The disadvantages of links golf

[Thomas Dai]

Links golf is mostly praised to the hilt. But if you’ve played a lot of links golf and crucially played it pretty much 12-months of the year rather than just in the main season, you’ve probably experienced a few disadvantages as well.
Care to name some?
1)
2)
Etc
Atb

[Ian Galbraith]

1) You end up having so much fun you neglect other aspects of your life 

[Sean_A]

For me its too much wind. Its lovely to play in 5-10mph winds, just enough to keep you cool and honest.  However, far too often wind is over 15mph and that becomes tiresome, especially in winter.  Unfortunately, the winter is when links have the distinct advantage of being dry compared to inland counterparts.

Ciao

[Tom_Doak]

For me its too much wind. Its lovely to play in 5-10mph winds, just enough to keep you cool and honest.

Spoken like a true Yank. 😉

[David_Tepper]

The most obvious disadvantage of links golf is that there is so little of it. What percentage of courses around the world are links? Probably not even close to 5%.

Tennis used to be called lawn tennis. I doubt even 1% of the tennis courts around the world are now grass courts. 

[Kalen Braley]

OK i'll name one.

Getting short sided to a hole trying to hit to a firm green off a very tight lie...all the while the texas wedge is out of play because a bunker is in the way.

P.S.  Put me down for excessive wind as well.  Every now and then can be fun, but being brutalized over and over...not so much.  And it can be a safety hazard when your ball is blown 40-50 years offline into the next fairway as well as searching for it can cause slow play.

[Steve Salmen]

None.  There is no substitute for being outside, walking on firm turf, not worrying about hitting a tree or cart path. 


Sometimes links courses get overcrowded with visitors and the game slows down.

[Thomas Dai]

Links golf is mostly praised to the hilt. But if you’ve played a lot of links golf and crucially played it pretty much 12-months of the year rather than just in the main season, you’ve probably experienced a few disadvantages as well.

As an aside I'd also ask for consideration of time spent on the practice ground or the chipping green or the putting green at a links course over a 12-months per year period.
atb

[Scott Senior]

I can't think of any....

[Mark Mammel]

I prefer links golf anytime. In fact the only time I'm still ready to play in the rain, cold and wind is on the links. The shots are just more interesting and fun. Of course sun is better. Played the first 2 holes at Dornoch late April once with snow on the ground. Re practice putting etc- only while waiting to tee off!

[Mark_Fine]

I am biased because links golf is my favorite kind of golf.  I tell people here in the states, if they haven’t experienced true links golf then they have never played real golf.  I view links golf as much of a test of character as it is a test of golfing skill.  The rub of the green and the elements all factor in much more on a true links course.  It is not for everyone as many who believe fairness is important will eventually tire of this type of design. 

[Mike Hendren]

Bloody sleepers.

That said, I love "links golf" so much that I consider the term redundant.

Bogey

[Garland Bayley]

Too many rabbit scrapes.

[Lou_Duran]

1) on a number of links you go out for a number of holes without changing direction much, then you loop back home.  I once played Burnham & Berrow going out into a fierce wind, and shortly after turning inland on 9, the wind shifted in my face for most of the way in.  Brutal.


2) downwind shots on flat terrain with hazards guarding the front of the greens are nearly impossible.


3) turf conditions due to the type of grass, firm, infertile ground and wind often dictate the bump and run at the near exclusion of the spinner or lob.


4) squalls and heavy, gusting winds making it a test of survival more than skill.


Other than that, links golf is the best!

[Ally Mcintosh]

I can’t think of any to be honest.


Occasionally the weather gets me down but bad weather is still not good weather just because you’re away from the sea.


Only other disadvantage is on a links with bad broad leaf rough and narrow fairways that you aren’t familiar enough to understand the best way to play (and hence overcome the many times the ball runs off the short stuff)

[Colin Macqueen]

My Dear Kalen,


".... when your ball is blown 40-50 years offline into the next ....." decade? century? millennium?


Crikey you've been time travelling whilst us mere mortals are simply toiling away at our game working on the premise of "staying in the moment". Yer a marvel Dr. Who!!!!


To the point .... I find links golf to be the essence. Yeah the wind can wear you down but when it just whispers through the waving, wiry grasses it is hard to beat.  Nature in the raw "..for a' that and a' that..". The sense of space and freedom, each time I am back on the Monifieth/Carnoustie links, is just wonderful. The sea-birds crying and the occasional whiff of sea-spray never cease to thrill. Ach, missing out on Berwick this year is bringing out the incurable romantic in me. Time travel is just what I need, at the moment, Kalen!!


Cheers Col

[JESII]

Too much interest


Too much fun


Too many exciting shots


The beer tastes too good afterwards

[jeffwarne]

Too much interest


Too much fun


Too many exciting shots


The beer tastes too good afterwards

This.
amongst other things


I miss it already...
Thanks God I got to spend February in Australia(which seems so long ago)

[Peter Pallotta]

Yes, as with Jim's point:
The trouble is holes like Carnoustie's 6th, where to best try for the green in two you need to hit your drive (as Mr. Hogan did each of his 4 rounds) to a narrow strip of fairway between the out of bounds on the left and the centre-line bunker on the right. Compared to holes like that, most every Par 5 in America seems to suck. 

[Garland Bayley]

Colin,

Kalen hits it 40 to 50 yards offline when there is no wind. I know, because I am often there with him. My slice, his hook, or my hook his slice.

[Tim Leahy]

No trees! I love the smell of eucalyptus and pine plus they stop my ball from going into the next fairway and vice versa. No shade on links courses or wind blockers.

[Kalen Braley]

My Dear Kalen,

".... when your ball is blown 40-50 years offline into the next ....." decade? century? millennium?

Crikey you've been time travelling whilst us mere mortals are simply toiling away at our game working on the premise of "staying in the moment". Yer a marvel Dr. Who!!!!

To the point .... I find links golf to be the essence. Yeah the wind can wear you down but when it just whispers through the waving, wiry grasses it is hard to beat.  Nature in the raw "..for a' that and a' that..". The sense of space and freedom, each time I am back on the Monifieth/Carnoustie links, is just wonderful. The sea-birds crying and the occasional whiff of sea-spray never cease to thrill. Ach, missing out on Berwick this year is bringing out the incurable romantic in me. Time travel is just what I need, at the moment, Kalen!!

Cheers Col

Hey Colin, nice catch! 


I guess I should elaborate a bit more.  When you're already taking 18-20 extra strokes to get around normally, toss in bad weather and especially wind, and its just gets beyond brutal for us High Cappers.  The occasional round in nasty stuff is kinda fun, but round after round..and hole after hole of massive numbers, countless lost balls, and a hoarse voice from yelling "Fore" would get old quick!


P.S.  Garland is somewhat correct.  Years ago I was hitting into a 18-20 MPH sustained wind with with my driver and it easily went 80-90 yards offline and seemingly going backward by the time it landed. 

[Ian Galbraith]

No trees! I love the smell of eucalyptus and pine plus they stop my ball from going into the next fairway and vice versa. No shade on links courses or wind blockers.

What is this shade of which you speak?

[Carl Rogers]

My one 4 day experience at Bandon informs that high wind & rain requires me to fight the elements to the detriment to the experience and observing the GCA.

[mike_beene]

I know I have been lucky, but in 7 or 8 trips to Scotland I remember twice miserable wind and rain. I have spent more time on the east side where I think the summer weather is better. If the weather was as bad as we seem to think, who would go?