# What defines "links style" golf **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216 "2003-07-17T19:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216/1 "2003-07-17T19:30:31Z")
OK, I’m an avid golfer, but have never understood the term “links style”. It seems to mean so many different things, that it ends up meaning nothing: - Holes are “linked up” along the coast - No parallel fairways - Hey, we just want the name in our golf course so it sounds cool to name a few. So, what’s the SD on links? In particular, what makes Royal St Geroge’s s links style course? ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216/2 "2003-07-17T20:04:03Z")
Here’s a write-up of a possible definition [http://www.scotlandgolf.com/departments/features/links-golf-meaning.htm](http://www.scotlandgolf.com/departments/features/links-golf-meaning.htm) From what I gather from reading different reviews of golf courses, a links-style course has: • rolling, sparse fairways • preferably along the coast • tall, weed-like grasses and pastures • large greens • pot bunkers (whatever that means) • ill-defined fairways Historically, it sounds like a links-style course was really just some lousy land near a coast that was converted to a course. The play is atrocious but I guess that gave bragging rights. I think most courses just use the word because it sounds cool or they have one characteristic, sparce, rolling fairways. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216/3 "2003-07-17T20:09:45Z")
I participated in the planning for a golf community around a links-style course and, IIRC, the difference is that instead of having large, continuous fairways from tee to green (think of all that green grass at the Masters), a links course has much smaller areas of fairways broken up by unprepared ground. You play from “landing area” to “landing area” to green. Add the deep pot bunkers (bunkers that are so deep you can’t see out of them) and you’ve got a long, frustrating day ahead of you. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216/4 "2003-07-17T21:08:10Z")
… and it all falls together when you realize that “links” is a Scottish term for a seacoast terrain that golf was first played upon… from [Merriam-Webster Online](http://www.m-w.com) > [@](#): > > Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hlincas, plural of hlinc ridge; akin to Old English hlanc lank > Date: 15th century > 1 Scottish : sand hills especially along the seashore ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-links-style-golf/189216/5 "2003-07-17T22:58:31Z")
"lousy land " I like that. It’s probably a good working definition. I’ll bet Ernie Els and David Toms, to name a few, would agree after today (78, 80 respectively).