What is a links golf course?
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A links golf course is the oldest and most traditional form of course, with origins in Scotland.
Links courses are typically built on sandy coastal terrain, offering firmer playing surfaces than those found on parkland or heathland.
Across Great Britain and Ireland, such courses are commonplace, with Scotland and Ireland holding deep historical ties to the development of links golf.
The Open Championship always being contested on links courses is one of its most distinguishable features.
The term 'links' comes from the Scots language and the old English word 'hlinc', meaning 'rising ground' or 'ridge'.
It has been used to describe coastal golf courses since at least the 18th century.
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What makes a links golf course?
Links golf courses, such as Royal Portrush, are traditionally situated on or near the coast
While there are no set rules for what makes a links golf course, they are traditionally on or near the coast - often set among sand dunes.
That means links courses often lack trees or water hazards - largely due to limited resources available to early course architects.
With links courses therefore more open, wind and challenging weather conditions make for particularly challenging play. Links courses typically favour controlled players, with a requirement to play low shots and use the bounce of the course to avoid the wind.
Famous links courses
Royal Portrush - the home of the 2025 Open - is one of many famous links courses, as are fellow Open hosts St Andrews and Carnoustie.
In 2015, the US Open was held at Chambers Bay, near Seattle. The course is one of a few examples of where a major championship was played on a links golf course outside of Great Britain and Ireland.
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