the greens usually much slower as well, which is why some PGA Tour players struggle to adjust their speed control. 
  • Fescue grass. There is usually a main fairway, possibly one cut of rough, then the thick rough aka fescue grass. This grass is difficult for most golfers to hit out of and requires more of a chopping motion to advance the ball back into play.  Golf Course designers love to strategically place these patches throughout the round and as a fan, it’s fun to see during the British Open.
  • Pot bunkers. We can’t forget about these type of bunkers either, as they’re on so many holes in links golf. These are usually very deep and are placed strategically throughout the course. Oftentimes, they’ll have a huge lip and possibly even stairs to help you get in and out of the hazard. For most players, they are a nightmare to escape!

Finally, most links courses tend to usually be located close to a coast as well, which makes wind and rain a factor too. These coastal regions and different conditions are sure to test any golfer’s ability.

How to Play Links Style Golf

Now that you have a better understanding of links golf, let’s dive into how to master it. As you can probably tell from the description above, playing this type of golf is quite different from a normal round. This style of golf usually requires a lot more creativity, imagination and perseverance to shoot consistently low scores.

In most cases, you have to adjust your playing style so that you can score well. Some things to consider include hitting it lower off the tee, bouncing shots on the green, and avoiding deep pot bunkers at all costs. 

Here are some of our best tips to help you master playing links golf.

Pack Correctly

The first tip to playing true link courses (or a links style golf course) is to make sure you have the right gear; both your clubs and your clothing choices

First, you want to make sure to have the right clubs for the golf course. Specifically, this might be a good time to swap out a fairway wood or hybrid for a long iron (if you have them). Since high shots aren’t typically rewarded, a lower shot with a long iron will usually help your game a lot more.

Second, you want to make sure that you have the right attire for your round. Links golf usually means unpredictable weather, so make sure you pack plenty of wind and rain gear. That includes a beanie, rain gloves, and maybe even mittens if it’s a day where you need cold weather gear

You also want to make sure that you have comfortable shoes as well. Oftentimes, true links courses require you to walk instead of ride, so it’s important that you have shoes that won’t yield any blisters

Learn the Knockdown Shot

Playing this style of golf usually means a course that is wide open, which means plenty of wind. You don’t get much blocking the weather except a few mounds, so expect to play in a ton of wind. For some golfers, this presents a huge problem, as most of us are accustomed to hitting it high on pretty much every shot (or at least try too).

But if you launch all your shots high on this type of golf course, you’re in for a long round. Which makes Phil Mickelson winning a British Open that much more impressive. In the United States, Phil is known for his amazing height, and winning the Open Championship proved that he has all the shots. 

To make the adjustment to your ball flight, you want to:

  • Choke up on the club.
  • Play the ball more in the middle of your stance (not in the back).
  • Take a less than full backswing and finish lower on your follow through.

These adjustments will help you play golf on a links style course much easier.

Improve Your Bunker Game 

Links land has the dreaded pot bunkers.

Even for the pros, these deep bunkers aren’t easy to escape and will require your best shots to make it happen. Perhaps the best example is the Old Course at St. Andrews, which features the famous “Road hole” bunker.

But if you have the right form, you can get over these high lips and give yourself a putt to get up and down. To get out of pot bunkers, just make a few adjustments from your normal bunker shot.

  • Use your highest lofted wedge. You will need to get the ball up quickly, so make sure you have plenty of loft to help you out. 
  • Open the face at address. 60 degrees of loft still isn’t enough, make sure you open the club up even more so that the face is pretty much wide open. 
  • Adjust your ball position. Make sure the ball is off your left heel so you can launch it high. 
  • Swing with speed. Finally, make sure you have plenty of speed to get the ball up and out of the pot bunker.  This isn’t the time to decelerate, otherwise you might have an even more challenging shot that is closer to the lip. 

Also, don’t forget, sometimes the best strategy is just to get out of the bunker.

That might mean hitting the golf ball sideways or even backward to avoid a big number. It’s hard to even think that way for most golfers, but a bogey is much better than a double or worse. 

Use the Bump and Run

Unlike traditional courses, links style courses require you to keep the ball low. That means you should master your bump and run before you head out. This shot is much easier to execute than a high flop shot or pitch and should roll like a putt once it hits the green. 

With a bump and run, you want to take the spin off so that it hits the green and releases. If it has spin, you’ll be far away from the hole and have a tough two putt. 

To minimize spin, make sure to:

  • Use a lower lofted club. Now isn’t the time for a lob or even sand wedge. Instead, opt for a pitching wedge or short to mid-iron to minimize backspin.
  • Adjust your setup. Choke up on the golf club and stand closer as if it were a putter. 
  • Minimize wrist activity. With this shot, you want minimum wrist activity and a short motion, almost as if you’re putting.  

This simple shot will be your best friend on a link course. Click here to learn more about the difference between chipping and pitching.

Work on Your Lag Putting

Putting is a crucial part of playing well on a links course. Usually the greens are massive compared to a lot of normal courses, which will require you to hit 40-80 foot (or more) putts. 

Make sure to read our full article on lag putting so that you’re prepared for some long putts. 

Try Unconventional Clubs

One of the best parts about golfing on this type of course is that it allows you to get creative. With almost any shot, there are tons of ways to play it, unlike most courses in the United States.

Have some fun and don’t be afraid to experiment. For a greenside shot, you can putt it, use a wedge, iron, or even use a hybrid like a putter. 

Stay Patient on a Links Golf course

Finally, make sure you stay patient.

With links golf, you’re bound to get some tough weather and some weird bounces even on your good shots. If you’re not patient as the round continues, it’s easy to let the new course get the best of you.

Instead, laugh off the bad breaks, play one shot at a time, and enjoy the experience. 

What is Links Golf?

Do you have more questions about this type of course? If so, hopefully we’ll answer them in the frequently asked questions section below. 

Hitting the links is slang for going to the course. Since “links” is an old term that is used for golf, this is a way to signify that you are planning to golf. Even if you’re playing a “normal”, new style course, this saying still works. 

No, Pebble Beach (despite the name Pebble Beach Golf Links) is not considered a true links course for a few reasons. While it is right next to the Pacific Ocean, there are some things that make it different from a traditional links course. 

  • Tight fairways. Pebble has some tight fairways compared to normal links courses that are pretty wide open. 
  • Small greens. These greens are the smallest among any of the PGA Tour stops. Plus, they’re a fraction of the size of true links courses. According to the PGA Tour, “A total of 10,303 PGA TOUR rounds have been played at Pebble Beach since 1983, meaning a player has hit all 18 greens just 0.07% of the time or once in every 1,472 rounds. Last season, Pebble Beach had the eighth-hardest greens to hit on TOUR (62.9%).”
  • Tiered greens. There are significant slopes on these smaller greens, which aren’t like normal, flat greens of a links course. 

Even if it isn’t a “traditional” links course, it’s still a great place to visit and certainly worth a bucket list trip. The coastal areas yield some amazing views too!

Yes and no.

The layout of a links course is usually easier than most traditional courses. The ball rolls farther, the greens are pretty flat, and there aren’t many water hazards. 

But for most of us who don’t play this style of course often, it might result in higher scores. A lot of golfers struggle with the different types of approaches, hitting drivers low, and greenside shots they haven’t practiced often. 

The other concern is also the weather. Since the course has few obstacles and usually close to the ocean, that means tougher playing conditions. 

True links golf courses aren’t easy to find these days, but if you’re up for a journey to Ireland and Scotland, there are tons of options.

If you want to play golf on iconic courses, here are some of the most famous in the world:

  • Royal Troon.
  • Royal St. George.
  • Royal Country Down.
  • Carnoustie Golf Links.
  • Royal Portrush Golf Club.
  • Old Course at St. Andrews.

Despite the considerable distance from home, these are some of the first courses ever played and sure to make some amazing memories.

There are several PGA Tour events that make a stop at a coastal location for a fun golf tournament for fans to watch. In the United States, there are some very well known links courses, including: 

  • Kiawah Island.
  • Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
  • Chambers Bay (home of 2015 US Open)
  • Whistling Straits (played host of the 2022 Ryder Cup).

And a ton more, but these are some of the most recognizable courses. Not to mention, there are tons of public courses that have links characteristics, even if they aren’t “traditional” links courses.  Make sure to Google “Links golf course near me” to find the best courses close by. 

Playing this type of course is a great way to mix up your normal round and hit shots that you don’t get a chance to hit. While most courses won’t compare to St. Andrews, it’s a fun time for you and your buddies.

There are three main types of golf courses, links, desert, and parkland courses.

A parkland course, also known as inland courses, offers tons of trees (usually pine trees) and lush grass in the fairway and rough. Don’t expect to find sandy soil at these types of courses.

Perhaps the most famous parkland course is Augusta National, host of the iconic Masters tournament every year. While it’s hard to compare Augusta National to any other golf club, it’s certainly the crown jewel of parkland courses.

Parkland courses differ from desert golf courses as there is usually thicker rough and more trees. While desert golf, like in Arizona for example, has tons of desert terrain to navigate off the fairway.

This old school way of golf is a fun way to mix up our traditional, new version of golf courses. This type of course is the way the founders of this game imagined it being played and is how they competed centuries ago. 

When you’re playing on links golf courses, make sure to make the necessary changes to get the most out of your game. This means changing your clubs and also your mindset on how to attack each shot. As Sam Snead said, “Don’t just play your way around the course, think your way around the course.” 

Finally, make sure that you have fun and tap into your child like intuition. Links golf allows you to get super creative, so make sure to test out all kinds of different shots from tee to green.