Links Golf

[MarkS]

i am between Drayton and Newport on the A41, but i work in Nantwich, where we have a short 9 hole course on the campus.

Once i get my handicap i would be intrested in joining you?

 

[mono217]

What is michaels surename ? Might know him?

 

[Herbie]

Links Golf = Bad, ugly and much to do with luck. Get a bad kick on the fairway and your in 6 foot long grass. Get on the green and like you said you have a 40 footer to deal with. Hit a green with a towering iron shot and you'll be 30 yards over the back, how is that fun? Not my cup of tee thank you.

If you don't want to be 30 yards over the back, hit 30 yards less club

Hit 30 yards less, get a kick and end up in bunker next to green. Flop shot out and end up again off the green. Where is the fun in that? I just don't like them, to look at or play.

Lydd has been a major contributing factor in my judgement, that was a bad golfing day in HTL's world.

How many have you played HTL?
The beauty of Links courses is in the challenge, as far as accuracy goes, you have to be more accurate on a Links as well as choice of shot, and the right choices make the difference on Links. Many golfers go on Links courses and are dismayed when they shoot 10 or more over their h/c, yet depending on circumstances that day , that score may well have been a good one. As I have already commented about greens, not all Links courses have large greens and in any case, the big undulating greens are a real test of putting, personally I love them. One of the reasons I can make shots following mistakes, or make good recoveries, is down to past experience on Links courses and the many ways I learned to hit a ball.

 

[AliB]

good post - only played links once five years ago and fell apart. Since then have stuck to parkland. But don't you just love it when yanks fare so badly at the Open? And didn't Turnberry look just great?
Surely my golf has improved over 5 years?
Looks like I really should give it a go some time - (though probably not Turnberry!)

AliB

 

[MarkS]

good post - only played links once five years ago and fell apart. Since then have stuck to parkland. But don't you just love it when yanks fare so badly at the Open? And didn't Turnberry look just great?
Surely my golf has improved over 5 years?
Looks like I really should give it a go some time - (though probably not Turnberry!)

AliB

AS OPPOSED TO THE BRITS DOING SO WELL YOU MEAN?
1999 Pal Lawrie, was the last brit winner......

 

[Herbie]

good post - only played links once five years ago and fell apart. Since then have stuck to parkland. But don't you just love it when yanks fare so badly at the Open? And didn't Turnberry look just great?
Surely my golf has improved over 5 years?
Looks like I really should give it a go some time - (though probably not Turnberry!)

AliB

AS OPPOSED TO THE BRITS DOING SO WELL YOU MEAN?
1999 Pal Lawrie, was the last brit winner......

Ha ha but I know what AliB means, there are only a few American Tour pros who have a real grasp of Links golf, those that shine,shine well, but boy do the rest collapse?

 

[nulassilb]

My course is parkland. Close by I have Hunstanton and Brancaster - two of the best links courses you could wish for. I would happily play either every day for the rest of my life. I love the way in which the weather contributes to the challenge of links golf and the way in which each shot seems to require just that little more thought (possibly because the links give you more playing options). I don't get to play these courses very often - but if you are ever on the Norfolk coast, do give them a try.

 

[pigmeister]

I play parkland golf 99% of the time. But when i do go and play a links course i thoroughly enjoy the different challenges that that particular form of golf throws at you. If you play parkland golf all the time you can become very stereotyped in the way you play, throw a 7 iron high and hopfully stop it dead in it own pitch mark next to the pin. Links golf lets you play lots of different types of shots, the ones you can play on parkland, and alot you cant. It really does make you think in a different way.
I played Hunstanton a couple of years back, before they lost their greens. We played there usually once a year combining it with Kings Lyne(woodland/parkland), a day on each. You could not find two different courses to play, each throwing up lots of different problem for the golfer to solve. Both courses beautiful in their own right. The second day we played Hunstanton and the wind was blowing, 15/20mph. It just changes the golf course, your thinking and your shot making. That day the greens were running 12.5 on the stimp. I have never putted on greens so quick and true, it was absolutly brilliant, great fun and scarey, watching the ball oscillate on the green when your ready to putt.
I know you say you dont like them, but you really should go and give it a go, just once, you never know you may get to like it.

 

[Smiffy]

Hywel
don't let Lydd put you off links courses. With all due respect, compared to the likes of Royal Cinque Ports, Littlestone, Princes, Hunstanton, Carnoustie, The Old Course, Leven Links, Montrose, Lundin Links and Dunbar (to name just a few that I have played) it is a goat track mate. An absolute shite hole.
Get yourself out to a "proper" links and I think you will change your mind.
I hate it when the wind is blowing. I'd rather play on a flat calm day when it is peeing down with rain than a bloody zephyr (like the one I played in at Dunbar).
But to judge links golf on what you experienced at Lydd? That's like judging all parkland golf based on your experience at the worse muni you have ever set foot on.
Take a week off work, head up to Scotland and play some of the famous old links courses. You will soon change your mind, I promise you.

 

[USER1999]

I seem to remember HTL had a mare round Princes too, and that is a fairly nice track. That said, he is a better golfer now (just).

I am going back to Royal County Down back end of September, and can't wait. Might try somewhere new too.

I love links golf, as I don't get to play it very often. I guess that must make me american.

 

[bobmac]

I guess it just depends on your own personal taste.

or

 

[brendy]

Dont forget Ardglass murph, not as classically linksy as RCD but a links course all the same and a fantastic one at that.

 

[mjsw13]

Links Golf = Bad, ugly and much to do with luck. Get a bad kick on the fairway and your in 6 foot long grass. Get on the green and like you said you have a 40 footer to deal with. Hit a green with a towering iron shot and you'll be 30 yards over the back, how is that fun? Not my cup of tee thank you.

If you don't want to be 30 yards over the back, hit 30 yards less club

Hit 30 yards less, get a kick and end up in bunker next to green. Flop shot out and end up again off the green. Where is the fun in that? I just don't like them, to look at or play.

Lydd has been a major contributing factor in my judgement, that was a bad golfing day in HTL's world.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears HTL is not up to the challenge of links golf...

 

[USER1999]

Played Ardglass last year too Brendy. Really enjoyed it, apart from the 18 holes of teaming rain. Think I will stick with RCD, the weathers better!

 

[John_Findlay]

Imurg, it's like everything. There are good examples of links courses and bad ones. Just like parkland courses. Some are spectacular, some are bland.

Personally, I grew up on links golf and love the challenge (and being near the seas for the views) but it doesn't stop me enjoying a great parkland or heathland course either. Yesterday at Letham Grange was a great example of a really fun parkland course. You should try to learn to embrace both or you'll miss out on a lot of fun, though.

My friends from the pub, who mostly play fairly bland parkland courses, come to Nairn with me each year and they love the links courses. Their view of golf has completely changed and they now love them. Brendy's photo of RCD is a fine example. The best ones aren't flat!

 

[julsk10]

Dont forget Ardglass murph, not as classically linksy as RCD but a links course all the same and a fantastic one at that.

I was just going to recommend the same before I read this post. A super course! Although it poured down the last time I played there, although I work in Newcastle and it can chuck it down there too, there has been days that I have been at work and felt sorry for any poor sod out on RCD.

 

[viscount17]

my introduction to links was via the forum meet at Goswick.
conditions were, probably, somewhat benign, especially for February - it didn't rain much as I recall, and wasn't really windy, but salt laden air, fairways and greens that don't turn to mud, it even had a few trees.
there was I, the veriest beginner, with much the highest handicap - tee shots across oceans of waving grass, losing one or two in there and knowing there's no point looking, Andy playing away from the hole to sink a putt. I loved it.

Imurg, there is only one solution - next year at Goswick.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

HTL is definitely up to the challenge of links golf. Thats my partner we're talking about. He has become a much better golfer since he played at Prince's and Lydd and has honed his putting and short game. He now has a secret weapon in his 4 iron he can hit close on 200 yards and straight (measured via sky caddy and on a flat hole and wind free day) which is ideal for links tee shots.

I think it was inexperience that caused his woes but he'll be back better than ever. In fact me and him will have to find a links course somewhere and take a couple of forum members on

 

[mjsw13]

Glad to hear it Homer. I was just responding to his comments of 'where is the fun' in rattling it through the green, or attempting a chip and run and it ending up in the sand. The fun is in trying, learning and producing successfully, different types of shot to the green, instead of point and aim, as you say.

Surely it's more fun being able to get the ball to the pin following 4 different routes than just flopping it up and down...

Once people have played links golf a few times, then the beauty can outweigh the beast.

I do love the look and feel of parkland courses provided they aren't too flat, but if it's a choice between inland or links, I go for the latter, any day of the week (even in the wind!).

 

[Smiffy]

HTL is definitely up to the challenge of links golf. Thats my partner we're talking about.

I think it was inexperience that caused his woes but he'll be back better than ever. In fact me and him will have to find a links course somewhere and take a couple of forum members on

Have you two errr...you know......"done it" yet?