What Is a Links Golf Course? Everything You Need to Know

Updated: May 2, 2026 · Read time: 7 min

Author: Graeme

A links golf course is the oldest style of golf course, built on sandy coastal terrain between the sea and the farmland. The term links comes from the old English word "hlinc," meaning rising ground or ridge.

True links courses feature sandy soil, natural sand dunes, firm turf, few trees, deep pot bunkers, and constant coastal winds. They are generally considered the ultimate test in golf. Of the 247 true links courses in the world, 211 are in the British Isles. If you play golf in the UK, you're closer to one than you think.

That's the textbook answer. Here's the real one: a links golf course is where the game stops pretending to be polite and shows you what it actually is. No tree-lined fairways protecting you from your own bad decisions.

No soft greens catching your high approach shots. No manicured parkland making you feel like you're playing in a garden. Just wind, sand, firm ground, and a course that was shaped by the sea rather than a golf course architect.

I played my first links round in conditions that would have closed a parkland course. Sideways rain, a wind that changed direction every three holes, and greens so firm my pitching wedge bounced over the back like I'd hit it off concrete. I shot terribly. I've never enjoyed a round more.

That's links golf. It ruins your scorecard and makes you want to come back tomorrow.

About the author

Graeme is a golf enthusiast and writer who believes the best golfwear should work as hard off the course as it does on it. Drawing on years of testing brands across every level, from high street to heritage, he writes honest, wearable reviews that cut through the marketing noise. When he's not reviewing the latest drops, you'll find him on the fairways of West Yorkshire, usually three-putting.

Short on time? Here are the key takeaways

A links golf course is built on sandy coastal terrain with natural dunes, firm turf, pot bunkers, and few trees
Only 247 true links courses exist worldwide. Over 85% are in the British Isles
The Open Championship has been played exclusively on links courses since 1860
Links golf demands a different game: low shots, bump and run approaches, and constant wind management
Links courses vs parkland courses: firm vs soft, wind vs shelter, ground game vs aerial game
Dress for the weather, not just the dress code. Layers, waterproofs, and wind-resistant clothing are essential
Famous links courses include the Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Troon, Royal County Down, and Royal Portrush

What Makes a Links Course Different?

The key characteristics that separate a links golf course from parkland courses, heathland courses, and desert courses come down to where it sits, what it's built on, and what the weather does to it.

Sandy soil and links land. True links courses sit on links land, the rugged, sandy ground between the sea and the farmland. The sandy soil drains brilliantly, which means the surface stays firm even after heavy rain. That firm turf is what gives links golf its distinctive bounce and roll. On a parkland course, your ball lands and stops. On a links course, it lands and keeps going. Sometimes where you want it. Often where you don't.

Few trees. Salt spray and coastal winds mean most links courses have virtually no trees. No shelter. No windbreaks. No hiding from whatever the sky is doing. This is the defining difference most golfers notice first. You're exposed, and the course doesn't care.

Pot bunkers. Deep, steep-edged bunkers designed to trap balls and prevent sand blowing away in the wind. They're small, nasty, and built to punish. On a parkland course, a bunker is a minor inconvenience. On a links course, a pot bunker can cost you two shots if you don't respect it. The only goal from a pot bunker is getting out. Forget the pin. Forget distance. Get the ball back on grass.

Natural contours and undulating greens. Links courses follow the natural shape of the land. No golf course architects flattened the terrain or built features from scratch. The bumps, hollows, and undulating greens are shaped by centuries of wind and water. Every bounce is natural. Every roll is earned. Reading a links green takes rounds of experience, not minutes.

Wind. Wind plays a constant role on links courses. A 150-yard shot that needs a comfortable 9-iron in still air might need a punched 6-iron an hour later. Wind patterns change through the round. Many links courses follow an "out and back" layout where the front nine heads one direction and the back nine returns, meaning you face entirely different wind conditions on each half.

Famous Links Courses You Should Know

True links courses are extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all golf courses worldwide. These are the ones that define the category.

The Old Course at St Andrews. The "Home of Golf" and the most famous links course in the world. The old course has been played on since the 15th century. Widely regarded as the birthplace of the game and the course every golfer should play before they stop playing.
Royal Troon, Scotland. A classic links course that has hosted the Open Championship multiple times. The "Postage Stamp" 8th hole is one of the most famous holes in golf. 123 yards. Sounds simple. I stood on that tee box and genuinely considered laying up on a par 3. The wind was howling left to right, the green is the size of a postage stamp (hence the name), and the pot bunkers surrounding it look like they were designed by someone who hates golfers.
Royal County Down, Northern Ireland. Frequently cited as one of the best courses in the world. Stunning views of the Mountains of Mourne and a layout that is the ultimate test of links golf. I've played it and it's every bit as good as the reputation suggests. One of the Three Putt designers actually plays here regularly, which tells you something about the kind of golfers behind the brand. If you play one links course in your life, most people say St Andrews. I'd say Royal County Down. The course is harder, the scenery is better, and the round stays with you longer.
Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Dunluce course is generally considered one of the finest links courses in the British Isles. Hosting The Open in 2019 reminded the golf world what they'd been missing.
Royal St George's, England. The only English course on the Open Championship rota south of Lancashire. A proper links test in the Kent sandhills.
Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland. Where The Open Championship began in 1860. The course where links golf and major championship golf became the same conversation.
Bamburgh Castle Golf Club, Northumberland. Not on the Open rota. Not on most golfers' radar. But Bamburgh Castle Golf Club is one of the most beautiful links experiences in England. You play with the castle behind you and the North Sea in front. It's not a championship test, but it's links golf in its purest, most enjoyable form. I played it on a Tuesday afternoon with barely anyone else on the course, just me and my mum, and it's one of my favourite golf memories.
Cleveland Golf Club, Redcar. Another one most golfers overlook. Cleveland Golf Club is proper, old-school links on the North East coast. Exposed, windswept, and honest. No frills, no pretence, just a links course that tests your game and rewards good shots.

How to Play a Links Course

If you've only played on parkland courses, links golf will humble you. That's not a warning. That's a promise.

Keep the ball low. The ground game is essential for links golf. High, spinning approach shots that work on soft parkland greens will bounce over the back of a links green and disappear into trouble. The bump and run becomes your best friend. Land the ball short, let it run up to the pin. A 7-iron from 100 yards that rolls onto the green is better than a lofted wedge that bounces over it.
Club up and swing easy. Coastal winds make club selection a constant recalibration. The old Scottish advice is "take one more club and swing easy." It works. Fighting the wind with a harder swing just makes everything worse.
Read the terrain, not just the greens. Links courses have natural contours that feed the ball towards and away from trouble. A fairway that tilts towards a bunker will send your ball straight into it. Learn to use the slopes rather than fighting them. Playing a links course is as much about strategy as it is about striking.
Accept the bounce. On firm links turf, the ball will kick in directions that feel random at first. They're not. My first links round at Cleveland Golf Club, I hit a perfect 7-iron approach that pitched on the front edge and bounced clean over the green into a pot bunker I didn't know existed. On a parkland course, that shot pins the flag. On a links course, it costs you two shots and a lesson you never forget. The bounces become readable with experience. Your first links round will feel chaotic. Your fifth will feel like you're starting to understand the course. That learning curve is what makes links golf addictive.
Manage your expectations. Your parkland handicap doesn't transfer directly. Add five to ten shots on your first links round and you'll be closer to reality. The challenging play is part of the appeal. If you wanted predictable, you'd have stayed on the parkland course.

For a deeper look at the best golf brands that build equipment specifically for links conditions, that guide covers clubs, balls, and clothing designed for the unique challenge.

What to Wear on a Links Course

This is where most golfers get it wrong. You pack for the dress code and forget to pack for the weather. On a links course, the weather is the dress code.

Layers are non-negotiable.

A links course in the morning can be calm and cold. By the turn, the wind picks up. By the 15th, it's raining sideways. I played Bamburgh in a polo and a mid-layer. By the 6th hole I'd added a waterproof. By the 12th I'd taken the waterproof off and put a hoodie on instead. Links weather doesn't pick a mood and stick with it.

The Three Putt Golf Streetwear Sweatshirt handles the cold start. 400 GSM pure cotton, layers over a polo without bulk. The Three Putt Golf Streetwear Hoodie covers pre-round and post-round, and works at relaxed links courses that accept hoodies as layering. The Three Putt Golf Streetwear T-shirt is for the rare links day when the sun stays and the wind drops. Those days exist. They're just outnumbered.

Waterproofs are essential.

Coastal location means rain arrives without warning. A breathable, wind-resistant waterproof jacket lives in your bag permanently when playing links golf. It doubles as a wind layer when the rain stops but the gusts don't.

Spiked shoes over spikeless.

Sandy soil means good drainage, but links turf is uneven and exposed. Spiked golf shoes with soft spikes provide better grip than spikeless on a windswept links. If you play links regularly in the UK, one pair of spiked waterproof shoes is the single best investment you can make.

Check the dress code, but dress for survival.

Most links courses have a dress code like any other golf club. The difference is the weather adds its own requirements on top. For a full wardrobe system that handles links conditions and every other round, our men's golf capsule wardrobe guide covers the essentials. For the complete guide to golf attire for men across every course type, that piece covers links, parkland, and everything in between. And for the independent UK brands making the best layering pieces for coastal conditions, that guide has you covered.

Links vs Parkland: The Key Differences

	Links	Parkland
Terrain	Natural contours, sand dunes, undulating	Manicured, flattened, man-made features
Trees	Few or none	Plentiful, often lining fairways
Soil	Sandy, firm, fast-draining	Clay-based, softer, can become muddy
Bunkers	Deep pot bunkers, steep-edged	Shallow, raked, less punishing
Greens	Firm, fast, undulating	Softer, more receptive to aerial shots
Wind	Constant, exposed, coastal	Sheltered by trees and terrain
Play style	Ground game, bump and run, low flights	Aerial game, spin, land and stop
Famous examples	Old Course at St Andrews, Royal Troon	Augusta National, Sunningdale Golf Club

Traditional parkland courses and most famous parkland courses like Augusta National and Sunningdale Golf Club play an entirely different game. Neither is better. They're different sports wearing the same name. But links is where golf started, and there's a reason The R&A still insists The Open Championship is played exclusively on links courses. It's the purest form of the game.

Final Thoughts

A links golf course is golf stripped back to what it was always supposed to be. No manufactured challenges. No artificial protection. Just you, the course, the wind, and whatever the sky decides to throw at you.

If you've only ever played on parkland courses, a links round will change how you think about the game. The scoring will be worse. The experience will be better. The shots you learn to play (bump and run, low punch into wind, creative escapes from pot bunkers) will make you a more complete golfer on every course you play afterwards.

Of the 247 true links courses in the world, over 200 are in the UK and Ireland. You're closer to one than you think. Book a tee time. Pack for the weather. Leave your ego at home. And if the wind takes your ball somewhere unexpected, remember: that's not the course being unfair. That's the course being a links course.

Three Putt Golf launches later in 2026. Golf clothing built for the course and the conditions. Heavyweight layers that handle links weather without restricting your swing. Sign up for early access.

Frequently Asked Questions About Links Style Courses

What is a links golf course?

A links golf course is the oldest style of golf course, built on sandy coastal terrain called links land. Key characteristics include sandy soil, natural sand dunes, firm turf, few trees, deep pot bunkers, undulating greens, and constant coastal winds. The term comes from the old English word "hlinc," meaning rising ground or ridge. True links courses are extremely rare, with only 247 worldwide.

What is the difference between links and parkland golf courses?

Links courses are coastal with sandy soil, firm turf, few trees, and constant wind. Parkland courses are inland with softer ground, tree-lined fairways, and sheltered conditions. Links golf demands a ground game with low shots and bump and run techniques. Parkland golf favours aerial shots that land and stop. Famous links include St Andrews and Royal Troon. Famous parkland courses include Augusta National and Sunningdale Golf Club.

How many true links courses are there?

247 worldwide, according to the Links Association. Of those, 211 are in the British Isles. Scotland has the most with 85, followed by Ireland with 58, England with 53, and Wales with 15. Only five are in the United States, including courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.

What should I wear on a links golf course?

Layers, waterproofs, and wind-resistant clothing on top of whatever the dress code requires. A collared polo and tailored trousers satisfy the golf club rules. Layers handle the temperature changes. A waterproof jacket is essential for coastal weather. Spiked golf shoes provide better grip than spikeless on exposed links terrain. Dress for the weather, not just the dress code.

How do you play links golf?

Keep the ball low, use bump and run approaches, club up in the wind, read the natural contours of the course, and manage your expectations. Your parkland handicap won't transfer directly. Links golf rewards patience, creativity, and the ability to use the ground rather than fighting it. Accept the bounce. It's part of the game.

What is The Open Championship's connection to links golf?

The Open Championship, golf's oldest major, has been played exclusively on links courses since its first staging at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860. This requirement distinguishes it from the three American majors and preserves the historical connection between competitive golf and the coastal courses where the game began.

What are the most famous links courses in the world?

The Old Course at St Andrews (Home of Golf), Royal County Down (Northern Ireland), Royal Troon (Scotland), Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland), Royal St George's (England), Prestwick Golf Club (Scotland), and lesser-known gems like Bamburgh Castle Golf Club (Northumberland) and Cleveland Golf Club (Redcar). Each offers a unique challenge shaped by centuries of coastal weather.