| Copyright (c) 2007 Jack Moorehouse | | | | crisply struck iron generates a great deal of backspin |
| The 2007 British Open will be played at Carnoustie | | | | because very little grass comes between the |
| Championship Course. For four days fans will see the | | | | clubface and the ball at impact. |
| world's greatest golfers tested by one of the | | | | Take Advantage of the Wind |
| toughest links courses in Scotland, if not the | | | | The wind is almost always a factor on a links course. |
| toughest. Links courses aren't as popular in the United | | | | Use it to your advantage. With a tailwind you should |
| States as they are in Scotland, which means you | | | | hit the ball higher to gain maximum distance on the |
| may never have played one. But if you have, you | | | | shot. With a head wind it's difficult to put enough |
| know that you must adopt a different style of play | | | | backspin on the ball to pitch and stop it neatly on the |
| to score well on the course and keep your golf | | | | green. Also, forget the distance you usually hit a ball |
| handicap down. | | | | because the wind drastically alters your normal club |
| A links golf course, as I've explained in my golf tips, is | | | | selection. Take less club, swing smoothly, and let the |
| the oldest style golf course. It was first developed in | | | | wind carry the ball well short of the green and |
| Scotland. The word comes from the Scottish | | | | expect plenty of run on the shot. Crosswinds force |
| language and refers to both an area of coastal sand | | | | you to aim way off line and allow the ball to be |
| dunes and sometimes open parkland. Many links | | | | blown back on target. |
| courses � though not all � are | | | | Wind Also Affects the Short Game |
| located in coastal areas, on sandy soil, often amid | | | | The wind also affects the short game on a links |
| dunes, with few water hazards and few if any trees. | | | | course. A low pitch and run is safer when playing in |
| Links courses reflect the nature of the scenery | | | | the wind than a high lob, as I've explained in my golf |
| where the sport originated, and the fact that only | | | | tips. A 7-iron is the ideal club for the shot. Bunkers |
| limited resources were available to golf course | | | | are hard to spot in the humps and hollows of a links |
| architects at the time. Earth moving had to be done | | | | course and devilishly difficult to escape from. Don't |
| by hand, so it was minimized. | | | | take risks � it's fine to sacrifice distance |
| Challenges of A Links Course | | | | particularly if it keeps you on the fairway. |
| Uneven fairways, thick rough, and small deep bunkers | | | | When you land in a fairway bunker it's unlikely you'll |
| known as "pot bunkers" characterize links courses. | | | | have a direct route to the green. Concentrate on |
| Many links courses are frequently windy, affecting | | | | making sure your next shot isn't from the same spot. |
| the styleof play required. Since many links courses | | | | The powdery fine sand is perfect for the high splash |
| consist of an "outward" nine in one direction along the | | | | shot. Open your stance and keep the clubface open. |
| coast, and an "inward" nine that returns in the | | | | Swing long and smooth on an out-to-in path. Huge |
| opposite direction, players often have to cope with | | | | sandy dunes are punishing hazards that surround |
| opposite wind patterns in each half of their round. | | | | many fairways and greens. The thick, wiry grass |
| Playing a links course is demanding. You're often | | | | doesn't let go of your ball easily. |
| exposed to extreme weather conditions and usually | | | | Putting o a links course is no easy task, either. A long |
| play in winds far stronger than you experience inland, | | | | putt on a large sloping links green often takes two or |
| so you need to keep most shots low and/or on a | | | | three different breaks. It's important to study the |
| line. A links course may look flat and featureless from | | | | green's slope carefully. Look at a putt along the |
| a distance, but once you start playing you'll discover | | | | ball-to-target line and then from the side on to give |
| the ground is a mass of humps and hollows. Many | | | | you a better perspective. Wind also affects the ball's |
| tee shots are semi-blind. | | | | roll. Occasionally, a long putt drops, but you should |
| Hard, fast-running fairways cause unpredictable | | | | never be disappointed to get down in two strokes |
| bounces. Your ball shoots forward on the first | | | | Playing a links course for the first time is exciting. But |
| bounce, while the same shot pitching into a hump | | | | you need to adjust your game to make up for the |
| stops quickly. Occasionally, a ball flying in the middle | | | | differences in a links style course and to set realistic |
| of the fairway kicks into the rough. The short grass | | | | goals for yourself. If you try to be too aggressive, |
| and closely mown fairways on a links course remove | | | | your scores-and your golf handicap-will suffer. |
| some of the fear of mid-range approach shots. But a | | | | |