The Open Championship is unique from the other major tournaments since it’s played on links courses, which are highly common in the UK, Scotland, and Ireland. These courses sit along the coastline and feature undulating terrain, dunes, and Indigenous grasses such as sea Lyme, engineered to produce fine-textured, tight turf links. Playing beside the sea is very appealing to many players, from the moist, salty air to the sounds of waves and seagulls and the overall aesthetic of the beautiful ocean. There are over 250 links courses globally, and each is unique as it seeks to preserve the natural features of the surrounding areas. Playing on a links course is as original as the game can get, and below, we highlight some of the best options worldwide.
Top Links Courses Globally
St. Andrews Links (Old Course) – Scotland
The Old Course at St. Andrews, located in Fife, Scotland, is one of the world’s most famous and oldest golf courses, hence its nickname the “Home of Golf” or the “Grand Old Lady.” The course has hosted many iconic events, including the Open Championship, with golf enthusiasts enjoying historic landmarks such as the Hell Bunker and Swilcan Bridge. It’s deemed one of the most challenging courses to play, featuring 112 bunkers and endless hollows and hills.
Royal County Down – Northern Ireland
The legendary course is located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Mourne Mountains. Founded in 1889, Royal County Down boasts gorse-lined fairways, blind shots, and rugged dunes, which ranks it among the top golf courses in the world. Legendary golf names, such as Harry Vardon, JH Taylor, and James Braid, reportedly advised on improvements to the course in the 1900s, with the royal prefix bestowed in 1908.
Bandon Dunes (Pacific Dunes) – USA
America is home to many exemplary courses, and this Tom Doak masterpiece is ideal for any links play enthusiast. Launched in 2001, Pacific Dunes competes fiercely with other Bandon Dunes courses, with the Oregon coastline proving quite ideal for links golf. Players enjoy plenty of drama as they maneuver through the strategic challenges spread throughout the course, with the relaxing scenery contributing to quality golf memories.
Barnbougle Dunes – Australia
The Barnbougle Dunes course is located in Tasmania on the north coast of Australia. The links-style course opened for play in 2004 and was designed by Mike Clayton and Tom Doak. What makes The Dunes one of the finest courses in the world is the stunning setting, with rumpled land perfect for golf and many holes running parallel to the beach or the river. Just across, Lost Farm, designed by Coore and Crenshaw, offers a pleasingly different appeal.
West Cliffs – Portugal
West Cliffs opened in 2017 and already ranks among the leading courses in mainland Europe. The course, designed by Cynthia Dye and carved out of pine forest, features an elevated setting running up and down the hillsides next to the coast. West Cliffs is located just an hour from Lisbon and offers terrific views down over the course and out to sea, adding to the treasure trove of golf on offer in Portugal.
Ballybunion Golf Club (Old Course) – Ireland
The reputable Ballybunion Golf Club was founded in 1893 and sits on Ireland’s beautiful and rugged Atlantic coast in County Kerry. The world-famous club features spectacular and unique holes, with the opening ones offering a reasonably gentle easing into the round and things getting tough from the 7th hole onwards. Some holes duck and dive along and through the sandhills, while others cling precariously to the cliff tops, providing a thrilling and scenic adventure.
Tara Iti – New Zealand
Tom Doak never drops the ball when designing links courses, and Tara Iti in New Zealand further cements his prowess. The course opened for play in 2015 and lies between the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and towering sand dunes, overlooking one of the country’s top-ranked surfing beaches. The previously heavily wooded region now features spectacular and undulating dunes through which the course meanders.
Falsterbo – Sweden
Located far south and west in Sweden, the genuine, old-fashioned Falsterbo links are bordered on three sides by the sea, attracting migratory waders and geese and proving perfect for bird lovers. The course was designed by Gunnar Bauer in 1930 and is the third oldest club in the country, although it has undergone some re-working on the greens over the years. Golfers especially enjoy the three par 5s in the last six holes, each of the final four holes running along the Baltic Sea.
Final Thoughts
Links courses offer a picturesque coastal view and fresh air while posing a daunting challenge to players thanks to uneven fairways, steep inclines, and deep bunkers. If you are used to playing mostly on inland courses, add a links course to your bucket list and taste the unique difference. Thankfully, they are now spread worldwide, not just in Scotland, Ireland, and England.