A links style course, sometimes referred to as a "Seaside links" is the oldest style of course, first developed in Scotland, where golf originated. It is the most traditional type of golf course, of which some century-old examples have survived in England, Scotland and Ireland.
Located in coastal areas, on sandy soil, from which the sea has retired in recent geological times, often amid dunes, with few water hazards and few if any trees. Because of the lack of its moisture, the grass tends to have short blades with long roots. The wispy long grass in the rough makes play very difficult even in a good lie. "For the most
part, lies are 'tight' and therefore unhelpful when there are problems ahead. Links turf is far different to 'park' grasses. It is usually hard and bare, which gives the ball bounce - something that has to be imagined and allowed for." (from: Links Golf - The inside Story)
Links courses reflect both the nature of the scenery where the sport happened to originate, and the fact that only limited resources were available to golf course architects at the time, and any earth moving had to be done by hand, so it was kept to a minimum. The links were naturally undulating and extensive but of little agricultural value and thus suitable for this kind of use.
The challenges of links golf fall into two categories. Firstly the nature of the courses themselves, which tend to be characterised by uneven fairways, thick rough and small deep bunkers known as "pot bunkers", that are hidden from sight, which makes them more daunting than normal.
Secondly, due to their coastal location many links courses are frequently windy. This affects the style of play required, favouring players who are able to play low accurate shots. As many links courses consist literally of an "outward" nine in one direction along the coast, and an "inward" nine which returns in the opposite direction, players often have to cope with opposite wind patterns in each half of their round.
Links courses drain well and provide a very firm golfing surface all year round, making it the preferred choice of most good golfers.
The Open Championship is always played on links courses, even though there are some celebrated courses which are not links, and this is one of the main things which differentiates it from the three major championships held in the United States. Strictly speaking, links courses must be on a coast. There are, for example, also some well known links courses outside the British Isles, at Pebble Beach, California (on the Pacific Ocean) and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin (on Lake Michigan).
.
.
.
However, links-style conditions can be duplicated on suitable ground, even hundreds of miles inland. One especially notable
