There are several things you must be prepared for when playing on a links style golf course, especially in the United Kingdom.
Firstly, the course will feature many undulations, on both the fairways and the greens, some of which can be severe at times. The conditions tend to be hard and fast and again this usually applies to both the fairway and the greens.
There are likely to be plenty of bunkers and some of them will be very deep, especially around the green. Thick gorse bushes will probably be in plentiful supply around the edge of each hole and wild fescue grass is common place.
Then there is the weather, which can be highly unpredictable and challenging, with wind and rain often forming part of the links golf playing experience.
However, despite this playing links golf if a fun and rewarding experience which every golfer should experience at least once in their life. Today, we have some great tips to help you get the most out of your links golf playing experience.
Perhaps the most important aspect of playing golf on a links course is to keep your ball on the fairway and that means controlling your tee shots.
If you send your ball into the fescue grass or the gorse bushes with your driver you will be lucky to get a decent shot at making an escape. It’s not like trying to hit an escape shot from trees, this is tougher and the ball is highly likely not to come out in the way you are expecting.
So, tee the ball low and grip down on the driver to give you more control and a shorter swing. Try and keep the clubhead low during the follow through and this will help to keep the ball low in flight and avoid being caught in the wind.
When playing approach shots to the green on a links style course, the closer you can keep the ball to the ground the better.
If you can get the ball to the green by playing it on the ground and allowing it to roll to the hole, this is more advisable than trying to flight the ball into position. As mentioned above, the wind will probably be blowing and this will make judgement of high, lofted shots very difficult so if you can keep the ball down and play a bump and run shot, it is usually a good idea.
Finally, there will be two styles of bunker shot you need to know when playing on a links style golf course.
The first is the high bunker shot, as you will find some of the bunker walls on links courses to be massive. Open the blade of the club and focus on contacting the sand before the ball. If you struggle with this shot you must practice beforehand or face the consequences on the course.
The second bunker shot is not a style of shot but more about the approach to your shot. Do not be greedy when in the bunker on a links style course. If you try for too much you are likely to be in trouble for your next shot.
Sometimes the best escape will be by playing a shot sideways or even behind you, so you look out for these options when playing a links style course.
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