Links golf isn’t just a type of course; it’s the original form of the game. It’s golf stripped down to its essence: wind, weather, imagination, and the raw beauty of the land itself.
Golf’s story begins in Scotland during the Middle Ages, though its true origins are wrapped in a bit of mystery. By the 15th century, the game had become so popular in places like St. Andrews, Edinburgh, and Musselburgh that it was actually banned by King James II in 1457. His reason? Too many young men were playing golf instead of practicing archery, which was crucial for national defense.
Of course, golf didn’t disappear. It thrived. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the sport had grown from seaside pastime to serious competition. Rules were written, clubs were founded, and legends like Old Tom Morris began shaping the courses and culture that define golf to this day. St. Andrews became known as the “Home of Golf,” and the game began to take its modern form; equal parts sport, strategy, and obsession.
Before there were course designers, there was Mother Nature. Early golf was played where the land couldn’t be farmed: sandy, windswept dunes along Scotland’s coasts. These wild stretches, called linksland, were firm, uneven, and unpredictable; the perfect playground for golf’s pioneers. Nothing about these courses was manufactured. Fairways followed the natural ridges. Bunkers formed where animals had dug or wind had carved. Every dune and patch of fescue had a say in how you played. Golfers had to get creative, keeping the ball low in the wind, bouncing it along firm turf, and using the contours to their advantage. Links golf wasn’t about perfection; it was about improvisation, strategy, and respect for nature’s mood swings.
As golf spread beyond Scotland in the late 19th century, two visionaries ensured the game stayed true to its roots: Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt.
Old Tom Morris, born in 1821 in St. Andrews, learned the game as a young caddie on the Old Course. By his teens, he was already crafting and maintaining the course itself, shaping fairways and greens long before “golf architect” was even a title. He’s credited with inventing the golf tee, replacing the old practice of hitting off little piles of sand. For Morris, golf was a conversation between player and landscape. Every hole had to tell a story. Every shot had to demand thought. And every course had to invite you back for one more round. Then came Harry Colt, who brought design strategy into sharper focus. He believed great courses should challenge your mind as much as your swing—forcing choices, inviting risk, and rewarding imagination. Colt helped design or refine classics like Royal Portrush, Muirfield, and Royal County Down—courses that remain among the world’s finest.
Morris discovered golf’s spirit. Colt gave it structure. Together, they bridged the game’s wild beginnings and its global future, proving that the best courses aren’t built; they’re found.
Fast forward to today, and a new generation of designers continues the links tradition, none more influential than Tom Doak and Gil Hanse.
At St. Patrick’s Links in County Donegal, Doak let the dunes lead the way. Every bump, hollow, and ridge feels organic—as if the course has always been there. The result is a layout that’s both timeless and thrilling, demanding creativity and adaptability from every golfer.
Meanwhile, Hanse’s restoration of Narin & Portnoo, also in northwest Ireland, celebrates the rugged beauty of the coast. By reshaping bunkers, refining greens, and highlighting natural contours, he gave a century-old links new life while keeping its soul intact.
These architects prove that links golf isn’t stuck in the past. It’s evolving carefully and respectfully, one windswept masterpiece at a time.
Playing links golf isn’t just another round. It’s a pilgrimage to where golf began—where the game is ruled by nature, not manicured perfection. Every gust of wind, every quirky bounce, every firm fairway connects you to centuries of golfers who faced the same challenges and felt the same joy. For those who love golf not just as a sport but as a story, a links journey is essential. Because it’s not just about where you play—it’s about what the game means when you play it there.
Ready to walk in the footsteps of legends?
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