What is a Links Style Golf Course: All You Need to Know

Links-style golf courses are coastal courses built on sandy terrain, known for strong winds, firm ground, and strategic gameplay. They originated in Scotland and are considered the purest form of golf. Expect open layouts, rolling dunes, and minimal trees. 

The Origin of Links Golf

Links golf dates back to Scotland, where the game of golf itself was born. Early golfers played on coastal land that was unsuitable for farming but perfect for golf due to its sandy soil and natural contours.

One of the most iconic examples is St Andrews Links, often referred to as the “Home of Golf.” This course still reflects the original spirit of the game—simple, natural, and deeply connected to its environment.

Today, links courses remain a symbol of tradition and authenticity in golf.

Key Characteristics of Links Style Golf Courses

Natural Terrain

Links courses are built on sandy, coastal land with rolling dunes. The landscape is usually left as untouched as possible, creating a raw and natural feel.

Strong Wind Conditions

Wind is the defining challenge. Coastal winds can change direction and intensity quickly, forcing players to constantly adjust their shots.

Open Layout

There are very few trees on a links course. This openness exposes the course to the elements and allows for more creative shot-making.

Firm and Fast Ground

The sandy base creates firm fairways where the ball rolls significantly after landing. This makes ground play just as important as aerial shots.

What separates Link-style courses from other courses?

Links courses stand apart from other golf course types in several key ways.

Compared to parkland courses, which are lush and tree-lined, links courses are open and exposed. Desert courses may share sandy surroundings, but they are heavily engineered, while links courses are shaped naturally. Mountain courses focus on elevation, while links courses focus on wind and ground conditions.

What makes links golf unique is its unpredictability. No two rounds feel the same because weather conditions constantly change.

How to Play Well on a Links Course

Keep the Ball Low

High shots are easily affected by wind. Keeping the ball flight low helps maintain control.

Use the Ground

On links courses, the ball often rolls far after landing. Learning to use the ground strategically is essential.

Choose Clubs Carefully

You may need to use more club than usual when hitting into the wind, and less when playing with it.

Adapt to the Wind

Wind direction and strength can change throughout the round. Adjusting your strategy constantly is key to success.

Links golf rewards players who think ahead and adapt, rather than relying purely on power.

Why Links Golf Is Considered the Purest Form of Golf

Links golf is often described as the purest form of the game because it stays closest to golf’s origins. The course is not overly shaped or controlled—it is defined by nature.

There are fewer artificial elements, meaning the environment plays a bigger role in how the game unfolds. This creates a more authentic experience, where skill, creativity, and adaptability are tested in equal measure.

For many golfers, playing a links course is about more than just scoring—it is about experiencing golf in its original form.

Best Links Golf Courses in the World

Some of the most famous golf courses in the world are links courses. St Andrews Links remains the most iconic, attracting golfers from around the globe.

Other renowned links courses can be found across the United Kingdom and Ireland, where the coastal geography naturally supports this style of play.

Links Style Golf Courses in Vietnam

Vietnam has quickly become one of the strongest emerging destinations for links-style golf in Asia. With a long coastline, natural sand dunes, and exposure to sea winds, the country offers ideal conditions to replicate authentic links experiences.

What makes Vietnam unique is not just the number of coastal courses, but the quality of design. Many of these courses are created by world-renowned designers and intentionally built to mirror the strategic, wind-influenced gameplay that defines true links golf.

Below are some of the most notable link-style courses in Vietnam:

Hoiana Shores Golf Club – Pure Links Experience in Central Vietnam

Hoiana Shores is widely regarded as one of the closest representations of true links golf in Vietnam. Located along an untouched stretch of coastline near Hoi An, the course features wide fairways, natural dunes, and constant exposure to coastal winds.

The layout emphasizes strategy over power, with firm conditions that reward players who can control ball flight and use the ground effectively. It is a course that changes daily depending on wind conditions, making every round feel different.

The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip – Dramatic Dunes and Championship Challenge

The Bluffs Ho Tram is one of Vietnam’s most visually striking golf courses. Built on rugged coastal dunes, the course features dramatic elevation changes and sweeping ocean views.

Designed by Greg Norman, it combines links-style elements with a more dramatic and challenging layout. Strong winds and uneven terrain make it a true test of skill, particularly for experienced golfers. It is often ranked among the top golf courses in Asia for both design and playing experience.

FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club & Luxury Resort – A Unique Take on Links-Style Golf

While not a traditional coastal links course, FLC Ha Long Bay offers a unique interpretation of links-style play. Perched above the famous Ha Long Bay, the course combines open layouts and wind exposure with elevated terrain.

The lack of dense tree coverage and the influence of coastal winds create conditions similar to links golf, even though the course sits on higher ground. This makes it an interesting hybrid for players looking to experience links-style strategy in a different setting.

Laguna Golf Lang Co – Links Meets Tropical Landscape

Laguna Lang Co offers a more accessible version of links-style golf, blending coastal elements with a tropical resort environment. The course incorporates sandy waste areas, open fairways, and wind exposure, while still maintaining a lush and visually appealing layout.

This makes it a great introduction to links-style play, especially for golfers who want to experience strategic golf without the full intensity of traditional links conditions.

Why Vietnam Is Emerging as a Links Golf Hotspot

Vietnam’s rise in links golf is no coincidence. The country naturally offers the key ingredients needed for this style of play:

Combined with investment in high-quality golf design, this has allowed Vietnam to develop courses that are not only visually stunning but also strategically authentic.

For golfers, this means you can experience world-class links golf without traveling to Europe, making Vietnam one of the most exciting destinations for this style of play today.

 

Links-style golf is not just another type of course—it is the foundation of the game itself. Understanding how it works gives you a deeper appreciation of golf and helps you become a more adaptable and strategic.

Find out more about other golf course styles and aesthetics here.