Brian
I can only offer my PoV as to the definition of links.
1. Links is near the sea, hence, how the term originally came about; poor quality land between the sea and arable land.
2. The terrain may or may not be undulating, but dunes are often associated with links.
3. Links is characterized by infertile, sandy soil and cool season grasses such as fescues, bents and marram.
4. When well managed, the turf is crisp, dry and firm.
5. Due to the location of links, wind can often play a major role in play.
The main arguments about links seem to revolve around near the sea and the types of grass. For instance, some may call Kiawah a links, but the warm season grass varieties expose the course as an imposter.
The five points above made, there can always be room for exceptions depending on how far away from the sea the course is located. Lytham is always cited as an example of a links removed from the sea. In truth it isn't terribly far away and I suspect of housing was removed, the sea may be visible from the links. I am possibly willing to stretch to Ganton being termed a links, but for the sake of argument, this sets precedent and guys like Humpty who then want to claim that courses in Nebraska or Colorado are links. This to me is preposterous as they are so far removed from the sea that no exception could include them. Instead of trying to ride the marketing coat tails of "links", these cllubs should come up wiith their own original term.
Anyway, thats my story.
Ciao