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Links vs Parkland

Difficult as I've never played a links course.
But I've gone on record on here saying that I don't get links golf. I appreciate the traditions etc etc but links courses, to me, just look like a wilderness. Bleak, unwelcoming and that's in summer. And not knowing whether you're going to hit your 6 iron 160 or 200 or 100 yards just doesn't compute.

Sorry linkslads

Parkland for me.
Click to expand...

This is me, but in the form of Imurg x
 
I think a good links player has pretty much the same shots at his disposal as a good parkland/heathland player. Wherever you're playing there will be times when you have to hit the ball low or high. Drawing and fading are needed on both, the ability to hit fairways etc etc etc.
A good player will know the effect of the wind or the contours around a green and will be able to adapt his shot to meet the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I have scientific facts that refute this comment.

Back in the day I once played a game with my brother in laws's brother.

I was off 13, he was off something like 4.

We played at Park Wood GC in Kent.

I slamdunked him by gazillions of shots ( I actually beat him scratch, let alone handicap ) purely because he was so used to playing low, punchy, running, under the wind type shots, he couldn't play a 'normal' shot.

So that means I MUST have been a better golfer than him.

Such a shame when I went up to Scotland to visit.

He invited me for a return match on his track. He apologised for it only blowing a slight breeze because the course was so much more testing when the wind got up a bit. Now I'm not a coward ( I am )and I would have loved to have played ( I wouldn't ) and his slight breeze was a freezing cold hurricane that caused my old war wound ( what? ) to play up, so I had to decline his kind offer of a rematch. ( If I'd played he would have murdered me - I wouldn't have been able to shift the ball 100 yards into that gale !! )

So that's it then.

Parkland 1 Links 0

100% scientific and unarguable proof that Parkland players are better.

And I suppose that it must mean that English players are 100% better than their Scottish opponents as well ;)
 
CrapHacker, you should be on brainiac!!

I myself have not played Links, I play mature parkland and love the fact I have to shape shots around trees (which I love watching if pulled off). Our last hole is a 270 yard par 4, the middle of the fairway os split by a nook of trees about 75 feet high with a gap in the middle of about 20 feet.. Whoever says trees are 90 air dies next :mad: ;)
 
The fact he played off plus six obviously means he was 100 per cent correct :eek:......little time for the guy,didn't turn up for Open pre qualifying without notifying...not the done thing.Obviously scared of the point 1 rise. ;)
 
If I had to play a Links every day then I would eventually get bored with it, similarly a Parkland/ Heathland/ Moorland etc would grind if I only played that course. Playing the one type of course will also make you become one dimentional in your approach to playing shots.

As for who produces the better golfers?? Neither.

Good golfers are good golfers regardless of where they learn or ply their trade.

You can argue for both camps that a greater level of shot making is required for either style.
 
I love both types, and heathland too, which often combines the best of both. The Hotchkin at Woodhall Spa is a great example of a beautiful heathland course.

To me, I think I could hold my handicap pretty much on any course, except for one. If I had to play RCD off the tiger tees, I am going to need about 20 shots, minimum. This is not necessarily because links is harder to play, just that RCD is a very tough golf course. I am sure there are some parkland courses which are equally tough.

As an aside, if we think links is best (some here clearly do), why do we all want to play Augusta?
 
I love both types, and heathland too, which often combines the best of both. The Hotchkin at Woodhall Spa is a great example of a beautiful heathland course.

To me, I think I could hold my handicap pretty much on any course, except for one. If I had to play RCD off the tiger tees, I am going to need about 20 shots, minimum. This is not necessarily because links is harder to play, just that RCD is a very tough golf course. I am sure there are some parkland courses which are equally tough.

As an aside, if we think links is best (some here clearly do), why do we all want to play Augusta?
Click to expand...

Name me a links track you simply cannot get a game on Murph....There lies the answer to your question,well for me anyway.
 
I think a good links player has pretty much the same shots at his disposal as a good parkland/heathland player. Wherever you're playing there will be times when you have to hit the ball low or high. Drawing and fading are needed on both, the ability to hit fairways etc etc etc.
A good player will know the effect of the wind or the contours around a green and will be able to adapt his shot to meet the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I have scientific facts that refute this comment.

Back in the day I once played a game with my brother in laws's brother.

I was off 13, he was off something like 4.

We played at Park Wood GC in Kent.

I slamdunked him by gazillions of shots ( I actually beat him scratch, let alone handicap ) purely because he was so used to playing low, punchy, running, under the wind type shots, he couldn't play a 'normal' shot.

So that means I MUST have been a better golfer than him.

Such a shame when I went up to Scotland to visit.

He invited me for a return match on his track. He apologised for it only blowing a slight breeze because the course was so much more testing when the wind got up a bit. Now I'm not a coward ( I am )and I would have loved to have played ( I wouldn't ) and his slight breeze was a freezing cold hurricane that caused my old war wound ( what? ) to play up, so I had to decline his kind offer of a rematch. ( If I'd played he would have murdered me - I wouldn't have been able to shift the ball 100 yards into that gale !! )

So that's it then.

Parkland 1 Links 0

100% scientific and unarguable proof that Parkland players are better.

And I suppose that it must mean that English players are 100% better than their Scottish opponents as well ;)
Click to expand...

I know some very good golfers county level some supposedly national (thats english players not scottish they can play it ;)) level that have come to goswick (links) form there short and quite frankly boring parkland courses and cannot manage to beat 75 because they have the 1 boring shot which is 30 feet in the air not a clue where it is going.

Now that is 100 percent proof that links is better :D

Links 1 parkland 1 :p

now thats what i call an equaliser ;)
 
Links , Parkland , Heathland , Moorland , Downland etc etc it really doesnt matter the type of course surely you have to play all types of shot where-ever you play. Just because I play a Parkland doesnt mean I dont have to hit shots into the wind :D

I hit plenty of knock down shots , low runners , fades against a cross wind etc. These arent shots only to be used on links or can only be played by links players. Converesly I wouldnt expect a links player to come to our course and not be able to play a high draw around trees or cut up a lob wedge to a tight pin.

As has been said before if you're a good player you will find a way to score (unless you are a one trick pony / home track bully , in which case you will be found out)

Personally I dont have a preference I love playing anywhere anytime and seeing if my skills are good enough on the day
 
My favourite courses are all heathland or links courses. Love them both and prefer them to parkland every time.

As for the view that links players have a greater variety of shots in their locker - in my opinion this is complete boll****.
 
I think a good links player has pretty much the same shots at his disposal as a good parkland/heathland player. Wherever you're playing there will be times when you have to hit the ball low or high. Drawing and fading are needed on both, the ability to hit fairways etc etc etc.
A good player will know the effect of the wind or the contours around a green and will be able to adapt his shot to meet the circumstances.
Click to expand...

I have scientific facts that refute this comment.

Back in the day I once played a game with my brother in laws's brother.

I was off 13, he was off something like 4.

We played at Park Wood GC in Kent.

I slamdunked him by gazillions of shots ( I actually beat him scratch, let alone handicap ) purely because he was so used to playing low, punchy, running, under the wind type shots, he couldn't play a 'normal' shot.

So that means I MUST have been a better golfer than him.

Such a shame when I went up to Scotland to visit.

He invited me for a return match on his track. He apologised for it only blowing a slight breeze because the course was so much more testing when the wind got up a bit. Now I'm not a coward ( I am )and I would have loved to have played ( I wouldn't ) and his slight breeze was a freezing cold hurricane that caused my old war wound ( what? ) to play up, so I had to decline his kind offer of a rematch. ( If I'd played he would have murdered me - I wouldn't have been able to shift the ball 100 yards into that gale !! )

So that's it then.

Parkland 1 Links 0

100% scientific and unarguable proof that Parkland players are better.

And I suppose that it must mean that English players are 100% better than their Scottish opponents as well ;)
Click to expand...

I play most of my golf on a links course and i dont think that you could say parkland players are better than links players. Actually i believe it to be the other way around. Links are generally more difficult and so an 8-handicapper from a links course is more likely to be like a 6-handicapper on a parkland. Obviously there are exceptions, like you and your friend, but in my experience links players edge it over their parkland 'rivals'.
On the course subject, there is nothing nicer than a game on a well set-up parkland layout. Its probably because I tend to score better there.
 
Read this thread through with some interest as there are definately divided opinions as to what type/style of golf is preffered by the writers.

I play at a parkland course week in week out. I also have the good fortune to live in an area where there are numerous good links courses within an hours drive of home. I have been fortunate to play many of them over the years.

I have to agree with dodgers sentiments that on a links course you need to have more imagination and develop a better array of shots to get the most out of a links round.

However, that said, it is very much a case of each to their own. It's a game we play for enjoyment. We all want to play to the best of our ability wherever we play. We all can't live within 5 miles of a good links course, or a great parkland layout. We play where we can, normaly because it's near to home and our mates play there.

So taking that on board I think as long as we can get out to play regularly, on whatever type of course we can, then we will enjoy this great game and should with a bit of luck and perseverance, get a little better a it.

Now, anyone know if there is a waiting list at Dunbar? :D
 
I play a parkland course as my home track. Crowborough was a heathland course. I have played many, many fine links courses over the years.
The big test of a links course is the wind. It's usually (usually) blowing a gale.
If it were blowing just as hard as that on a heathland or parkland course I would find it just as hard to put a score together. Even on my parkland course, if I am faced with 100 yards into a 4 club wind I will try a knock down shot.
That type of shot is not restricted to a links course. Whereas hooking a 5 iron around a tree is usually limited to a parkland course.
I do not go with the suggestion that a good parkland player could not play a links course or the other way round come to that.
It's what you are faced with on the day, and what you do with it that counts
;)
 
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