Links Golf Survival Guide
Here’s a Links Golf 101 Primer to help you keep your sanity (and maybe even your score) intact next time:
1. Accept That the Ground is Your Enemy and Your Friend
Links golf is played on the ground as much as through the air. Fairways are hard, fast, and unpredictable. A perfect drive can end up in a nightmare because of hidden mounds, swales, and unpredictable bounces. But that same chaos can work in your favor if you use it correctly.
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Plan for the bounce, not just the carry. Aim to land short and let the ball run up.
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Visualize where the ball will finish, not where it lands.
2. Forget High, Fly, and Stop – Think Low, Run, and Roll
Forget about hitting towering 7-irons that land softly. The wind laughs at that strategy. You want to keep it low and boring. Think “bump and run” mentality, even from 150 yards.
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Punch shots are your new best friend. Grip down an extra inch and take more club with a ¾ swing to flight it lower.
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Use hybrids, long irons, or even fairway woods for approaches where you’d normally hit wedges.
3. Know When to Put Driver in Time-Out
A driver can be a weapon… or a disaster. Links courses often reward position over distance. Many fairways narrow around 250-270 yards, with trouble lurking beyond.
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Play to your “ideal leave.” A 5-wood, hybrid, or even a long iron can be the smarter play if it leaves you a good approach and avoids disaster.
4. Wind Management: When in Doubt, Add 2 Clubs
Wind isn’t just a “factor” on a links course — it’s a relentless bully. Into the wind? Club up at least 2 clubs. Downwind? The ball flies forever, but it won’t stop, so land it short.
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Play knockdown shots by choking down, keeping your hands ahead, and finishing low.
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Into the wind: Swing smoother, not harder. Over-swinging adds spin, which balloons the ball.
5. The Fairways Aren’t Always the Best Target
Sometimes, aiming for the rough is actually the safer play if it avoids a death trap bunker or an unplayable lie. The rough on a links course is often manageable (unless you find the alien jungle of doom you mentioned).
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Study the hole map. Look for areas where you’d rather be long or short than left or right.
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If you’re unsure, take the club that keeps you short of trouble.
6. The Bunkers Are Not Your Friends – They’re Penal Death Traps
Links bunkers are not like regular bunkers. They’re deep, they’re angry, and they’re strategically placed to ruin your round. Avoid them at all costs.
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If there’s a bunker in your landing zone, play short or wide.
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When in one, don’t be a hero. Just get out.
7. Putting from 30 Yards? Normal.
Links greens can be firm, fast, and surrounded by closely mown collection areas. You’ll often find yourself in a spot where putting from off the green is a smarter option than trying a wedge.
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Practice putting from off the green.
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Get comfortable judging how the ball will react on fairway-length grass.
8. Patience is Key – It’s a Mental Game
Links golf tests your patience like nothing else. Accept bad bounces, weird lies, and unfortunate results. They happen to everyone. Your goal is to avoid compounding mistakes.
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Take your medicine and get back in play rather than trying to pull off miracle shots.
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Bogeys are fine. Avoid the doubles and triples that come from taking unnecessary risks.
9. Be Wary of the Scorecard – It’s a Liar
A 400-yard par 4 on a links course might play like 500 yards into the wind, or like 320 yards downwind. Don’t trust the yardage — trust the conditions.
10. Final Mental Note: Embrace the Chaos
Links golf rewards creativity and patience, not brute force. It’s less about perfection and more about adaptability. If you can roll with the punches, you’ll come to love the challenge.
Bonus: Quick Links Club Selection Cheat Sheet
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Driver – Only when the landing area is safe.
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3-wood/5-wood – Better control and position off the tee.
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Hybrids/Long Irons – Great for windy approaches or bump-and-runs.
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8-iron/PW – Consider for chipping instead of wedge.