| The difference between a parkland course and a links | | | | experience. Skill in playing 'below the wind' shots is |
| course is considerably greater than is commonly | | | | very useful. Other techniques you will need to learn are |
| known. They are both 'somewhere to play golf' but | | | | how to play out of the type of grass found on |
| that's about where any similarity ends. Most people | | | | seashores. The nature of the grass is such that it can |
| (well, golfers anyway) know that a golf links is a golf | | | | wrap itself around your club and cause all sorts of |
| course on the coast - a seaside course. However, the | | | | problems - hence the need to accustom yourself to a |
| definition is even narrower than that. The word 'link' or | | | | rather different style of golf and adapt to conditions |
| 'links' comes from the Old English word 'hlinc' meaning | | | | that you won't find on the parkland courses. |
| a ridge or a stretch of flat, undulating land along a | | | | Parkland courses in general are fashioned out of the |
| seashore. Nothing to do with a succession of holes | | | | existing 'geography' of the area and maximum use is |
| linked together like a chain. | | | | made of the natural features of the landscape. If there |
| Before looking at the characteristics of a links let us | | | | is a convenient lake or stream it can be incorporated, |
| just define a parkland course. Well, it's almost a case | | | | as can any thickets or woodland. The important thing |
| of 'everything is parkland except a links'. But there is an | | | | to look for in the design of a parkland course is variety |
| exception in that there are a number of courses | | | | from one hole to the next and, if possible, to give each |
| (usually northern) which are 'moorland'. And | | | | hole its own character. Whereas the parkland course |
| mountainous courses are rare for obvious reasons. | | | | draws its character from the available features and |
| Gravity mainly. | | | | makes it necessary for a player to have a strategy, |
| Parkland courses are very often set in an area not | | | | the links has a constantly changing character that |
| infrequently wooded to some degree and often with | | | | challenges the player at every outing. |
| heather, gorse, sand bunkers and sometimes water in | | | | It is the links courses that have traditionally been |
| the form of ponds or lakes. However, the main and | | | | chosen for the great tournaments as the ultimate test. |
| striking difference between links and parkland is that | | | | Places like Troon, Carnoustie, St.Andrews, Sandwich |
| the latter is much more obviously manufactured. This is | | | | and Lytham are all courses which will test the very |
| not said by way of criticism since inland courses by | | | | best in the world - with a very strong accent on |
| definition have to be manufactured. The quality of the | | | | consistency. Every day is different and every round |
| course though is more to do with the skill of the | | | | demands your full concentration. |
| designer and how much this "manufactured-ness" | | | | This is not to dismiss the parkland courses. They |
| shows. The optimum use of the space available and | | | | present the sternest tests for the championship |
| the incorporation of existing natural features - woods, | | | | players - Sunningdale, Wentworth, Woodhall Spa, |
| trees, water, ups and downs - are where the architect | | | | Walton Heath, The Belfry to name a few. These will |
| can bring his creative powers to bear. | | | | always provide tough tournament venues and at the |
| A great advantage of playing on a links course is that | | | | same time they offer the most beautiful settings - |
| it can usually be kept open all year round. The sandy | | | | particularly Gleneagles. For those who prefer a gentle |
| soil encourages fast drainage and offers a firm playing | | | | venue but still want a real challenge, there are dozens |
| surface even through wet weather. Links players have | | | | of top class parkland courses to explore. |
| another aspect of weather to contend with and that is | | | | Good golfing! |
| the wind. It can vary throughout the day in speed and | | | | Learn about wedding favors for men and wedding |
| direction and assessing how many clubs' difference to | | | | tipping at the Wedding Facts site. |
| allow for a shot into the wind is gained only through | | | | |