links golf courses

[Steve Salmen]

Over the years I've been asked by my friends the definition of a links course.  My most simple answer is if it does not get muddy, it's a links course.

Is this a fair answer?

[Mark Bourgeois]

No

[Rich Goodale]

Yes (at least as close as damnit).  Can't think of a linnks course that get's muddy.  Can't think of a non-links course that doesn't get muddy.##

Pourquoi, "No", M. Bourgeois?

[Niall C]

Would a golf course laid out in synthetic turf getty muddy ? Would you call it a links ? If the answer to both of those questions is no then I think you need to expand the definition just a bit 

Niall

[jeffwarne]

Golf course built on sand or imported sand(sand capped ) does not = links

[Forrest Richardson]

From the On Course Dictionary:

links    Seaside golf course constructed on a natural sandy landscape that has been shaped by the wind and receding tides (from the Old English “hlincas”, meaning the plural of a ridge, a Scottish term to mean the undulating sandy ground near a shore ); also used more generally as a synonym for a “seaside golf course” and sometimes for a golf course that is configured with nine holes extending outward and nine holes returning to the clubhouse, although there is no factual basis for such use; often incorrectly used to describe any golf course

linksland   Land located proximal to an open sea, or bay that is connected directly to an open sea, and which possesses the characteristics of naturally rolling sand dunes or land features formed by the wind, the ocean and the receding tides; whether the land is traversed by a river or estuary associated with the land is superfluous and it may be noted that the presence of a river or other tributary or body of water differing from an ocean or sea is in and of itself not justification for land to be called bona fide linksland; land approximating linksland in this event is, in slang, “links-ish” in nature, but clearly not true linksland

[Steve Salmen]

I understand that the definition of links can get somewhat technical.  What I'm looking for is the easiest way to explain what a links course is to people that don't know the answer.   I know courses like Ballyneal and Sand Hills play like links courses but are not.

There are a few more, but I don't think there are many technically non links courses that get muddy when wet.

[Ryan Coles]

Links courses in my experience only really play firm and fast for 3 months of the year.

In the past week I've been fortunate to play St Enodoc, Trevose, Saunton x2 and Burnham & Berrow. All have a fair bit of standing water and are boggy in places.

[Tim Johnson]

From what I have read over the years, links refers to the land between the ocean and the arable land. The sandy area was not good for farming so it was referred to as the link between the ocean and farming.

[Jud_T]

Steve,

Implicit in the description are ever present seaside winds.  Kingsley's another course that doesn't get muddy that's not technically a links.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Rich,

If we're going for a simplistic definition of a links, in lieu de muddy (can we call that situation...pommy terre? Non? Too starchy?) I submit: fescue. That probably encapsulates a lot more of what we're looking for.

But what do I know, my name now must be...mud.

En vaseux,

[Josh Stevens]

It really needs to be the product of recent receding seas that not only left behind sand but also the micro dune systems (linear dunes such as at Birkdale or the more crumpled dunes like TOC

My home town is pure sand from the coast up to 30km inland, but the sea receded a long time ago and so it is now rather featureless sand plane with one huge dune system near the coast that was formed by wind.  It is fabulous stuff for golf, but only the bit right on the coast that is the product of recent wave action would qualify as links.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Why are links courses almost non-existent in the USA?

Is linksland a peculiarly nothern European geological phenominum?

[Josh Stevens]

I'm guessing it was really just historical accident in the UK.  That's where the game started and so they carried  on in that vein until the late 19th century when they started building inland courses on the heathland around London and elsewhere.

That explosion in the game was also the about the time golf was also being transported to the colonies and so the heathland/parkland form of the game was the one that was exported rather than the links version.

Also helps that the UK is a little place with lots of seaside villages and a wealthy rural aristocracy that could support a golf club.  Australia for example, has ample links land, but didn't have the rural population to demand or afford  links golf - the great clubs were instead built back in the cities where the money was.  NE USA has an almost mini UK geographical mix with the NY proximity to the hamptons - city, seaside and money.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Josh,

I think your argument, being economic, explains more the why and where golf courses came to be developed in the UK rather than why links terrain is more common in the UK than in the US.

Duncan, why links? From my reading:
1) Glaciation (including post Ice Age fluviation)
2) The post Ice Age cycle of relative / local sea levels (fall, rise, then *fall*) -- differed from US experience
3) Climate (winds, sunshine, precipitation (incl fog) and temperatures -> fescues)

The US may have the first two but less so the third.

FYI in Scotland linksland makes up only about 4 percent of the coastline but is concentrated in four regions. The location of two concentrations near cities enabled Josh's economic rationales to establish early golf courses in these areas.

Mark

[Josh Stevens]

Ok back to geography. UK is a small island. It has 25 times the ratio of coastline to area than the US. It may not have more linksland in an absolute sense but in a relative sense there is no contest

Weather also helps. UK summers arent great but nor does it have the arctic winters

[Niall C]

I heard from a friend last night that Western Gailes has been closed for the weekend because of the amount of water on the course. Even a links hard by the sea can't cope with 20 inches of water in the last 14 weeks. Similarly, heard that some of the greens at Glasgow Gailes were partially submerged in the last few days.

Niall

[Paul Gray]

From what I have read over the years, links refers to the land between the ocean and the arable land. The sandy area was not good for farming so it was referred to as the link between the ocean and farming.

+1

Historically it was exactly that. Anything else is not a links golf course. Once the PH level reaches a point where crops can survive, forget it.

Duncan,

I forget the exact figure but a high percentage of true linksland does indeed only exist in northern Europe.

[Sean_A]

Links is a strip of sandy subsoil coastal land left after the sea receeded.  There need not be dunes, though dunes are often featured on links.  Often times, many think for true links (though I don't), a river mouth cuts through links.  Bents and fescues grow naturally in the thin top soil.  Though for the purposes of golf the hand of man is necessary to nurture these areas which originally would have had far more exposed sand than is optimal for golf.   


Ciao     

[Bill_McBride]

Links courses in my experience only really play firm and fast for 3 months of the year.

In the past week I've been fortunate to play St Enodoc, Trevose, Saunton x2 and Burnham & Berrow. All have a fair bit of standing water and are boggy in places.

Hasn't there been some pretty unusual weather the past month or so in the UK?    In my experience three months is very short for F&F. 

Looking forward to St Enodoc and B&B in September. 

[Matthew Essig]

These are some criteria I see as a links course:

•A links course is built along a major body of water
•Usually has very few trees, if any.
•Resides on sandy soil that drains easily.
•Has a natural open layout where the native landscape and the weather (wind/rain) play a huge factor
•Features ground contours that provide remarkable inherent undulations and slopes in the fairways and greens
•Rarely has any internal water bodies
•The rough areas feature pure seaside grasses

[David_Tepper]

Gentlemen -

Forest Richardson has provided us with the authoritative definitions of links and linksland. Case closed.

DT

[Ryan Coles]

Links courses in my experience only really play firm and fast for 3 months of the year.

In the past week I've been fortunate to play St Enodoc, Trevose, Saunton x2 and Burnham & Berrow. All have a fair bit of standing water and are boggy in places.

Hasn't there been some pretty unusual weather the past month or so in the UK?    In my experience three months is very short for F&F. 

Looking forward to St Enodoc and B&B in September. 

You'll enjoy it Bill. It's a wonderful course.

You're quite right, its been an atrocious winter. That said, only last summer provided firm and fast conditions. The previous 3 seasons were all wet. To highlight this, you'll be aware that the the recent Open courses, Muirfield aside, were all playing receptive.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I know a true links when I see it... That'll do me.

I don't think any definition given above is 100% accurate.

[Sean_A]

I know a true links when I see it... That'll do me.

I don't think any definition given above is 100% accurate.

Probably because Steve is looking for a simple definition.  Knowing when seeing is good enough for me two. 

What are (if there are any) some "links" which you question as to their authenticity?

Ciao