Links, parkland, heathland and desert courses, how the ground shapes your game
The same swing can produce very different golf depending on the ground beneath it. How the main course types play, and how to adapt your shots and your packing.
Golf is played with the same clubs and the same ball everywhere, yet a round on a windswept coast feels like a different game from one in a leafy inland park. The difference lies in the ground: the soil, the grass, the trees and the weather shape which shots work and which ones get punished. Understanding the main course types helps you choose where to play, pack the right kit and enjoy the round instead of fighting it.
Links golf, where the game began
A is a coastal course built on sandy ground between the sea and farmland. The word comes from an old term for rising ground or ridges, which describes the dunes and hollows these courses wind through. The Scottish and Irish links coasts are the best known examples, and it is on land like this that golf first took shape.
Links turf is usually dominated by fine grasses such as , which thrive on sandy, free-draining soil and play firm and fast. There are few trees, so the wind is a constant companion and can change the length of a hole from one day to the next. Bunkers are often small, deep pot bunkers with steep faces, and getting out sideways or even backwards is sometimes the wisest play.
The key skill is the ground game. On firm links turf the ball bounces and runs a long way, so the classic shot is the : a low shot with a less lofted club that lands short of the green and rolls on. Putting from well off the green is perfectly sensible when the ground is tight and smooth. Keep the ball low into the wind, and accept that luck with the bounces is part of the experience.
Parkland, the aerial game
Parkland courses are inland, usually laid out across rolling grassland with mature trees lining the fairways. The turf tends to be lusher and the ground softer, especially in wet seasons, and many layouts include ponds or streams. In many countries this is the most familiar kind of golf.
Because the ground is softer, the ball stops more quickly. That rewards an aerial game: carry the ball most of the way to the target and expect little roll. Approach shots can be played higher and more directly at the flag, while trees punish wayward drives and make a sensible recovery shot back to the fairway the best option after a mistake. In wet conditions, take one more club, because the ball will not run.
Heathland, firm turf under the pines
Heathland courses sit on sandy inland soil and are framed by heather, gorse, pine and birch. The heathland belt to the south-west of London, in Surrey and its neighbouring counties, is the classic example, and similar landscapes exist across northern Europe.
The sandy base drains well, so heathland plays firmer than most parkland and has some of the running character of a links, but with shelter from the trees. The danger is the heather: a ball that finds it is often hard to move far. Take a lofted club, aim to get back to the fairway and accept the lost shot rather than risking two.
Desert, mountain and resort courses
Desert courses, found in places such as Arizona, Nevada and the Gulf, are islands of irrigated green set in sand, rock and scrub. They are target golf in the purest sense: hit the grass, and anything outside it is trouble. Many of them use sandy waste areas that look like bunkers but are often treated as part of the general area under the Rules, so you may be allowed to ground your club. Check the local rules on the scorecard before you assume.
Mountain courses bring their own puzzles. The ball travels further in the thinner air at altitude, and steep uphill and downhill lies change how far and how high each shot flies. Many courses publish a guide to how a hole plays; trust it, and take time to work out club selection on the first few holes.
Resort courses are built to be enjoyed by golfers of every standard. They often have wide fairways, several sets of tees and fewer forced carries. Pick the tees that match your game rather than your pride, and a long round becomes a pleasant one.
What to pack and how to adapt
The right kit makes a bigger difference than most golfers expect, especially away from home. Think about the ground and the weather before you think about new clubs.
- Links: waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, a hat that stays on in the wind and a club you trust for low shots.
- Parkland: an umbrella, waterproof shoes and a towel to keep grips dry on soft, damp days.
- Heathland: layers for shaded early tee times and a reliable lofted club for escapes from the heather.
- Desert: sun protection, a wide-brimmed hat, light clothing and more water than you think you need.
- Mountain: layers for changing temperatures and sun cream, since the sun can feel stronger at altitude.
On any unfamiliar course, play the first few holes conservatively while you learn how the ground reacts. Watch how far the ball rolls after landing, notice where the wind is coming from and adjust your targets. A round played to the course in front of you nearly always beats a round played as if you were at home.
Terms in this article
- Links
- A coastal course on sandy ground between the sea and farmland, typically firm, open and exposed to the wind.
- Fescue
- A fine grass common on links and heathland courses that thrives on sandy soil and plays firm and fast.
- Pot bunker
- A small, deep bunker with a steep face, typical of links courses.
- Bump and run
- A low running shot played with a less lofted club, landing short of the green and rolling to the hole.
- Waste area
- A sandy, unmaintained area on desert courses, often treated as general area rather than as a bunker.
Questions readers ask
Is links golf only for good players?
Not at all. Links courses can be tough in strong wind, but the firm ground also helps shorter hitters, because the ball keeps running. Choose the forward tees, keep the ball low, use your putter from off the green and treat the bunkers with respect. Many golfers find that a links round teaches them more about shot-making than years of play inland.
Can I ground my club in a desert waste area?
Often yes, because waste areas are usually part of the general area rather than bunkers under the Rules of Golf, but this is not guaranteed. Some courses define certain sandy areas as bunkers, with the usual restrictions. Always read the local rules on the scorecard or ask at the starter’s hut before your round, especially when you are playing a desert course for the first time.
