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The 246 True Links
Barnbougle Dunes, Cabot Links and St. Andrews
By ED TRAVIS
Barnbougle Dunes, Cabot Links and St. Andrews
By ED TRAVIS
It could be expected if one put George Peper, for 25
years the editor-in-chief of GOLF Magazine, and Malcolm
Campbell, previously editor of Golf Monthly, together to
write a book about golf courses the result would be
outstanding.
Well, it is.
TRUE LINKS is the definitive book on links golf courses
certainly photographically and you could make a strong
case as to the definitiveness of the written descriptions
chronicling the 246 courses deemed worthy to be called
true links. Though most every golfer thinks he knows what
links or linksland is, Peper and Campbell looked at
hundreds of courses dismissing those that did not meet
their criteria and practically deifying the rest.
The duo came to the conclusion to be considered a links
course any layout much meet three straightforward tests.
It must be near the sea with a view of the water; obvious
but this eliminates a lot of so-called “links” and “in-land
links” courses.
years the editor-in-chief of GOLF Magazine, and Malcolm
Campbell, previously editor of Golf Monthly, together to
write a book about golf courses the result would be
outstanding.
Well, it is.
TRUE LINKS is the definitive book on links golf courses
certainly photographically and you could make a strong
case as to the definitiveness of the written descriptions
chronicling the 246 courses deemed worthy to be called
true links. Though most every golfer thinks he knows what
links or linksland is, Peper and Campbell looked at
hundreds of courses dismissing those that did not meet
their criteria and practically deifying the rest.
The duo came to the conclusion to be considered a links
course any layout much meet three straightforward tests.
It must be near the sea with a view of the water; obvious
but this eliminates a lot of so-called “links” and “in-land
links” courses.
Secondly it needs to be constructed on linksland, i.e.,
sandy soil having terrain dominated by rolling dunes and
characteristically played with fairways firm and fast. Lastly,
play over any real links course should be subject to and
affected by sea winds.
Incidentally linksland is not a made-up term. According to
the British Golf Museum it is, "a stretch of land near the
coast on which the game is played, characterized by
undulating terrain, often associated with dunes, infertile
sandy soil, and indigenous grasses such as marram,
sea lyme, and the fescues and bents which, when
properly managed, produce the fine, textured, tight turf for
which links are famed."
There are lots of courses that play like a links course but
don’t happen to be located on the sea but since the
authors make linksland the overriding criteria, those
tracks are omitted from TRUE LINKS. Also as Peper and
Campbell have pointed out, many of the links in the book
in fact are out of date, short yardage layouts not worth the
effort to play. The final round of eliminations went,
perhaps sadly, to those courses while built on linksland
as links are over watered and no longer play firm and fast
or even more sadly, have misguidedly planted trees,
something rarely seen on a true links.
sandy soil having terrain dominated by rolling dunes and
characteristically played with fairways firm and fast. Lastly,
play over any real links course should be subject to and
affected by sea winds.
Incidentally linksland is not a made-up term. According to
the British Golf Museum it is, "a stretch of land near the
coast on which the game is played, characterized by
undulating terrain, often associated with dunes, infertile
sandy soil, and indigenous grasses such as marram,
sea lyme, and the fescues and bents which, when
properly managed, produce the fine, textured, tight turf for
which links are famed."
There are lots of courses that play like a links course but
don’t happen to be located on the sea but since the
authors make linksland the overriding criteria, those
tracks are omitted from TRUE LINKS. Also as Peper and
Campbell have pointed out, many of the links in the book
in fact are out of date, short yardage layouts not worth the
effort to play. The final round of eliminations went,
perhaps sadly, to those courses while built on linksland
as links are over watered and no longer play firm and fast
or even more sadly, have misguidedly planted trees,
something rarely seen on a true links.
The photographic reproductions are spectacular; probably
the best example of why digital images on a screen will
never replace printed ones, or at least printed ones of this
quality. The writing is of top caliber also even though it
veers into the mystical at times, the words generally meet
the same standard as the pictures.
Readers may find the best part of TRUE LINKS is the
descriptions of top notch but little known courses like
Cabot Links in Nova Scotia and Barnbougle Dunes in
Australia.
TRUE LINKS:
An Illustrated Guide to the Glories of the World’s 246
Links Courses
George Peper and Malcolm Campbell
320 pages, over 300 photographs, 9 maps
$40
the best example of why digital images on a screen will
never replace printed ones, or at least printed ones of this
quality. The writing is of top caliber also even though it
veers into the mystical at times, the words generally meet
the same standard as the pictures.
Readers may find the best part of TRUE LINKS is the
descriptions of top notch but little known courses like
Cabot Links in Nova Scotia and Barnbougle Dunes in
Australia.
TRUE LINKS:
An Illustrated Guide to the Glories of the World’s 246
Links Courses
George Peper and Malcolm Campbell
320 pages, over 300 photographs, 9 maps
$40