Links
A links is the oldest style of golf course, built on sandy coastal ground with firm turf, few trees, deep pot bunkers, and constant wind. The term comes from the Old English word hlinc, meaning a ridge or rising ground between the sea and farmland.
What is a links in golf?
A links is a specific type of golf course defined by its land, not just its location near the sea. The word originally described the strip of dunes and rough grass that separates a beach from cultivated land. That terrain was too sandy and uneven for farming, but it had naturally short turf that turned out to be ideal for hitting a small ball across the ground.
That natural fit is why golf developed on links land in the first place. Scottish shepherds and townspeople played on coastal common ground from at least the 15th century, long before anyone built courses on purpose. The earliest organised golf clubs in Scotland used these existing stretches of linksland and simply marked out holes.
Today, the word does two jobs. It still refers to the landform itself, and it refers to a golf course built on that landform. According to The Links Association, only 247 courses worldwide qualify as true links. Many more carry the word in their name without meeting the criteria, which is why golfers often distinguish between a “true links” and a “links-style” course.
Key features of a links course
Five characteristics separate a links from every other type of golf course.
The soil is sandy and drains almost instantly after rain. This keeps the turf firm and fast year-round, even in wet British and Irish winters. Balls bounce and roll a long way once they land.
There are few trees, if any. The coastal exposure means most links sit completely open to the wind, which can shift speed and direction within a single round. Without trees to block it, the wind shapes nearly every shot.
The terrain is naturally undulating. Fairways rise and fall through dunes and hollows that were carved by wind and water over thousands of years, not by an architect with bulldozers. Blind shots and odd stances are normal, and the ball can take strange bounces.
The grass is a tight mix of fescues and bents, fine-bladed indigenous species that thrive in sandy, low-nutrient soil. The British Golf Museum’s definition of linksland specifically names marram, sea lyme, fescue, and bent grasses as essential to true links turf.
The bunkers are different too. Links bunkers tend to be deep, steep-faced pot bunkers, often small but punishing. Many were originally hollows where sheep sheltered from the wind, and the design has stuck. On most links, the typical routing is also distinctive: nine holes head away from the clubhouse, nine come back, so wind direction often reverses on the back nine.
Links vs parkland courses
Most golfers learn the game on parkland courses, the inland and tree-lined style that dominates the United States and much of continental Europe. Parkland and links sit at opposite ends of the design spectrum.
| Feature | Links course | Parkland course |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Coastal (within ~1 mile of sea) | Inland |
| Soil | Sandy, free-draining | Heavier loam or clay |
| Trees | Few or none | Tree-lined fairways |
| Terrain | Natural dunes and undulations | Often shaped by design |
| Turf condition | Firm and fast | Softer, holds the ball |
| Wind exposure | Constant, often severe | Sheltered |
| Typical bunkers | Deep pot bunkers | Larger, shallower traps |
| Water hazards | Rare | Common (ponds, lakes, creeks) |
| Best approach shot | Bump and run along the ground | High aerial shot landing on the green |
The most practical difference is the ground game. On a soft parkland green, a high wedge shot lands and stops. On a firm links green, that same shot lands and bounces over the back. Players on links courses tend to land the ball short and let it run up, often with a less lofted club than the yardage would suggest.
Why links courses are rare
True links land only exists where geology and climate have left behind sandy coastal terrain with the right grasses already in place. That combination is unusual, which is why genuine links are concentrated in one small region of the world.
The R&A’s “Golf Around the World” report, prepared with the National Golf Foundation, counted 38,864 golf courses globally as of 2018. Set against The Links Association’s figure of 247 true links, that puts the share of authentic links at well under 1% of all golf courses.
The geographic concentration is even more striking. Of the 247 true links, around 211 sit in the British Isles, with Scotland alone holding 85, more than any other country. Ireland has 58, England 53, and Wales 15. The remaining 36 are scattered across continental Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the United States, and one in Africa.
Links and golf’s oldest major
The Open Championship has been played exclusively on links courses since the first event at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860. No other major works that way. The Masters, the US Open, and the PGA Championship are all held on courses in the United States.
Fourteen courses have hosted The Open, and 10 currently sit in the regular rotation, often called the Open rota. The Old Course at St Andrews has hosted more often than any other venue, with 30 championships through 2022, according to records compiled by Wikipedia and the R&A. Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland hosted the 2025 Open, Royal Birkdale is scheduled for 2026, and St Andrews returns in 2027.
True links vs links-style courses
A golf course built near the sea is not automatically a links. The distinction matters because many famous courses use the word in their name despite failing the technical test.
Pebble Beach Golf Links in California is the clearest example. The course runs through coastal terrain with spectacular ocean views, but much of it sits on non-sandy soil and passes through woodland. The True Links book by George Peper and Malcolm Campbell, which catalogues every authentic links worldwide, lists only four genuine links in the United States. Pebble Beach is not among them. Three of those four sit at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.
Whistling Straits in Wisconsin and the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina are similar cases. Both are widely described as “links-style” because they were built to look and play like a links, but neither sits on genuine linksland with the indigenous grasses and naturally sandy soil that define the category.
Famous links courses
These are some of the most recognised true links in the world. Each one regularly appears on global course rankings.
| Course | Location | Notable for |
|---|---|---|
| Old Course at St Andrews | Fife, Scotland | The oldest course in the world; 30 Opens hosted |
| Muirfield | East Lothian, Scotland | Course of the world’s oldest golf club (HCEG, 1744) |
| Royal Portrush | Northern Ireland | Only Irish course in the Open rota; 2025 host |
| Royal Birkdale | Southport, England | 2026 Open venue; classic English links |
| Royal Troon | Ayrshire, Scotland | Home of the famous “Postage Stamp” par-3 |
| Carnoustie | Angus, Scotland | Considered among the toughest links anywhere |
| Royal County Down | Northern Ireland | Often ranked the world’s number one course |
| Bandon Dunes | Oregon, USA | One of the few true links outside the British Isles |
Related Golf Terms
- Lie angle — The angle between the club shaft and the ground at address.
- Leaderboard — A scoreboard displaying the rankings of players in a tournament.
- Line — The intended path of a putt or shot.
- Lie — The position of the ball on the ground or the angle of the club relative to the ground.
- Lay up — A conservative shot played short of a hazard rather than attempting to clear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a links?
The name comes from the Old English hlinc, meaning a ridge or rising ground. It originally described the dune-covered strip of land between a beach and farmland, which is the kind of terrain the earliest golf courses occupied.
Is every coastal golf course a links?
No. A coastal location is one of several requirements. A true links also needs sandy, free-draining soil, indigenous fescue and bent grasses, naturally undulating terrain, and few or no trees. Many coastal courses fail one or more of these tests.
Is Pebble Beach a links course?
Not technically. Despite the “Golf Links” in its name, Pebble Beach runs through woodland on non-sandy soil and lacks the indigenous grasses that define authentic links. The True Links book classifies it as a coastal course rather than a true links.
Are all Scottish golf courses links?
No. Scotland has around 85 true links, but most of its courses are inland parkland or moorland layouts. Links are concentrated along the coast, particularly the east coast from Wick down to Berwick.
What does “links-style” mean?
A links-style course is designed to mimic the look and playing characteristics of a real links, with firm turf and exposed terrain, but without sitting on genuine linksland. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island and Whistling Straits are well-known examples.
Sources
- The Links Association. List of 247 true links courses worldwide.
- The R&A and National Golf Foundation. Golf Around the World report, 2018.
- Peper, George and Campbell, Malcolm. True Links. Artisan, 2010.
- British Golf Museum. Definition of linksland.
- Wikipedia. Links (golf) and List of The Open Championship venues.
- Glenmuir Journal. Links Golf: What It Is, How It Plays & Where to Find It.
- Golf Digest. British Open rota courses, ranked.
