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