Best Links Golf Courses

Links courses are at the very epicentre of the game of golf and according to The Links Association there are just 279 true links golf courses in Great Britain & Ireland.

Whether it is The Old Course at St Andrews, the famed Home of Golf, or modern links masterpieces such as Bandon Dunes or Kingsbarns, links golf is a box that every golfer must tick.

Links golf courses are found across the globe, all the way from Tenby to Tasmania...and pretty much everywhere in between. Defined as the land that links the sea with the arable land, links courses have established themselves on some of the world's greatest real estate, offering breathtaking vistas and memorable challenges each time they're played.

Best Worldwide Links Golf Courses

There are many reasons and rationale about what makes it a links golf course but the acceptance criteria would include the following:

• Be within sight or less than a mile from the sea

• Have firm sandy soil

• Have natural undulations on the fairways & greens

Whilst many links golf courses have stood in their sites for centuries, there are many modern designs that have cropped up in recent years to achieve critical acclaim.

The Kyle Phillips designs at Kingsbarns which is a regular stop for The Alfred Dunhill Links on The European Tour and Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, designed by Pete Dye, which has hosted The Ryder Cup and PGA Championship are just two examples of stunning modern links design that are set to feature within many Top 100 Golf Course lists.

Best Modern Links Golf Courses

Many purists believe that the only true links golf courses are found in the UK or Ireland. There have, however, been many golf courses, both new and old, that have laid claim to being a links golf course in the USA.

Whether that is the incredible Bandon Dunes in Oregon which now boasts no less than five 18 hole layouts, designed by the world's most acclaimed golf course architects. Or perhaps the dramatic layout of the Straits Golf Course at Whistling Straits, home of The 2021 Ryder Cup and PGA Championship or the acclaimed National Golf Links of America or Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Long Island, New York.

Whilst these golf courses might not tick every box to lay claim to being a true links golf course, the experience is very similar, expect a focus on shot-making, the ability to keep the ball low to the ground and utilising the natural contours of the land to try to find your way to the putting surface and the hole.

All eyes for playing championship links golf courses often head to the many that have hosted Open Championships but it is easy to miss the amazing golf courses that provide a stunning links experience, often at incredible value as part of a golf tour.

All the way from the very North of Scotland with Nairn Golf Club to the challenging test in The Garden of England that is Kent and Royal Cinque Ports, you'll find a host of great links golf courses that will be sure to see you enjoying a bump-and-run.

Best Hidden Gem Links Golf Courses

Traditionally, links golf courses are very natural in their design. Unlike their parkland counterparts, links golf courses will utilise the natural lay of the land to create the course we enjoy.

Whether that is natural sand dunes to shape the holes or uphill, downhill and sidehill lies that create for testing approaches and putts.

Links golf courses also differ from the likes of parkland or heathland golf courses in that they have very good draining courtesy of their sandy soil.

Expect fast-running fairways and firm greens year-round when playing on seaside links. Equally, with less protection from the elements, links golf courses are typically more exposed to wind.

This combination of wind and fast, firm ground ensures for a very different round of golf with expectations on the ability to hit the ball low and under the wind, often known as a punch or a stinger, or by playing pitch-and-run shots around the green.

The key attribute to playing a links golf course well in the wind, or at any time, is to have good ball-striking which sees the ball less impacted by the wind.

There are some golf courses that might be seen as "inland links" but they would fall foul on the natural undulations and sandy soil that is only found next to the sea.

Some of these acclaimed links golf courses also benefit from some excellent hotels also available on-site.

The possibility of waking up in the morning to see the golf course you are about to take on is a fantastic feeling and makes the short walk to the 1st tee something that you'll do with aplomb.

Best Links Golf Resorts

Handicap: 11
Favourite Course: Chiltern Forest
My 'Expert' areas: Kent & the Home Counties
Best trip I've done: Dubai with golf & Rugby 7's
Where my next trip is to: Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way

Give Rick a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.