CallawayKid
Q-School Graduate
Smiffy, I'm from Essex, that's standard ops on a Saturday night for most round here!
Is Links golf a different sport?
- Thread starter Tiger
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Smiffy, I'm from Essex, that's standard ops on a Saturday night for most round here!
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
Why does everyone always see "Parkland" golf as "target" golf?
No bumps and swales to take your ball away from the green eh? I saw plenty at the Grove the other week. Plenty of side/uphill/downhill lies too. And there's plenty on my course. Loads of courses I've played you have to think about the shot - parkland in Summer can get just as bouncy and the ball run just as far as a links course. Same skills needed...
Links is a different game to Parkland - but it's still Golf. They both have virtues and both have deficiencies.
No bumps and swales to take your ball away from the green eh? I saw plenty at the Grove the other week. Plenty of side/uphill/downhill lies too. And there's plenty on my course. Loads of courses I've played you have to think about the shot - parkland in Summer can get just as bouncy and the ball run just as far as a links course. Same skills needed...
Links is a different game to Parkland - but it's still Golf. They both have virtues and both have deficiencies.
chris661
Money List Winner
Generally though that is an exception not the rule. I have yet to play a parkland course that runs as hard as my course in the summer and the greens are nearly all softer and more receptive. When we play club matches the parkland guys really struggle as they are used to flying the ball all the way to the hole only for it to run out 15 - 20 feet.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
I guess it's because I mainly play in the Vale of Aylesbury - bacislly clay.
A hint of a bit of heat and it dries, shrinks and runs like the clappers.
A hint of a bit of heat and it dries, shrinks and runs like the clappers.
Tiger
Money List Winner
Yes. And that doesnt even take account of the wind.
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Come down to Highwoods one day
granters
Q-School Graduate
I think one of the main differences is the greens. I'll give you a scenario from my last round.
We have a short par 3, the 16th, which is only 150 yards. A nice 8 iron for me in calm conditions (very rare). Standing on the tee it looks straight forward enough.
There is a similar hole at my brothers course, albeit slightly longer, which is a stick on 6 iron for me every time.
Add a right to left wind into the equation on both holes. At my brothers course i aim right and let it come back in, knowing that if the ball hits the green it'll stop fairly quickly and hold.
At my place i have to engage the noggin. Yes i can aim right and let it drift back in, like i did last time, but you then have the problem that the ball is approaching a hard green from the downwind direction with zero chance of stopping.
The percentage shot in this situation is actually to take a 6 iron and cut it back into the wind. It's the only hope you have of hitting the green. You can't bump one in under the wind as the green is surrounded by pot bunkers that you're happy just to get out of, no matter what direction.
Multiply this one scenario by the 80 odd times and you can see why you're tired at the end.
I'm not for a second saying that "parkland" courses are easy, but the mental side of links golf is substantially tougher without a doubt. I know a few people that hate links , and i totally understand that too. It can be as frustrating as shoe shopping with the wife.
From my own personal point of view, i am looking to improve as a golfer and get back to the level i was at when i was younger. My ultimate aim is to get down to 3. Joining the links has without a doubt improved my game immensely
We have a short par 3, the 16th, which is only 150 yards. A nice 8 iron for me in calm conditions (very rare). Standing on the tee it looks straight forward enough.
There is a similar hole at my brothers course, albeit slightly longer, which is a stick on 6 iron for me every time.
Add a right to left wind into the equation on both holes. At my brothers course i aim right and let it come back in, knowing that if the ball hits the green it'll stop fairly quickly and hold.
At my place i have to engage the noggin. Yes i can aim right and let it drift back in, like i did last time, but you then have the problem that the ball is approaching a hard green from the downwind direction with zero chance of stopping.
The percentage shot in this situation is actually to take a 6 iron and cut it back into the wind. It's the only hope you have of hitting the green. You can't bump one in under the wind as the green is surrounded by pot bunkers that you're happy just to get out of, no matter what direction.
Multiply this one scenario by the 80 odd times and you can see why you're tired at the end.
I'm not for a second saying that "parkland" courses are easy, but the mental side of links golf is substantially tougher without a doubt. I know a few people that hate links , and i totally understand that too. It can be as frustrating as shoe shopping with the wife.
From my own personal point of view, i am looking to improve as a golfer and get back to the level i was at when i was younger. My ultimate aim is to get down to 3. Joining the links has without a doubt improved my game immensely
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Now this is where you are not thinking. In both instances I would fat a 7 iron off the tee and let it trundle up just short of the green.
Chip on and three putt for a blob.
Simples.
granters
Q-School Graduate
Got me there Smiffy. I also enjoy the skulled 7 iron ripping with backspin that settles nicely in the centre of the green.
"I meant that, cheers"
"I meant that, cheers"
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Don't you just love it when you scab a shot and it ends up next to the pin and somebody says "great shot".
I have great difficulty in explaining to people that it wasn't
granters
Q-School Graduate
Don't you just love it when scab a shot and it ends up next to the pin and somebody says "great shot".
I have great difficulty in explaining to people that it wasn't
The secret is to always hold your follow through like a pro, no matter that the ball has just trundled 5 yards off the tee.
Piece
Tour Winner
Interesting thread... 
For me its the unpredictability and shot options of links courses that interests me more. Off the tee, nailing a drive is no guarantee of finding the fairway. Sometimes it means finding a central bunker, hanging lie, etc. Approaches to the green on links courses offers a variety of shots...you can putt from 50 yards, tiny knock and rolls, using links contours to help, etc.
I say this knowing that I play mostly parkland and heathland golf, so links is still a treat once a year! Perhaps if I was playing it full-time, I'd be wishing for the simple target golf!
For me its the unpredictability and shot options of links courses that interests me more. Off the tee, nailing a drive is no guarantee of finding the fairway. Sometimes it means finding a central bunker, hanging lie, etc. Approaches to the green on links courses offers a variety of shots...you can putt from 50 yards, tiny knock and rolls, using links contours to help, etc.
I say this knowing that I play mostly parkland and heathland golf, so links is still a treat once a year! Perhaps if I was playing it full-time, I'd be wishing for the simple target golf!
Weirdly, I seem to play better golf on a links course!
I love it!
Can't wait to get my membership sorted at Royal Aberdeen… Having said that, probably won't find it that easy anymore…
Bring on Wednesday's student medal!
Hopefully, I will be able to get a medical degree and a respectable handicap by the end of 5 years!
I love it!
Can't wait to get my membership sorted at Royal Aberdeen… Having said that, probably won't find it that easy anymore…
Bring on Wednesday's student medal!
Hopefully, I will be able to get a medical degree and a respectable handicap by the end of 5 years!
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
A good course is a challenge, a bad course is junk. There are good and bad courses, that is the end of it. A bad links is just as junk as a bad parkland.
To me, it is all still golf.
Oh, and I prefer heathland any way.
To me, it is all still golf.
Oh, and I prefer heathland any way.
Tiger
Money List Winner
Hear what you are saying murph but I wasn't trying to start a debate on what type of golf is better. It was more that I've played two solid games on a parkland course either side of an absolute abomination on links. It just felt that any of my parkland strengths were redundant on links and I needed a whole load of shots that weren't in my armoury. Just felt like a different game!
I find a links course can play very differently from day to day due to the wind and i'll use every club in the bag from time to time.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
To me there is little difference. I either play well, or badly. The style of the course is irrelevant
NobbyNobbs
Hacker
As you might know i played my first links last week at Littlestone and loved it but I agree, it's feels like a different game. A couple of years of being into golf, I now understand why the Open is so special. Watching Darren Clarke plot his way round was an education.
I love the constant requirement for creativity (I didn't hit many fairways!), and the challenge of the wind and greens.
Smiffy, you're a funny man
i played my first links last week at Littlestone and loved it but I agree, it's feels like a different game. A couple of years of being into golf, I now understand why the Open is so special. Watching Darren Clarke plot his way round was an education.I love the constant requirement for creativity (I didn't hit many fairways!), and the challenge of the wind and greens.
Smiffy, you're a funny man
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