|
|
|
 Over 500 years ago, golf's humble beginnings arose on a spit of sandy windswept dunes between the North Sea and the fertile farmlands near the Town of St. Andrews. The land upon which the game began has been described as Linksland -- meaning the link between the sea and the farmland or some believe, the link between the sea and the town. Throughout the British isles, links golf is played on similar landscapes.
Many golfers use "links" and "golf course" interchangeably. But the term "links" is actually a specific type of golf course. A true traditional links course has the following geographic characteristics:
- A links course is built along a major body of water
- A links course usually has very few trees, if any.
- A links course resides on sandy soil that drains easily.
- A links course has a natural open layout where the native landscape and the weather (wind/rain) play a huge factor
- A links course features ground contours that provide remarkable inherent undulations and slopes in the fairways and greens
- A links course rarely has any internal water bodies
- A links course’s rough areas feature pure seaside grasses
|
According to the PGA Professionals’ Guide to Travel, “The Classic Links golf courses of Scotland, Ireland and England all share similar settings: hard by the sea, buffeted by breeze and built along the firm, fast ground and dunes that link the ocean to land.”
Some examples of traditional links courses include:
St. Andrews Old Course
Royal Troon Golf Club
Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Carnoustie Golf Links
Ballybunion Old Course
Turnberry Ailsa Course
|
|
Royal Troon #8: 126 yards, par 3
“The Postage Stamp”
|
The golf traditionalist can appreciate the almost mystical quality that comes with playing a links course. Experiencing the game’s highs and lows while traversing rugged dunes and natural seaside beauty sets links golf apart from its inland cousin. Some believe that links golf embodies a spirit, a state of mind, an attitude or a feeling; at Chambers Bay, we tend to agree.
|
|
