[Neal_Meagher]

Much time has been expended here over the years discussing what is and what isn't a links course.  But, what I'm interested in figuring out is what this august group feels are the most important features of a true links course.

Is it their setting?  Is it the revetted pot bunkers?  Is it the singular way many of the green sites fit so imperceptibly into their immediate surrounds?  Is it the tight fescue turf?  If at Brora, is it the sheep?

What do all of you think?  Try to note five distinct factors that scream "links" to you.

[Forrest Richardson]

1. Nearness of the sea

2. Wind

3. Dunes landscape, whether carpeted by turf or partially exposed

4. Undulating greens

5. An unwritten connection to golf that feels natural and right

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Neal, According to Robert Price who wrote and excellent book on the subject called Scotland's Golf Courses, as well as contributed a monthly Feature Interview here on GCA, Links courses exist in and around the slack of the dunes and yonder, utilzing the dunes both evolved and still forming.

For a better idea:


One of the best subjects in Scotland's Golf Courses is where he describes in detail exactly what is happening on St. Andrews-type duneland. The Old Course is a perfect example of utilizing Dune Slack, because thats what it is, slack from the dunes, inland that has been formed by both the winds and the tides when they receeded many, many years ago. (around the time of Forrest's birth)

I suggest anyone that wants to know (Slag) to pick-up a copy of any of Price's books because they're an education not so much how to route a golf course, but what constitutes real linksland.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Wanted to add, that in comparison to the diagram above, the Old Course, the Eden, and part of the New Course would be in the slack area between the Grey Dune and the scrub, whereas the other part of the New and the Jubilee would be in the slack of the Fore Dune and the Grey Dune. Very few courses go into the Embroyo area of the dunes because of both the wind and rising tides.

Hope it makes sense.

[tonyt]

Wild greens that undulate like they do because that's what the land does, and so that they don't give a damn that people want to use sticks and balls and actually putt on them.

Proximity to the sea and all of the exposed elements that result.

An oppenness that makes no apologies, and embodies the spirit of striking the ball to wherever you do, and your playing partner likewise, along any route, until ye find cause to be able to play a shot towards the putting green.

Hazards and uninviting areas that do much to remind a golfer that ye shall not desire to return to such a calamity on any future occasion. Nature does not decree that a mishap be fair, clients do.

An avoidance of unrequired length. If the clients are not in talks with Tim Finchem, then they don't need a 7000 yard course, let alone 7500. Besides, a 6600-6800 yard members course will allow more golfers to play the course correctly; on foot.

[moth]

1. The wind
2. firm and fast conditions
3. the topography
4. quirk
5. the caravan park next door!

[ForkaB]

It's all in the dirt (or relative lack thereof, in relation to sand).

Great pic Tommy, but it shows only one schematic type of dune formation.  There are as many as there are grains of sand in Old Ben's hand in "Local Hero.".

[A_Clay_Man]

For all the circumstances mentioned above, the unpredictability of nature is, for me, the essence of the links.

Juxtaposed to the always visible, rarely surprising, hit it between the trees, of Parkland.

[Tony Ristola]

I consider it a feature...cost effective maintenance.

[JohnV]

1. The wind
2. firm and fast conditions
3. the topography
4. quirk
5. the caravan park next door!

5a. Military Base nearby!

[Marc Haring]

1.   Foursome’s golf played at breakneck speed.
2.   Chronically overcooked cabbage.
3.   Tweed golfing apparel.
4.   Angostura bitters.
5.   Impeccable manners.

[Neal_Meagher]

These are all good answers, but I'm surprised that no one has yet touched upon the very important aspect provided by the tight cool season turf grasses.

I doubt anyone here would freely admit that true links-type golf can be played effectively on bermuda grass.  

Or can it?

[RT]

Neal,

Just curious what range of Cynodon spp. and their hybrids you would consider in the expansive bermudagrass family, and where (along with specific bermuda type) throughout the 'links' golf course would you consider their application?

Then of course there would have to be the maintenance regimes to consider.

[David Lott]

Only one criterion--a links.
If it's true linksland, the rest will follow.
If it isn't, nothing can make it so.

[Forrest Richardson]

Bermudagrass can indeed provide very similar characteristics to fescues and "cool season" grasses.

> Ever played on dormant bermudagrass? Runs like hell.

> Ever played on well maintained (lots of verti-cutting) bermudagrass? Behaves like closely cut ryegrass.

> Ever played on bermudagrass which is not overwatered? Slightly yellow in places...runs well and will be firm.

I'm not suggesting bermudagrass replace traditional links turf types. Bad idea, and won't work anyway. But in the right locales, paspalum, bermudagrass and kikuygrass can make for excellent turf. And I would go so far as to say they would make for great linksland course turfs — especially if the climate suggested them.

[John_Cullum]

I believe links is a term inexorably connected to the seashore. But it definitely requires a ttype of turf that allows the ball to roll with reckless abandon.

I have been playing bermuda turf in the southeastern coastal regions for my entire life. I am of the opinion that it does not work for a links effect. Even in its dormant state, it still takes a lot of steam off of the ball, so I will respectfully disagree with Forrest, unless there are some new strains out there that I haven't seen.

[Marc Haring]

Just a thought.

The traditional links grass of choice would be fescue, specifically creeping red fescue. This is an extremely hardy and drought and heat tolerant grass, it is very slow growing and does not provide a good green colour, which is of course irrelevant on a links course.

It does provide a superior playing surface for fairways and does not require fertiliser input of any description. In fact, if fertiliser is applied, the fescue will rapidly become swamped by other more aggressive species.

Could it not be used in the traditional Bermuda grass areas?

[RT]

Sarge,

Just curious what specific type of bermudagrass you were playing on?  And for what application that specific bermudagrass type was used?  Also would be good to know what type of maintenance regimes the super was using?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Rich, Of course! How could I have forgotten that??

[John_Cullum]

RT
I believe most of what I play on is a tiftdwarf, but I could be wrong. I am not at all educated about turf type.

I do play a lot of courses with bermuda so obviously I see alot of different approaches to maintenance. None have produced the roll  I think you expect on a links. I would say I only see fast rolling in a dormant period after extreme cold (which equals low humidity), which hardens the ground.

[Forrest Richardson]

Sarge,

A links course is one located within linksland...

A seaside golf course constucted on a natural sandy landscape that has been shaped by the wind and receding tides ("links" is from the Old English “hlincas”, meaning the plural of a ridge, a Scottish term to mean the undulating sandy ground near a shore)

The type of grass traditionally follows that common to the British Isles, but this is no reson to deny the possibility that a course in Florida, Mexico or elsewhere in warm weather might not posses the "linksland" topography and charm we might find in the aforementioned locales, but with different grasses.

[Jeff Fortson]

1.  Randomness
2.  Variety of shots needed for success
3.  Options
4.  Multi-colored (not only bright green)
5.  High fescue-type grasses existing with other natural flora


Jeff F.

[RT]

Agree with Forrest, given the right bermudagrasses and right maintenance regimes (aggressive dethatching operations, use of limited nitrogen fertilization which helps avoids turgid conditions in the leaf blades, etc.) along with a native sand that can create high bulk densities, they can almost mimic the ball bounding characteristics of fesue-bents typically found on true links land in temperate climates, for example in the UK.

The reason fescues wouldn't survive in Florida would be the heat in conjunction with high humidity levels.

I think Bill Coore's first 'solo' project was Corpus Christi CC where it is near links feeling in nature, using Tifway 419 fairways and roughs.

[ForkaB]

Tommy

Increase the level of zinc in your diet and you'll be just fine.

[allysmith]

Gentlemen,

True Links golf is a course comprising:

1.Natural sea washed grasses indigenous to the area of the course
2. Sand based fairways and greens
3. Contouring created by the elements NOT man
4. Bunkering created by years of sheep/animals scraping for shelter from bitter winds
5. Playability based on experience, thought and imagination as demanded at the time of the shot not formulaic decisions based upon how far a club 'hits' the ball.

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