Links golf rules, explained: Biggest differences vs. regular golf courses, from hole layout to strategy
The British Open annually closes out the major calendar in golf, pitting the world's best golfers against one another on a classic links course.
Links courses can be found outside of the United Kingdom, but they are synonymous with golf in that region of Europe. Links-style courses are the oldest in the sport, and they force golfers to play differently than they would at most other major courses, including courses littered with trees.
Whether Royal Portrush, Royal Troon or one of the other magnificent, historic courses utilized for the Open Championship, links style of golf has its moment in the spotlight each July.
Here's what you need to know about links golf, notable links courses and how the rules and style of play differentiate from regular golf.
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What is links golf?
Links golf refers to the oldest style of golf course, which is typically situated on the coast of a saltwater body and features little or no trees as well as no water obstacles.
Links golf tends to feature a firmer playing surface due to the coastal terrain, and the setting on the water along with the lack of trees typically makes a links course high-risk for wind.
While links courses may sound easier than courses with more obstacles, the change in the playing surface as well as the unpredictable conditions — and the natural challenges that were installed as part of the course — can make for a difficult day for even the best golfers.
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What does links golf mean?
The word "links" used in association with golf originated in Scotland from the Old English word "hlinc," which refers to areas of coastal sand dunes that have now become synonymous with links golf.
While links is now used commonly to refer to golf courses, even in casual references to non-links courses, it can also be used to refer to the type of coastal terrain that is suitable for links-style courses in Scotland and other nations.
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History of links golf
The history of links golf is also the history of golf itself. Because modern golf originated in Scotland, the conditions necessitated that the earliest golf courses were links courses — even if those playing on them didn't know any better.
Golf began in Scotland in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, and the earliest courses were all links courses because they were largely dictated by the land of Scotland's Eastern coast. The Old Course at St Andrews, a links course, was established in 1552 and is considered the oldest in the world, and the proximity of most early courses in Scotland to the coast meant they were primarily links courses as well.
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How links golf is different from regular golf
Course design and layout
Links courses feature little or no trees and typically no water obstacles. Instead of battling those challenges and risking hitting the ball into the trees, golfers more often have to deal with bunkers and the effects of natural weather conditions.
Playing conditions
While creators of links golf courses certainly put in the work to make the course challenging, links courses rely more on the natural lay of the land than typical courses do. Not only are the greens firmer as a result, allowing the ball to roll out further than other courses, but wind is often a major factor. With links golf courses sitting right on the coast and no trees to block the wind, it's not uncommon to see players battling significant winds while also being mindful of bunkers and trying not to hit the ball to a position that will roll it right off the green.
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Playing strategy
Playing a links course typically requires players to make major adjustments to their approach. Golfers always account for wind when it's present, but at links courses, they have to expect wind. Because of firmer greens, players might not be able to just drop the ball on the green and expect to have a makeable shot lined up. The ball rolls off the green more easily, so it can make more sense for players to keep it on the fairway and work their way onto the green and toward the hole with a softer touch to avoid disaster.
History
The earliest links courses tended to follow the lay of the land as closely as possible, rather than incorporating many man-made obstacles. That's why it is so important that links courses are right on a coast. Not only is wind more likely to be a factor on the water, but the texture of the sandy soil and presence of sand dunes is part of what makes a course a links course.
As time has gone on, though, some developers have found ways to create links-style courses that don't necessarily fit every aspect of the links definition. Some of the most popular links-style courses in the United States, for example, are on Lake Michigan or even the Alleghany River.
Golfers in Scotland might scoff at the idea of those courses being called links courses, but they fit the definition of a links course much more closely than a course such as Augusta National, which is littered with trees and water obstacles, even if the land isn't necessarily links land.
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How the British Open is connected to links golf
The Open Championship is the only golf major played exclusively at coastal links courses.
Each major is designed to present a major challenge to the players, but the Open Championship is unique for this reason. Not only is it the only major played in the United Kingdom, but it forces players to play on a course that relies more on the natural lay of the land and the weather conditions than man-made obstacles.
Whether at St Andrews, Royal Portrush, Royal Troon or anywhere else, the Open has a clear standard: a classic feel that digs into the deep history of golf better than any other major while still handing the world's best players a monumental challenge.
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Notable links golf courses
St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland was established in 1552 and is considered the oldest golf course in the world. The course has 112 bunkers and numerous hills, with 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge one of the many landmarks on the course.
A frequent host of the Open Championship, St Andrews is rich with history both old and new, with Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods each winning multiple Open Championships on its grounds.
Royal Portrush
Founded in 1888 — more than 300 years after the Old Course at St Andrews — Royal Portrush is also in the Open Championship rotation and is located on the northern coast of Northern Ireland. The beautiful ruins of the Dunluce Castle, for which the course itself is named, can be seen from the fifth hole, while many of the course's holes and hills have a tremendous view of the water.
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Royal Liverpool
Another member of the Open Championship rotation, Royal Liverpool doesn't feature quite the same number of hills as most other U.K. links courses, but it can play fast and be impacted by significant wind. Located on the tip of a peninsula not far from the city of Liverpool, Royal Liverpool has hosted The Open 13 times.
Whistling Straits
Located on the coast of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Whistling Straits is one of the most notable links-style American courses to have hosted a major. Whistling Straits was designed to closely resemble some of the most iconic links courses of the U.K., with deep bunkers and dunes in addition to the windy conditions that come off of the lake. The course even has a flock of Scottish sheep that roam throughout the year. Whistling Straits has hosted three PGA Championships in addition to the 2021 Ryder Cup.
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Can you play links golf in the USA?
While the U.S. might not be able to perfectly replicate the sand dunes of Scotland's coasts, there are plenty of American links courses. Some are simply links-style courses without meeting all of the requirements to be called a true links course, while others largely fit the definition.
Whistling Straits, Shinnecock Hills and Kiawah Island are three American links courses that have hosted majors, though the validity of calling them links courses right down to the very specific definition can be debated. The American links courses most closely resembling the setting of those in Scotland can be found in Oregon, particularly at Bandon Dunes.
