Links (golf)

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Linksland on the Falsterbo golf course, Sweden
A blind par 3 on Fanø Golf Links
Old Course of the Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth from 1889
View of the 1st fairway of The Links at Spanish Bay golf course, Pebble Beach, USA

The term links or links course refers to a special type of golf course that is modeled on the original courses in Great Britain, where golf began.

Linksland

This type of golf course is characterized by the fact that it is located on so-called links land. This is the dune landscape that used to be considered unusable and connects the sea with the fertile farmland (possible etymology: English to link “connect”). Since you could neither grow something there nor let animals graze productively (possible etymology: Old English hlinc "hill country"), this strip of land whipped by the wind and sea was released for general use. Among other things, golf was played there.

Linksland consists of salty sandy soil that is overgrown with barren grass and becomes very hard in summer. Trees are almost never found, the vegetation is limited to undemanding vegetation such as gorse , heather and other shrubs. Other common elements of the Linksland are natural sand pits, small streams or a river flowing into the sea and sometimes very high dunes . Irregularities in the terrain are usually left in place, so that left-hand courses appear particularly rough and natural.

Playability

Links courses can be played on in almost any weather. When wet, the barren sandy soils drain so well that, in contrast to the clay soils that are common in inland pitches, no mud or slush forms. Frost is very rare due to the coastal location and extreme drought in summer, when loamy soils have to be watered generously, the Linksland withstands without any problems. The fairways are then very hard and fast, but still retain their elasticity, so that ideal locations for the golf ball result.

Seaside Links and Inland Links

It is controversial whether a links course must necessarily be on the seashore or whether there is also something like "inland links". Advocates of a geological point of view argue that linksland can only form where the sea has retreated and left a dune landscape that was subsequently covered by fertile soil from the mouth of a river. Golf developed in Scotland at the mouths of the Eden , Tay and Forth rivers .

Other experts also accept links-like land, as can be found inland in heather areas or on the banks of large lakes, and justify this with visual and technical comparability.

But also undisputed links can be at least a certain distance inland. The famous Royal Lytham & St Anne's Open Course is located several hundred meters from the coast and is completely enclosed by buildings. The historic Links von Leith also has no view of the sea. Likewise, not every coastal place is a link. For example, golf courses on cliffs often do not belong to this type, as they have completely different geological, visual and technical features. A famous example of this is - despite the name - the Pebble Beach Golf Links on the Monterrey Peninsula in California .

marketing

Today, the term links is often used in an effective way to suggest a special quality and exclusivity of a golf course. In fact, there are only about 160 real links places worldwide. Occasionally one switches to terms such as "Classic Links" or "True Links" to make this difference clear. A significant number of accesses are also not to be expected, since the terrain required for this has meanwhile been placed under nature protection almost everywhere. Links projects have only been implemented in remote or inhospitable areas in recent years, for example in Oregon and Tasmania . The Budersand links course on Sylt , which opened in 2008, is an exception . The natural dune landscape had already been largely destroyed due to its previous use as a military base and airport, so that the usual environmental requirements did not apply here.

Golf aspects

The game of golf on links courses is primarily made more difficult by strong and surprisingly changing winds, but the very fast and often wavy fairways due to the hard sandy soil also allow the ball to bounce uncontrollably.

The sand bunkers on the left-hand side are also dreaded obstacles, as they often appear as pot bunkers that are so deep that their inner walls have to be supported with railway sleepers and can only be accessed via stairs or a ladder.

The rough in general, and gorse in particular, are particularly punitive elements and it takes considerable skill to get the ball out of there.

The hard and fast greens on links golf courses can often not be played directly because the ball then rolls off the green on the other side. Instead of playing the usual high shot that comes up on the green, the golfer is often forced to bounce the ball on the fairway and roll onto the green. Since this "bump and run" shot is rarely needed outside of links courses, many golfers have insufficient command of it.

Because the fairways are embedded in the natural dune landscape, so-called blind strokes often occur, i.e. strokes where you cannot see the target area. In addition, the fairways are often hard and very fast, so that the ball can jump into unfavorable positions even with good hits. On the other hand, such conditions are a prerequisite for the traditional "ground game", in which the ball is played flat and using the waves in the terrain.

Another characteristic of links courses is the traditional routing of the holes. This means that the first 9 holes run along the coast (“out”) and the second 9 then lead back to the clubhouse inland (“in”). However, this tradition is deviated from on some links courses, as the terrain available is not suitable everywhere. Since the wind plays a major role on links courses, routing is a more important factor in planning than on other golf courses.

Left seats (selection)

Scotland

Ireland

  • Ballybunion Old, Carne, County Sligo (Rosses Point), Lahinch, Portmarnock, The European Club, Tralee, Waterville

England

France

  • Alsace Golf Club, Rouffach

Northern Ireland

  • Royal County Down, Royal Portrush

Wales

  • Royal Porthcawl, Royal St David's

United States

  • National Golf Links of America, Whistling Straits, Pacific Dunes

Canada

Sweden

  • Falsterbo

Spain

  • El Saler

Denmark

Germany

  • Norderney
  • Budersand - Sylt
  • Marine GC - Sylt
  • WinstonLinks - Vorbeck / Meck.-Vorp.
  • Links Course - Cologne
  • Föhr-Föhr golf club
  • Herzogswalder Links - Wilsdruff, OT Herzogswalde

Australia

  • New South Wales

United Arab Emirates

  • Yas Links, Abu Dhabi

literature

Paul Daley: Links Golf - an inside story . Albrecht Golf Verlag GmbH, 2002, ISBN 3-87014-148-4