chrisd
Major Champion
I think Ethan hit on the answer. As far as I understand it's a strip of land linking the sea and the agricultural land, but is unusable as arable land, due to it being salty
Chris
Chris
What defines a "true" links course??
- Thread starter ademac
- Start date
My club is a links, and did at one time have a railway alongside the course. The breeze can and does change with the tide, which can mean playing into the wind going out and into the wind coming back in - great fun. Winter golf, apart from the howling gale and the cold, is played on dry fairways - no muddy shoes!! The greens are invariably decent all year.
The lack of trees/shelter makes it a different course almost every day as the wind has such an effect - that in itself can be a bit wearing after a while.
The lack of trees/shelter makes it a different course almost every day as the wind has such an effect - that in itself can be a bit wearing after a while.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
looking forward to another bash at a links course. played a 3 links courses two summers ago. didnt really enjoy it tbh. the wind blew my ball everywhere. my game just wasnt strong enough. i have improved since then so i am looking forward to the challenge again this summer.
if i was paying big bucks to play a course, i would much rather play a nice woodland course. much more beauty to look at. i feel links courses and their supposed beauty are a case of the emperor's new clothes. i just dont get it. before anyone goes nutts, one of these courses was Ballyliffin which is regarded as one of the best courses in ireland.
if i was paying big bucks to play a course, i would much rather play a nice woodland course. much more beauty to look at. i feel links courses and their supposed beauty are a case of the emperor's new clothes. i just dont get it. before anyone goes nutts, one of these courses was Ballyliffin which is regarded as one of the best courses in ireland.
richart
Major Champion
Surely courses like St Andrews were open to golf before the railway came along. I thought the golf course dated back to at least the 1700's and the railway took off in the 1800's ? I know that that there was a boom in golf with the railway.
DappaDonDave
Journeyman Pro
Can someone clarify if fleetwood is a liks course. It's next to the beach but has a whooping great sea wall between it and the sea...
T
thecraw
Guest
true links!
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
What defines a true "Links" course.....
A desolate landscape - that's what.....
A desolate landscape - that's what.....
PIng
Head Pro
I read somewhere (can't remember) that the word "links" was originally applied to golf courses because a course is like a chain in that you go from tee to green to the next tee and so on. Because the original courses were next to the coast the term became associated with coastal courses. If this is true, then all courses are links.
richart
Major Champion
It's the type of land that defines a links course, and I am sure Fleetwood is a true links.I assume the sea wall saves the course from being washed away.
You don't have to be able to see the sea either, as at Saunton you would have to climb some huge dunes before you did.surprised at so many variations
Simply put, in ye olden days when farm land was more precious than it is now as we grew nearly everything we required, the only cheap land to buy or use for golf was the unusable piece of sandy soil that LINKed the sea to the arable farm land.
Nothing to do with railway lines nor reclaimed from the sea as romantic as these notions are.
Simply put, in ye olden days when farm land was more precious than it is now as we grew nearly everything we required, the only cheap land to buy or use for golf was the unusable piece of sandy soil that LINKed the sea to the arable farm land.
Nothing to do with railway lines nor reclaimed from the sea as romantic as these notions are.
smange
Journeyman Pro
Heres you perfect chance to exact some revenge then
http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/sh...sits-being-taken-for-Irish-Craic-Classic-2012
Get your name down, a great weekend of links golf and craic:cheers:
ademac
Q-School Graduate
Thanks for all the replies, it seems there is a bit of disagreement but generally if a course is nxt to the sea then its a links course?
I think I'm going to try and get a game at hayling island as apparently its a good links course, anyone played it??
I think I'm going to try and get a game at hayling island as apparently its a good links course, anyone played it??
Incorrect.....just look at the track in Berwick toon centre,anything but a links.
S
Snelly
Guest
Ethan, PieMan, Rosecott and Darth are correct. It refers to the land the course is built on. Simply the land that links to the sea. Nothing more complicated than that.
richart
Major Champion
Yes I have played, we have a reciprocal there. Not a top links but the only one between Sussex and Devon from memory. Might be wrong. Wasn't in the greatest condition when I last played, but some good holes and a real test when the wind blows. Big Art Deco clubhouse that lacks a bit of atmosphere. We pay £15 to play there but think it is a lot more for normal pay and play.
Qwerty
Tour Winner
Fleetwood is definately a true links, I've played it many times.
Apparently the sea wall was built about 20 years ago because the course was flooding during bad weather.
If you take a look on the website they claim it is possibly the
Oldest links course in England
I play at Bolton Old Links,Certainly nowhere near the coast, But on a good day you can just about see Blackpool Tower!
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MadAdey
Money List Winner
The old course did have a railway line running down the of it. The other side of wall on the 14th is where it was many years ago.
chris661
Money List Winner
Thats the view from the second tee at my place, I would say that a true links course needs to be similar.
fat-tiger
Challenge Tour Pro
get around the turn at carnoustie and you would think you was playing a parkland course, also you dont see the sea there either
T
thecraw
Guest
I'd tend to agree with you Chris. Carnoustie is the least inspiring Open track I've played on. Yes its tough but its bland, its not exactly pleasing on the eye and pretty featureless.
