The disadvantages of links golf

[Jeff_Brauer]

It's too far from my house.....

[V. Kmetz]

It's strange to mention disadvantages, because there is so little honest linksland (in the way I believe most of us are thinking of it) that it is a rarity for many of us (less than 10% of my golf); and I know enough, like you do, to be a connoisseur of the links experiences to be sought.  When I go; I'm not in a critical temper. Maybe that's the first disadvantage: the paucity of true links golf to be accessed.


Outside of that, the only disadvantage I can see in playing mostly links golf is the lack of "eye-rest and re-set"... I like variety in everything in my golf courses, and my eye grows weary of semi-blinds and indefinite gray green target paths. I like seeing a dotted tree or a shady grove now and then... My eye loves the manicured lawn and path beauty of literal parkland courses. I like some of the oasis path of SW/desert courses.  THOSE would be the exotic things. if I played mostly links golf.


Oh yeah a skein of weather may build character and be just as amusing 10 years later, but it an expensive suck at the time.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have played links golf in Ireland or England every year for the past twenty five years. There is nothing I don’t like about it. I have two friends at Portmarnock who told me if they had to play parkland golf they’d quit playing altogether. If rings true.
Bring on the wind.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Whilst I know you’re not referring to me Tommy, I’m not that far away in sentiment. There are a couple of years in the last 7 or 8 where I went through the whole 12 months with only playing links courses.


I certainly love to visit the heathlands or other classic courses but I could live happily on the links with nothing else if I had too. This is especially true in Ireland where the best courses away from the sea really aren’t much to write home about.

[Sean_A]

One more issue other than excessive wind, there sometimes seems to be an element of ecological protection on links for flowers or animals etc.  This means rough cannot be controlled in a manner conducive to golf.  Add wind to the mix and some months of the year these course can be more brutal than adventurous.

Sweet Lou mentioned the preponderance of several holes moving in one direction often mainly because of the narrow confines of some links. The natural lay of the land also means some courses which have holes routed between dunes.  Sometimes these holes are too narrow for golf, especially when combined with rough and wind.

Ciao

[Mark Chaplin]

Sean surely in the long term golf courses that embrace ecology will fare better than those that don’t. I’d sooner hear the song of a skylark than have a mower run over their nests.


At Deal we have two shots that require a carry over a stream (1st) or bunker (8th), if downwind both have in excess of 40 yards in which to stop the ball and the shot is usually played with a short iron. Several shots 3rd, 6th, 17th and 18th require the lesser player to use the ground or extra spin to get the ball onto the green when it’s dry.

[Sean_A]

Sean surely in the long term golf courses that embrace ecology will fare better than those that don’t. I’d sooner hear the song of a skylark than have a mower run over their nests.

Chappers

I am not saying that ecology isn't important, but it can cause issues for golf.  Mind you, I get the impression that clubs use this as an excuse to a degree.  Not that wildlife doesn't need to be protected, but not necessarily to the degree we see on the ground.  Its similar to H&S.  People use it as an excuse to do or not do things that they want to do. 

Ciao

[JMEvensky]

It's too far from my house.....

Same here--and the only disadvantage I can think of.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Ok links lovers some help please.


Apparently there's a UK Links where holes 3 and 10 have the same name and I'm currently drawing a blank.


Anyone know which one?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Cecil Rhodes is very non PC today but to adapt his bon mot.

Golfers remember that you live in GB&I, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.

In short the disadvantages of links golf are mere fluff…..

[Peter Flory]

The biggest disadvantage of links golf from my experience is that it usually takes multiple rounds before you gain an understanding of where to go and where to avoid, whereas non links golf courses tend to be more "in front of you".  Many great golfers have mentioned this about the Old Course in particular.  It is more jazz than pop.  This is great if it is a local course and you're going to get to know every nook and cranny. 

But most people playing courses like these are tourists and they may only get to play it once or twice in their life.  They may leave with that unsatisfying feeling where they got punished for hitting the shots that they intended to hit.  i.e. not that they got bad bounces, but where they took on lines that they wouldn't have if they were playing it for the 5th time. 

The obvious remedy for this is to take a caddie with vast experience on the course.  But many don't like the feeling of having someone directing their golf game for them that specifically on each shot.  It's hard to commit to what someone tells you if you don't truly understand the crux of the problem.  Then there is the problem where you start wondering how much of what your caddie tells you is true vs them trying to compensate for the miss that they expect you to make. 

I took a pretty major Scotland trip a couple years ago and the most enjoyable rounds for me were the ones where I replayed the courses in the afternoons.  Not that I didn't enjoy them initially, but it felt more like golf to be able to formulate my own strategy of attack on each hole. 

[Adam Lawrence]

But most people playing courses like these are tourists and they may only get to play it once or twice in their life.  They may leave with that unsatisfying feeling where they got punished for hitting the shots that they intended to hit.  i.e. not that they got bad bounces, but where they took on lines that they wouldn't have if they were playing it for the 5th time. 

Most people playing courses like these are members.

[SL_Solow]

Peter, is your point that we should make courses more obvious and less subtle to benefit the single time player?   Seems quite backwards to me.  First, why favor the visitor over the regular.  Second, I can't understand why "dumbing down" architecture would be deemed an advantage, particularly in a discussion on this site

[Michael Whitaker]

There is NOTHING about links golf that is at a disadvantage compared to other offerings! NOTHING!!!
Any any season you choose links golf is superior to any other type of course offering... with the possible exception of the heathland courses in the summer.
It's NOT in the prime visitor seasons when links courses mostly shine. Golf was originally a winter game and it's in our "off" seasons that links courses present their true bouncy nature without the thick July rough... as Sean Arble knows from his winter tours.
David - I am shocked you came up with this idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[William_G]

+10000000 Whitaker


LOL

[Jeff Schley]

While I enjoy links golf, it isn't something that is/was available to most of us growing up in the states. How many true links actually are there in the entire USA? So I, like most Americans didn't really understand links golf until I was able to travel outside the US to GB/I and see true links golf.


I enjoy inland golf quite a bit, particularly in the fall when the leaves are turning hues of yellow, red, brown; while having a cool refreshing breeze with the smells of autumn in the air. Probably all other seasons I enjoy links more, it is cooler in the summer, drains much better in wet season as well.

[Niall C]

Ok links lovers some help please.


Apparently there's a UK Links where holes 3 and 10 have the same name and I'm currently drawing a blank.


Anyone know which one?

What do you mean by the same number ?

Niall

[Mark Pearce]

Ok links lovers some help please.


Apparently there's a UK Links where holes 3 and 10 have the same name and I'm currently drawing a blank.


Anyone know which one?

What do you mean by the same number ?

Niall

You were doing so well on the Dumbarnie thread with your world class nitpicking, then failed to read Tony's post.  Same NAME, Niall, same name.

[Niall C]

It's too far from my house.....

I'm very much enjoying this thread and this is probably my favourite response so far. Thank you Jeff.

Reading many of the reasons not to like links golf, they appear to me to be reasons why you should like links golf, and that the reasons given maybe speak of an acclimatisation problem. For instance, wind. Along with firm turf, the very essence of links golf. So what if it's blowing a hooley. Just hunker down and concentrate in controlling the ball, keep it in play, after all that's part of the game. Par ? don't worry about it, play it as it lies and judge a score on the conditions.

If you can get yourself into the right mind-set then all these apparent bad points will turn into the reason why you'll love it.

Niall 

[Niall C]

Quite correct Mark. Thank you for passing my test to see if anyone was paying attention to my posts. All planned, I assure you.

Niall

[Tony_Muldoon]

We have our own lockdown Waldorf and Statler!

"If you can't say anything nice....I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

[Michael Whitaker]

+10000000 Whitaker


LOL

Note to self:  Don’t post on GCA after two Balvenie 

[Thomas Dai]

David - I am shocked you came up with this idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

atb

[Adam Clayman]

Too random
Too unpredictable
Too natural
Too much thinking
and
Too much fun

[William_G]

+10000000 Whitaker


LOL

Note to self:  Don’t post on GCA after two Balvenie 

hahaha