Inland Links Courses

The inland links courses found in the world are a very small subset of all golf course types. None of the Irish courses to be described are inland links, however, it is important to define to round out your knowledge of all possible course types. Inland links are courses that are located inland on non-true linksland that model the features and characteristics of true links courses.

The following are the main features of inland links:

1. Bunkering on links courses is generally severe and penal. Inland links retain this characteristic. Parkland courses tend to have bunkers where you are expected to have a chance at recovering from them without dropping a shot, links courses have fewer of this type. You may have watched the 2000 British Open at the Old Course, St. Andrews and will remember the deep treacherous Road Hole Bunker in front of the 17th green. The bunker is so tough to play out of that many of the world's best players were forced to use their putter within it to putt away from the steep sod wall, before finally blasting out. Some inland links courses have troughs down the side of the fairway that resemble ditches more than bunkers. They also have steep bunkers at the greenside.

2. Sub-soil. The turf is usually sandy in nature leading to the correct grass mix. This subsoil also promotes heather and gorse in Great Britain and Ireland. However, a sandy subsoil is not an absolute requirement of an inland links style course.

3. Course layout. Forced carries from the tee, over aforementioned gorse or heather usually. Little water in play. Trees should not be an important part of the course.

Because of the popularity of true links courses, especially those in Great Britain and Ireland, there are many courses that have been built in the United States in places far inland such as Palm Springs or Las Vegas, Nevada that are advertised as "links courses." These courses are only modeled after the true links courses, and there is a wide range to inland links. Some closely follow the model of true links courses, and others only superficially.

View of the famous 17th Road Hole Bunker, Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland; conclusion of the 1995 Open Championship
Photo: James Hoskins