Playing a links course for the first time feels like a different sport. The bump-and-run beats high approaches, pot bunkers are unforgiving, and the wind changes every 10 minutes. Here's how to adapt.
Links fairways are firm and fast, so the ball runs much further after landing than on parkland courses. Stop trying to fly your approach shots all the way to the pin. Instead, aim to land the ball short of the green and let it run on — a 7-iron running along the ground often beats a wedge flying into a headwind. A bump-and-run from 30-50 yards off the green is far more reliable than a high pitch when the wind is up.
Links courses punish big drives that roll into pot bunkers, rough, or out of bounds. The fairways are wide, but the bunkers are strategically placed to catch aggressive lines. Pick a club that gives you control over direction, not the most distance. Lay up short of a fairway bunker rather than risk finding it — a clean lie from 200 yards beats a plugged lie in a 4-foot deep pot bunker.
Wind on a links course changes every 10 minutes and affects every shot differently. Into the wind: use at least 1-2 more clubs, keep the ball flight low, and swing smoothly (a hard swing creates more spin that balloons the ball higher). Downwind: less club, expect extra run. Crosswind: aim left or right of target and let the wind carry the ball back, or flight it low to minimize drift. Check the direction on every hole.
Links greens are fast and often elevated at the back, with false fronts that reject shots hit too soft. The cardinal rule: almost never short. But also — hard links greens with a headwind backstop mean you can actually aim for the back half without worry. On downwind holes, always aim short-of-middle and let the ball release. When uncertain, land on the front edge and let it run to the hole.
Pot bunkers on links courses can be 3-5 feet deep with vertical sod walls. You cannot always go forward. Assess the lip: if you cannot clear it comfortably with a sand wedge, play sideways or even backwards into the bunker's mouth. Getting out in one is the priority — a clean escape sideways costs 1 stroke; blasting into the lip and staying in costs 2+ strokes. Use a square stance with the ball slightly forward and an open face to blast through the sand.
Key insight: Never try to muscle a swing harder into a headwind. More effort = more backspin = higher ball flight = more distance loss. Trust the extra club and swing smooth.
| Do this | Not this |
|---|---|
| ✓ Aim for the front third of the green | ✗ Try to fly the ball to the flag every time |
| ✓ Use 1-2 more clubs into a headwind | ✗ Swing harder to compensate for wind |
| ✓ Play sideways out of deep pot bunkers | ✗ Blast forward into a 4-foot lip |
| ✓ Check wind direction before every shot | ✗ Assume the wind stays constant all round |
| ✓ Take the bump-and-run from tight lies around greens | ✗ Pitch high from firm links ground |
| ✓ Pick conservative tee lines away from fairway bunkers | ✗ Chase maximum distance into trouble |
Links greens are often elevated at the back with false fronts that reject shots landing near the front edge. The grain (direction grass grows) also matters differently than on parkland — links grass often grows toward the prevailing wind direction. From below the hole is almost always the preferred putting position on links greens because the surface is fast and downhill putts are treacherous.
Walk up to the green early to read the slope from both sides and behind. A links green that looks flat from the fairway often has dramatic side-to-side break that isn't visible until you're on it.
A links course sits on the coastal strip (the "links land") between sea and farmland — typically exposed, treeless, with firm/fast turf, unpredictable wind, and deep pot bunkers. Parkland courses are inland, usually lush and soft with trees lining fairways. On links courses, the ground game matters as much as the aerial game; on parkland courses, you primarily play through the air to soft targets.
A bump-and-run is a low-trajectory shot — typically hit with a 7-iron, 8-iron, or even a 5-iron — where you land the ball short of the green and let it run to the hole like a long putt. Use it whenever you have clear, firm ground between you and the pin, no obstacles in the path, and a headwind or crosswind that would blow a high ball offline. On links courses, it's often your best approach option from 30-100 yards.
First, look at the lip. If the lip is above waist height, go sideways or backward — you cannot muscle it out forward. If you can escape forward, play a standard explosion shot with your sand wedge: open the face slightly, aim left of target (for right-handers), dig your feet in for stability, and accelerate through the sand under the ball. The ball needs to fly up quickly, so focus on the sand under the ball, not the ball itself. Never try to pick it clean off pot bunker sand.
A rule of thumb for amateur golfers: take one extra club for every 10 mph of headwind. So a 20 mph headwind = 2 more clubs than your normal yardage selection. More importantly, swing at 80% effort — a harder swing creates more backspin which lifts the ball higher and loses more distance into wind. A smooth 7-iron can out-fly a hard 9-iron into a 20 mph headwind.
Yes, but add a wind check step before every shot. After you pick your target, stand behind the ball and hold some grass up to feel the wind direction and strength at ground level. Then look at the flag, any elevated flags nearby, and clouds moving overhead — they can differ by 10-15 mph from ground level. Factor all of this into club selection before you step into your address.
A links bounce is when you play a shot that intentionally hits the slope in front of a green or green surrounds to redirect the ball toward the hole. Because links turf is firm, you can use the slope like a backboard. For example: a bank on the right side of a green with the flag on the left → aim your shot at the bank and let it deflect toward the hole. This technique is much harder on soft parkland greens but is standard practice in links golf.
Add 5-10 strokes to your normal parkland score for your first links round. Links golf is harder than parkland for high handicappers because of wind, fast greens, and pot bunkers. The scoring gets better as you learn to play the ground game — recreational golfers who master the bump-and-run can often match or exceed their parkland scores on links after 3-4 rounds.
Classic links courses are found in the UK and Ireland (Royal Troon, St Andrews, Ballybunion, Royal Portrush), but links-style courses exist in coastal areas worldwide — New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the US (Bandon Dunes and Chambers Bay are famous American links-style courses). The key is the coastal terrain: firm turf, wind exposure, and natural undulating fairways.