Is Links golf a different sport?

Tiger

Tiger

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Last Saturday I hit my personal best of 89 on my course.

Then played Felixstowe Ferry yesterday and really struggled on the links. Made some great strikes but the wind just toyed with my ball like a feather. Failed to put any kind of score together.

Played in a better ball comp today and for the nine holes I scored on I racked up 23pts off 3/4 h'cap (26pts against actual).

I love links golf but it's so much harder than parkland golf it's like a different sport! Serious respect for those of you who regularly play on the links. I don't know how you do it!
 
:D Try playing it every week!

It does take time to get used to it, but when you do I think it is the best form of golf ;)

When I am playing in a comp for the club away at a parkland course we normally struggle for a while so don't sweat it.
 
I don’t think it’s a different game, it can sometimes just be a bit harder.

Gives you different shots and I think makes you a better golfer. In saying that with no wind some links can be pretty easy.
 
Don't beat yourself up Tiger, I changed my game to a lower ball flight and it worked. Never thought I'd be putting 20 yards from the green but it was the only sensible shot. Viscount will back me up on that!

Saying that I'd love to play links in the driving rain to see how I fair, bet that's sporting!

CK
 
Not sure its a different game but it does ask different questions. Creativity is key. Parland golf is about knowing how far you have left, which club to use and more or less going for it. The same shot on a links course could be two clubs more, need to be hit left or right to allow for the natural countouring and possibly landed as much as 40 yards short to let it run out. The thing is it comes with experience. I've only played maybe 15-20 links rounds ever and so I still struggle
 
Saying that I'd love to play links in the driving rain to see how I fair, bet that's sporting!

CK
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Rain is easey peasey its when you have rain with wind that is so strong the brolly is useless
 
Don't beat yourself up Tiger, I changed my game to a lower ball flight and it worked. Never thought I'd be putting 20 yards from the green but it was the only sensible shot. Viscount will back me up on that!

Saying that I'd love to play links in the driving rain to see how I fair, bet that's sporting!

CK
Click to expand...

Why would you want to play in driving rain????
 
I don’t think it’s a different game, it can sometimes just be a bit harder.
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I find it easier, fast fairways, tight lies, fast smooth true greens, bunkers full of good sand. Its a joy to play and is my game of choice if I can
 
You don't always get the choice if it was sunny when you teed off.
I love links golf, it brings in more half shot long irons and practically makes the lob wedge etc redundant. It is similar to parkland, heathland etc in that you can be forced to think away from the norm to get the ball close, only instead of maybe trees in the way it could be severe bunkers or huge rolling valleys if you dont find the right line in.
I love the fact that a bad drive doesn't mean coming out sideways like parkland.... Unless you find a small bunker with no chance of progressing the ball.
 
I play an Open qualifying course and the difference between that and my previous club is tremendous. Every shot, and i do mean every single one, is a potential card wrecker. You have to concentrate for the whole round, it's a far greater mental challenge than any parkland i've played.

Add to that the creativity you require, and the fact you're sometimes better missing a green than landing on the wrong part, then it's a real ball breaker.

My mental game has improved immensely since i switched to links. I've learned to let it go when i get a bad break and focus on the next shot. I've learned to accept missing greens and look forward to the challenge of getting up and down. As i'm walking to between shots i'm looking at everything ahead and planning the shot before i get there.

I'd go as far as to say i never want to leave links golf now. My ball striking is the best it's ever been, and when i take my links game to my brothers course i'm not scared to miss a green and my bad shots are not that bad (if you get my drift).

Luckily, despite all that, i'm so good at golf i still find links a piece of piss :p
 
I have to say granters after my first experience I have to agree with what you say. On my home course if I get a good tee shot away I'm looking at no worse than bogey. Playing Felixstowe getting a good tee shot away was tricky enough but every shot after that was challenging. Add to that the variety of shots required...

Mind-blowing. But do you know what it makes me want to get so much better at golf so I can take that challenge head on. IMHO it is a different more demanding game
 
Yes. Been a member at a links course for nearly 30 years, and when I visit a parkland course my low flighted drive, especially when its wet, doesn't go very far. Target golf into the greens but I can leave the ball short because I'm expecting the ball to run like a links green.

The biggest benefit is winter golf. Never have temp greens, or sticky fairways but Jeez the wind in winter!!
 
Don't beat yourself up Tiger, I changed my game to a lower ball flight and it worked. Never thought I'd be putting 20 yards from the green but it was the only sensible shot. Viscount will back me up on that!

Saying that I'd love to play links in the driving rain to see how I fair, bet that's sporting!

CK
Click to expand...

Why would you want to play in driving rain????
Click to expand...

I see it as another challenge. Watching the guys at RSG this year in the rain and wind strangely made me want to try it!

CK
 
I play an Open qualifying course and the difference between that and my previous club is tremendous. Every shot, and i do mean every single one, is a potential card wrecker. You have to concentrate for the whole round, it's a far greater mental challenge than any parkland i've played.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree with this.

On a parkland course you can basically see the shot you need to play even as you walk up to your ball.

One of my abiding memories of when I played RSG (getting on for 20 years ago now) was the sheer mental challenge of trying to work out the right shot to play. I remember feeling mentally drained after just 6 holes. So many variables, lie (upslope/downslope ball above/below feet), wind, contours, run off areas, type of shot, etc. A fantastic challenge and so different from the - 150 yards pull out the 7 iron - target golf I was used to.
 
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