Does anyone prefer Heathlands over Links courses

[BCowan]

?

[Marty Bonnar]

Look out, Ben.
Here come the angry villagers with their pitchforks and flaming torches...!


 
F.

[Thomas Dai]

Over a period of 365 days per year, summer, autumn, winter and spring, dry and rainy, hot and cold, windy or calm, it's touch and go probably, providing that is the heathland is genuinely sandy and free draining. Variety is nice however.
One plus for links courses though, is that they are generally in nice parts of the countryside, many being very rural, whereas many heathland are near urban areas.
Atb

[Mark Chaplin]

Obviously in the ideal world you have your home club in the heathlands and your second club on the coastal links. I'm the other way around as I live on the coast.

[Sean_A]

I can certainly see the appeal for most games throughout the year.  The obvious problem is winter golf...there is no such thing as a heathland course which drains anywhere near as good as a links.  It is almost as if there has to be a qualifier in place, there is good drainage and there is links drainage.  Be that as it may, top heathland courses have a charm about them which links do not possess.

Ciao

[Matt MacIver]

Be that as it may, top heathland courses have a charm about them which links do not possess.

That's what captured me in pictures and tv when the women play their tourneys at Sunningdale, WH, etc - they look SO great that I was surprised to know that there was that much difference beteeen them and links.


This may not be an apple-apples question, but does Pine Valley and Pinehurst drain better or worse than heathland courses?

[Josh Stevens]

Yes

Out of 10 games, I would split 7 heathland 3 links I guess
Links are fun, but the quirk and the randomness would make my head explode if I had to play them every day.

Day in day out a firm heathland/sandbelt track is perfect.

[James Brown]

Real good question. 


I'm gonna throw something out there.  A golfer who only plays links golf is gonna have a very different game from the heathlands only player.  From what I know, many people who have a game learned playing only links golf have a harder time adapting to golf in other places than inland golfers do in playing links courses. 

[Niall C]

Ben
 
I think that’s a good question and a fair one as well. The knee jerk reaction might be to say a links would be the preference every time but on the basis that heathland courses can also offer good dry turf with tight lies then I think it comes down to the quality of the course.


Links terrain tends towards the more rumbustious while heathland tends toward more sedate ground movement. Personally I like something more in between so it really depends on the individual course. Also not overly fussed about external views although I do prefer having some internal views as opposed to tree lined avenues which sometimes can occur with heathlands, much to the detriment of playing conditions.


To illustrate the point, when I was working and based up in the north of Scotland I very nearly joined a club with a heathland type course (Elgin) over a club with two links courses (Moray). In the end I went with Moray and didn’t regret it but I’m sure if I had chosen Elgin I’d probably have been just as happy.
 
Niall

[Matt Dawson]

Obviously in the ideal world you have your home club in the heathlands and your second club on the coastal links. I'm the other way around as I live on the coast.

Mark sums it up perfectly. My general guideline is Nov to April - links. May to October - heathland.

After checking month, rain forecast & wind speed; decide whether to turn left or right out of driveway accordingly. Variety is indeed the spice of life

[David Davis]

I'm sure there will be many that do prefer Heathland over Links courses. Every situation will be different. Links golf is where it all started (stating the obvious) and the purest form of our sport. I'm a member of a links but tire of getting beat up in extreme conditions very often. Part of that has to do with my home course being really tough even without the weather so I'm seeing ideal similar to what Mark said, having two memberships one a heathland, an easier walk and more sheltered from the the elements and the other being a links.


Links golf however, makes you mentally tougher and oblivious (within reason) to the elements as you raise the bar in terms of what you are use to putting up with. I recently had a couple weekends in Scotland of links golf on amazing courses with actual summer weather conditions, even shorts and short sleeve weather. If links golf was like that even 25% of the time my answer might be different as I definitely see myself as a links guy at heart.

[Niall C]

Links golf is where it all started (stating the obvious)

Allegedly !!!


Niall

[Tony_Muldoon]

I will go with links every time. The course may be ideal in winter but it’s still a different game than summer.And then there's wind.  Every game is more interesting with some.
With no trees around the holes, wind can affect the ball in ways you just don’t get inland.
Inland I've added 3 clubs to hit straight into a wind but I've never hit 4 clubs less when playing straight down wind, as I’ve have on a links. That's because the wind is also a big factor close to the ground. Even on putts.
It's also something you have to get used to.  The incessant battering your ears receive can be hard to take if you’re not used to it. The sound of silence as you step into the clubhouse is often very loud. No trees to rest behind, full on for 3 or more hours. It affects your thinking and comfort. I thnk this is the reason why I've often seen Scots wearing ski hats covering their ears in summer.    Oh and then you have to swing/chip/putt while trying to stay upright whilst ignoring you bag crashing over during your backswing.
 
As others have said, real golf.
 
 
 
 
 
PS David Davis admits to getting tired of being beaten up! Whatever next? Mayweather goes blow for blow with McGregor?  Is such a thing possible?

[Ally Mcintosh]

I will go with links every time. The course may be ideal in winter but it’s still a different game than summer.And then there's wind.  Every game is more interesting with some.
With no trees around the holes, wind can affect the ball in ways you just don’t get inland.
Inland I've added 3 clubs to hit straight into a wind but I've never hit 4 clubs less when playing straight down wind, as I’ve have on a links. That's because the wind is also a big factor close to the ground. Even on putts.
It's also something you have to get used to.  The incessant battering your ears receive can be hard to take if you’re not used to it. The sound of silence as you step into the clubhouse is often very loud. No trees to rest behind, full on for 3 or more hours. It affects your thinking and comfort. I thnk this is the reason why I've often seen Scots wearing ski hats covering their ears in summer.    Oh and then you have to swing/chip/putt while trying to stay upright whilst ignoring you bag crashing over during your backswing.
 
As others have said, real golf.
 
 
 
 
 
PS David Davis admits to getting tired of being beaten up! Whatever next? Mayweather goes blow for blow with McGregor?  Is such a thing possible?

This is well said.


I adore heathland golf and see it as a good holiday from the links, especially a few rounds in a row in the late summer when the heather is in bloom.


But nothing beats the links.


And I disagree with James. I play most of my golf at the seaside and have a wide array of shots because of it. I use many of those same shots (but not all) when transferring to the heath and it takes no time to adapt. Only time I feel like it might take a round to adapt is when moving to a lush, heavy clay parkland where I can catch a few shots fat.


On the other hand, those moving to the seaside from the park struggle to play a different game and often struggle with the firm turf.

[James Brown]

I will go with links every time. The course may be ideal in winter but it’s still a different game than summer.And then there's wind.  Every game is more interesting with some.
With no trees around the holes, wind can affect the ball in ways you just don’t get inland.
Inland I've added 3 clubs to hit straight into a wind but I've never hit 4 clubs less when playing straight down wind, as I’ve have on a links. That's because the wind is also a big factor close to the ground. Even on putts.
It's also something you have to get used to.  The incessant battering your ears receive can be hard to take if you’re not used to it. The sound of silence as you step into the clubhouse is often very loud. No trees to rest behind, full on for 3 or more hours. It affects your thinking and comfort. I thnk this is the reason why I've often seen Scots wearing ski hats covering their ears in summer.    Oh and then you have to swing/chip/putt while trying to stay upright whilst ignoring you bag crashing over during your backswing.
 
As others have said, real golf.
 
 
 
 
 
PS David Davis admits to getting tired of being beaten up! Whatever next? Mayweather goes blow for blow with McGregor?  Is such a thing possible?

This is well said.


I adore heathland golf and see it as a good holiday from the links, especially a few rounds in a row in the late summer when the heather is in bloom.


But nothing beats the links.


And I disagree with James. I play most of my golf at the seaside and have a wide array of shots because of it. I use many of those same shots (but not all) when transferring to the heath and it takes no time to adapt. Only time I feel like it might take a round to adapt is when moving to a lush, heavy clay parkland where I can catch a few shots fat.


On the other hand, those moving to the seaside from the park struggle to play a different game and often struggle with the firm turf.

This is a good debate to have.  My views on this have been heavily influenced by my discussions with caddies on links courses in the U.K. that have played college golf in the US.  I am inclined to agree with the notion that a 5 or 10 handicap on a links course will hold up really well anywhere else. 


I also have met a lot of links golfers who can only hit it low and hooking...

[Thomas Dai]

Agree with Ally rather than James on the course transfer aspect.
Over the  decades I've seen at first hand lots of good inland players pretty confounded when faced with an allengedly featureness links with nothing to allegedly aim at, bouncey grassless ground conditions, and a 'wee breeze' that isn't really 'wee' at all.
I would suggest though that when a links is green and windless there is probably less of a variance and learning what to do when in extensive heathland heather, and heather isn't gorse as some sometimes think, is an acquired skill as well.
Atb

[Paul Jones]

I like both - I booked a trip to Scotland and excited I got a booking at Loch Lomond to get a break from all the great links golf.  it is like most things, you can have too much and variety is the key.

[James Brown]

Agree with Ally rather than James on the course transfer aspect.
Over the  decades I've seen at first hand lots of good inland players pretty confounded when faced with an allengedly featureness links with nothing to allegedly aim at, bouncey grassless ground conditions, and a 'wee breeze' that isn't really 'wee' at all.
I would suggest though that when a links is green and windless there is probably less of a variance and learning what to do when in extensive heathland heather, and heather isn't gorse as some sometimes think, is an acquired skill as well.
Atb

Lots of Golfers who have growth up on lush inland courses have won Open Championships.  Not so much the other way around??

[Clyde Johnson]

Lots of Golfers who have growth up on lush inland courses have won Open Championships.  Not so much the other way around??

But what's the ratio between links course and non-links courses in the world!?

[Matt MacIver]

Lots of Golfers who have growth up on lush inland courses have won Open Championships.  Not so much the other way around??

But what's the ratio between links course and non-links courses in the world!?

I guess that's my question - and taking it up a level - Great links vs heathland?  Why aren't the best heathland courses listed amongst the best links, or non-links (Merion, Oakmont, etc).

[James Brown]

Lots of Golfers who have growth up on lush inland courses have won Open Championships.  Not so much the other way around??

But what's the ratio between links course and non-links courses in the world!?

There are about  35.000 golf facilities world wide, according to the R and A.  And perhaps 500 links.  So let's say 70 to one ratio. 


And my points about links golf skills are not totally without merit.  For example, a links golfer may have a lot of skills in the wind, but you lose some of your chipping skills there because you can putt from a whole lot more places.

[Duncan Cheslett]

Why choose when you can go to Formby and have both?

[Ally Mcintosh]

James,


I reckon there are only about 300 links in total. I think chipping skills are much harder to deal with as you have tight turf and a choice of about 3 shots to play. Every time I take my chipping game back inland, I find it easier due to the lusher turf and less run-out on the ball.


Incidentally, I've written elsewhere about the 4 stock shots (in terms of elevation) I have with approach shots on the links. This compares with only one I need in the park.


That said, you're probably right that some links players do not possess a high ball flight in their canon and that might hurt them on a tricky inland course.


Matt,


Really I'm off-topic above and I'm talking more about parkland courses, not heathland, which fall somewhere in the middle regarding turf firmness.


The reason the best heaths aren't mentioned in the top echelons of the World Top-100 (I think that's what you are asking?) is perhaps because they are not good enough. Generally speaking this is down to a dearth of any great sets of greens and a lack of scale and boldness that you get in many golden age American courses. Also - if truth be told - they haven't held major championships and don't capture the imagination for visiting golfers / raters in the same way a links does. This could be the biggest reason.


I love the heaths. As Mark C mentioned above, for anyone living in the South East of England with time and means, a two club membership at one links and one heath would be heavenly:


Perhaps a Rye / Pulborough double....


Or Sandwich / Walton Heath....


But the links is where it's at. They are like the 8,000ers for mountaineers.

[Adam Lawrence]

I like both - I booked a trip to Scotland and excited I got a booking at Loch Lomond to get a break from all the great links golf.  it is like most things, you can have too much and variety is the key.

Loch Lomond is in no sense a heath course.

[Mark Chaplin]

There is a very good reason a high percentage of Surrey/Berkshire heathland club members have an additional membership at Rye, Deal or Sandwich......winter golf.


The best part of being a links course member is the constantly changing challenge. There really are no two days where the course plays the same. Variations in the weather and firmness of the course mean you never get tired of what is presented in front of you.