Mac
This thread was about The Open played upon Links courses. There was no reference to any form of inland course whatsoever; it was purely links golf being discussed.
I enjoy golf be it on links or inland courses, yet I find that each time I come away from a links course I feel more contented (while perhaps more tired and a little shell shocked too). That is not to say I am not more than satisfied with inland courses. I have in my time played over many courses be they in GB, West Indies, South America mid Africa and the Indo/Asian Continent, yet there is still more of a thrill for me playing a links course. I fully understand the different soil/climatic, coming across a red sand course at Jos in Nigeria. This consisted of red sand fairways with a very poor excuse for grass appearing in small low level clumps every couple of feet or so between each blade of grass. The Tees consisted of 2 to 3 Metre high compacted termite mounds with what I can only describe as the old rubber winter Tee mats on top. The Course was 18 Tees with 9 Greens and the criss cross routing was quite a hazard in its own right. To add some modern hazards Nigerian Electrical Company put power lines over the course encouraging the ball to hit cables every round. As for the Greens, red compacted sand, devoid of even the odd blade of grass. Yet after a few rounds you got into the way of things, however this region of north Nigeria suffers from the Harmattan, thick dust storms that come out of nowhere and can stay for 3-4 days, it’s fun getting back to the car let alone the next Green ops sorry Red.
While others feel that some of us overrate Links golf, I find links golf require that degree of commitment and concentration on whatever skill levels the golfer possess when the condition close in. It lifts the spirit while pushing the golfer to the near limits of his abilities, surely that is what golf is all about. I find that inland courses while still great fun cannot get my soul not the mention mind that close to the state of Nirvana – only a links course can do that for me.
This thread was only ever about Links courses. The point being that they change for the better the more the weather gauge changes for the worst. In my youth on a fine day in St Andrews my father would not play a round, letting the Visitors have the course. He and his friends would wait until the weather started to turn before seeking a game, sometimes returning soaked to the skin annoying my mother, yet we could all see he enjoyed his game. Links course actually are in my humble opinion totally suited to conditions that might not suite other courses, hence my disagreement with the comment ‘in conditions that usually don’t suite golf’ said admittedly by Tim who confirms has little knowledge of Links golf.
I had hoped that we could have opened up the subject and encouraged others to seek out not just our well known links courses but our little gems that have a way of making the day so much fun while experiencing the unknown.
Along that strip of land that hides Cullen we have great links courses, Old Moray jumps out to be mentioned. Also although not a links course but the old Earl of Aberdeen’s private course, now known as Tarland Golf Club (
http://www.tarlandgolfclub.co.uk/ ) is worth a visit while on your way to Cruden Bay or Royal Aberdeen. Sorry I digress as I said I had hoped to keep to Links courses on this thread showing that the more adverse the weather the more the links course comes alive.
A thread that hoped to prove a better understanding of links courses, but alas it did not evolve into a useful debate, but resulted in comments like “Anyone else stunned at how this thread turned out?” noting that the individual who made that statement did not get involved, just happy to pour scorn.
Thanks for your sensible input.
Melvyn