Links golf is played on coastal courses built on sandy terrain between the sea and farmland. The word "links" comes from the Old English "hlinc," meaning rising ground or ridge. It refers to the specific type of land, not a generic term for golf courses.
The most famous links courses: St Andrews (Scotland), Royal County Down (Northern Ireland), Royal Birkdale (England), Ballybunion (Ireland), and Bandon Dunes (Oregon, USA).
What makes a links course different
| Feature | Links course | Parkland course |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain | Sandy, firm, rolling | Soft, manicured, flat or gently hilly |
| Trees | Few or none | Many, often lining fairways |
| Bunkers | Deep pot bunkers with steep faces | Shallow, wider bunkers |
| Wind | Strong, constant, changes direction | Sheltered by trees |
| Rough | Fescue, gorse, heather | Bluegrass, ryegrass |
| Fairways | Firm, ball bounces and rolls | Soft, ball stops quickly |
| Water | Rarely a factor | Ponds, lakes, streams common |
How to play links golf
Keep the ball low
Wind is the biggest factor on a links course. Hitting high shots into a 20 mph headwind loses distance and control. Learn the "punch shot" or "knockdown" to keep the ball under the wind. Use 1-2 extra clubs and swing at 75% with the ball back in your stance.
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Use the ground
Links fairways are firm. The ball bounces and rolls 30-50 yards after landing. Plan for this. A 150-yard carry can become a 190-yard shot on a firm, downwind links fairway. Around the greens, bump-and-run shots with a 7 or 8-iron often work better than high lob shots.
Accept unpredictable bounces
Links courses have mounds, hollows, and uneven surfaces. Your ball will take bad bounces. It will also take good bounces. That's part of the game. Play to the widest part of the fairway and the center of the green.
Club selection changes
Into the wind, you might need a 5-iron where you'd normally hit a 9-iron. Downwind, a 9-iron might fly as far as a 6-iron. Assess wind speed and direction on every shot.
The Open Championship and links golf
The Open Championship (British Open) is always played on a links course. It rotates among about 10 courses on the Open rota, all in the UK. The Open is considered the truest test of links golf at the professional level.
The course setup for The Open emphasizes firm, fast conditions. Fairways run hard. Greens are slick. The rough is thick fescue that can make a ball unplayable from 10 feet off the fairway.
Can you play links golf in the US?
True links courses are rare in the US because the specific coastal terrain isn't common. A few courses come close:
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- Bandon Dunes (Bandon, Oregon): built on the Oregon coast, widely considered the best links-style golf in America. 5 courses, all walkable, with Pacific Ocean views.
- Shinnecock Hills (Southampton, NY): one of the oldest courses in the US, with links-like features including firm turf and coastal wind.
- Whistling Straits (Kohler, WI): built to look like a links course along Lake Michigan, though the terrain is manufactured rather than natural.
Many US courses call themselves "links" in their name but are standard parkland courses. A course with trees lining every fairway and ponds on 8 holes is not links golf.
For scoring help on any course type, see our scoring terms guide and beginner's guide.
