Linksland golf is the unique type of the sport.
Performed on sandy turf that was as soon as beneath the ocean it’s fast-running with fairways and inexperienced formed by the ocean slightly than equipment.
These are the programs that also host the Open however these specific layouts are troublesome – or costly – to play.
The excellent news is that there are many different choices.
Actually, the coast of Scotland, England and Wales is blessed with a wide range of requirements and costs.
There’s additionally the blissful medium: programs which might be fantastic to play and likewise sort to the pocket.
Right here’s our choose of 5 of the perfect linksland programs that provide large worth.
1. Gullane No. 3
Gullane is a particular city.
Everybody in golf is aware of about St Andrews – the best golf city of all of them – however Gullane, a number of miles east of Edinburgh, is the following neatest thing.
On the outskirts of the city is Muirfield, Open venue and extensively perceived to be among the many better of them (and perhaps the perfect of all).
However as you enter Gullane from Edinburgh the street sneaks between a large expanse of golf holes that stretches in all instructions together with up and over the hill to your left.
These holes usually are not only one course, nonetheless. There are three of them they usually all begin and finish from the sting of a city dedicated to the sport with retailers, pubs and eating places populated by locals in addition to guests who like to chatter about their newest spherical.
A hybrid of the Gullane No. 1 and No. 2 has hosted the Scottish Open in recent times and No. 3 is the lesser of the trio, however that’s very a lot a relative idea as a result of it’s a cracker.
Simply to play golf on this neck of the woods feels particular and to make the journey up and over the hills is terrific enjoyable. In all instructions you see golfers swinging and but you hardly ever hear them such is the isolation.
After which there are the views throughout the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh within the west and the Kingdom of Fife within the north.
The one factor bouncier than this stretch of linksland is the bounce in your step.
It’s slightly piece of {golfing} heaven and a weekday spherical begins at £70 (£80 for the day is a discount, as is £125 to play No. 2 and No. 3 in the identical day).
2. Perranporth
From Scotland to the toe of England – Perranporth in Cornwall – and a take a look at that appears like a {golfing} rollercoaster.
There are huge sandhills and sweeping fairways, blind pictures and dramatic views, rolling greens and tee bins within the dunes.
The placing Perran Bay will be distracting, however not for lengthy as a result of the course calls so that you can hit enjoyable shot after enjoyable shot.
That is what makes linksland golf particular: it calls for creativeness and Perranporth requires it much more than typical.
Tee instances begin at £60.
3. Elie
Again to Scotland and one other golf city.
The Golf Home Membership is a slightly complicated title for the venue so many simply name it Elie for that’s the place it’s – a small city on the south coast of the Kingdom of Fife, a brief drive from St Andrews.
It was the membership’s one hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 2025 and proper from the get go you understand you’re in for a deal with.
Like St Andrews and Gullane the course begins and ends proper within the city, the clubhouse is a cracker, and the starter famously has a submarine periscope at his (and your) disposal to examine that the primary fairway is evident on your first blow.
That gap makes its approach inland earlier than the course turns again in the direction of the ocean, ultimately sweeping right down to the coast in dramatic model.
Across the flip you sneak alongside the seashore earlier than climbing gently again towards the city.
This can be a James Braid design and even his common layouts are good – this one is a cracker, filled with enjoyable challenges and sneaky traps.
A weekday spherical begins at £60 (weekend £75).
4. Newbiggin
The north-east coast of England is all too usually missed by golfers regardless of having loads of rugged splendour.
It additionally, in fact, scarred by business and Newbiggin is not any completely different, with the early holes making their approach in the direction of Lynemouth Energy Station.
However don’t let that put you off.
Newbiggin is flat however by no means one dimensional. At one level you tee off over an previous coastal quarry. There’s additionally gorse, delicate sloping and double greens to barter.
With inexperienced charges beginning at £30 it’s an absolute discount.
5. Borth
The shoreline of Cardigan Bay is effectively served by the railway.
Royal St David’s in Harlech and Aberdovey are each a brief stroll from stations, however their tremendous reputations are mirrored within the inexperienced charges.
Borth is a few notches down on these two tremendous layouts however it represents glorious worth nonetheless and can also be a straightforward stroll from the station.
It’s a unusual spot, one the place the street generally attracts stray pictures. At different instances the seashore does so. And there’s even a home that comes beneath risk from the tee.
However the course sneaks alongside the coast in the direction of the Llanynys Dune complicated with Snowdownia within the distance and the vast Dovey Estuary of one other tremendous backdrop.
Inexperienced charges begin at £43.
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