Top 100 Courses Lists (links dominated..)

[Stuart_Wales]

Why when looking at all of the UK top 100 courses lists, or even broken down into England/Wales/Scotland/N.Ireland lists, are they are dominated by links courses?

I really dont see the pull of a links course. And, given the option, would choose an Augusta over a St.Andrews easilly. Anyone else feel the same?

Ok, so i've never actually played one (thats a small lie, i've played 'Sanday Golf Course' on the Orkney islands which boasts to be 'the only golf course in the UK with barbed wire surrounding the greens'), should I make the effort and fork out £115 to play a round on the undisputed number 1 golf course in Wales: Royal Porthcawl? Because given the option, i'd pick a good 20 local courses over it..

 

[chris661]

How can you dismiss something if you have never tried it? Seems strange to me.

I know this probably isn't what you want to hear but try a search on the top 100 list or links v parkland, it will give you an idea of the previous discussions as well.

 

[thecraw]

I agree mate. You stick to inland golf and leave the links free for me to enjoy.

 

[Ethan]

A lot of players take some time, or sometimes never manage, to understand the appeal of links. Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen and Tom Watson are in that group. Links golf is more a mental than technical challenge. You have to accept the random bounces and the change in playing condition within the day or from one day to another.

The other important thing about the great links in the UK is their availability. You may prefer Augusta to The Old Lady but unless you have a mate who is an old money CEO of some good old boy southern states company, then I suspect one if those courses if off the must play list. You can play almost any great old links course in the UK and all The Open courses.

 

[pbrown7582]

I think you've shot yourself in the foot in the fact you've not actually played links golf.
There are many different views and each to there own but I think before you discount one type you need to actually try first

 

[Stuart_Wales]

'Strange' and 'shot myself in the foot' were exactly the replies I were looking for...

Cheers Ethan for a decent reply.

As explained, i've never played one, so was kind of looking for reasons to 'take the plunge'. Pyle & Kenfig rates high on the 'next best 100' in the UK at half the Royal Porthcawl prices. I'll try that one out. For now though, im off to bandage up my foot...

 

[Ethan]

Well, links isn't to everyone's taste. Some people don't like the randomness or the need for a ground game. And the visual appeal of the courses is different. The old story (possibly apocryphal) about Sam Snead arriving by train in St Andrews for the 1946 Open and passing The Old Course, remarked 'Say, that looks like an old abandoned golf course' when he saw TOC. Then he won it, of course.

I used to play at a links course where one day I played a par 5 with a driver, 3 wood and 5 iron, and next day played it with a 3 wood and 7 iron. Not everyone can deal with the fact that par is out of the window for many holes on a given day.

 

[DCB]

Give it a go. Not necessarily at one of the Top 100 for the first one, but find a nice links track on a nice day to start you off and you will not be disappointed. As Ethan says " Links golf is more a mental than technical challenge. You have to accept the random bounces and the change in playing condition within the day or from one day to another." I'd say that there is a fair technical challenge in there as well. You have to be able to visualise shots and play shots you may never play elsewhere. And the variable weather conditions can make a difference between the front nine and back nine if the course is a classic 'out and back' layout.

Give it a go and then see what you think.

 

[Ethan]

Give it a go. Not necessarily at one of the Top 100 for the first one, but find a nice links track on a nice day to start you off and you will not be disappointed. As Ethan says " Links golf is more a mental than technical challenge. You have to accept the random bounces and the change in playing condition within the day or from one day to another." I'd say that there is a fair technical challenge in there as well. You have to be able to visualise shots and play shots you may never play elsewhere. And the variable weather conditions can make a difference between the front nine and back nine if the course is a classic 'out and back' layout.

Give it a go and then see what you think.

There is a technical challenge obviously, but golf is mostly mental at the best of times, and that ratio is increased with links.

You need to accept the breaks, try not to hit it harder and further just because you are in the wind, adjust your clubbing massively at times, accept that par may be irrelevant, put away your yardage book/GPS/laser, play away from the hole at times, deal with wind/rain etc etc.

 

[Val]

To put this in comparison to you opening statement.

I've never seen the attraction of golfing in Wales, I'd rather play a parkland in England than a welsh course however I've never played a golf course in Wales.

Can you see where your statement is easily twisted?

Give links a try and try it a few times then you'll appreciate what it's all about. If you fancy a trip to Scotland I'm sure you'll leave appreciating what true links golf is about.

 

[DappaDonDave]

I'm surrounded by half decent links courses, Fleetwood, Fairhaven, St Anne's old links and even Royal Lytham. Having played fleetwood in autumnal conditions I hated it, very windy and difficult to judge where the ball was going. This is down to a lack of skill on my part and experience of those types of conditions.

However playing in a calm weather it was fantastic! These types of courses appear to be playable for more of the year as they have sand bases which means they can be looked after a bit better.

Not my cup of tea, I prefer a nice woodland with views if the countryside.

 

[bayjon14]

I find it funny that people get so annoyed over random bounces etc. You will get your fair share.
Golf is meant to be pleasurable and I don't see any pleasure trundling round in mud that unfortunately a wet climate leaves parkland courses in a lot of the autumn/winter/spring months.
Links golf while suffering from wind, does not suffer from muddy shoes and clothes, and is less prone to frost delays.
I suggest you play a links course when you no doubt nice parkland is unplayable and you will soon have a change of heart.

 

[Jaymosafehands]

Go play Conwy or North Wales on a breezy day in Autumn when all the parkland courses are starting to get boggy and maybe temp greens. Then you'll definitely see some of the attraction to links golf.

In my humble opinion LInks golf is a gift to us that we should all enjoy and cherish. You just can't beat the sea breeze, the fast, true greens and horrible bunkers. I never fail to smile when I'm on a links, and then there's always the bonus of not many trees to get stuck behind!

I love my parkland course, but would swap membership in a heartbeat for a links course if it was feasible.

 

[Qwerty]

You don't have to go Straight to royal porthcawl, Theres plenty of decent links in Wales at a fraction of the price.

Personally, and it's hard to describe why, but I get a lot more satisfaction and enjoyment out of playing well and putting a good score together on a breezy links than a nice manicured parkland.

Youll be faced with shots you've never had to play before,and there's a lot of satisfaction in pulling them off.
Get out there and try it. I think there's a good chance you'll be back on here telling us your glad you did :thup:

 

[freddielong]

I think also Links courses come with history and heritage you cany just go and build one anymore any moron with a few hundred million can go and build a decent parkland course.

There is nothing quite like playing links golf

 

[Birchy]

Links golf is a proper examination of your golf game imo. The rough is harder to play out of and it takes more skill & judgement to get it close to the pin. Ive played mostly parkland golf in my short golf life but i feel links golf is more pure than parkland going off the few times ive played links so far.

 

[smange]

Since I started playing 6 years ago I was always a parkland golfer and loved the look of the courses and the way parkland golf is played but due to our climate I have over the last 2 years started playing a lot more links courses and as has been said by others, the more you play them the more you like and appreciate links courses. I have enjoyed it so much more than trudging round soggy parkland, in fact so much more that I have this week just joined a links course and can't wait for the season to start.

Go try it, and not just once and I'm sure you'll find yourself coming round to the beauty and challenge of a good links course.

 

[Val]

I think also Links courses come with history and heritage you cany just go and build one anymore any moron with a few hundred million can go and build a decent parkland course.

Don't let Trump hear you say that

There are plenty good new modern links out there, Dundonald and Kingsbarns being 2 granted both pieces of land have a bit of history too but as courses go both still new.

 

[User20205]

Links golf is a proper golfing experience. On a parkland course there may be some variation in the shots you play from round to round, on a links no two rounds are the same. I can pretty much predict which clubs I will hit off the tee at my place, I couldn't do that if it were a links. You really need to be creative.

I love a bit of heathland golf also, but there is no finer place to be on a summers evening than a decent links course. You've also got the benefit of dry conditions and cracking greens even in the depths of winter. When my place was closed for a month before Xmas, hayling was in perfect condition.

Btw royal porthcawl is definately worth a visit, they do a winter deal, you should be able to get on for around £50 before April.

 

[Junior]

I agree with TheRod. Get yourself to Formby, Ganton, Walton Heath, Beau Desert etc and enjoy yourself on some heathland type course.

Whether it be links, parkland or heathland to me a great course is a great course. I'm not too sure why the Top 100 lists seem to be dominated by links. Maybe because of the history, ambiance, and the fact that the best ones are always in superb condition ?