Links golf is the original form of the game. It was invented on the coastal strips of Scotland — land too sandy and wind-exposed for farming, but ideal for hitting a ball from one hole to another. The game has spread worldwide, but the home of links golf is still the British Isles, and no country has more great links courses than the UK.
What Makes Links Golf Different
The Ground
Links land is sandy, firm, and fast-draining. Fairways run like putting greens in summer. Balls don't stop where they land — they bounce and roll, which rewards ground game and punishes airborne approaches that demand backspin.
The Wind
This is the defining feature. Links courses are exposed to coastal winds that change direction, strength, and character throughout a round. A 400-yard hole playing downwind in the morning plays entirely differently into a 30mph headwind in the afternoon. Wind management is as important as swing technique.
The Hazards
Pot bunkers are deep, steep-faced, and often impossible to escape from with anything more than a sideways shot. Natural rough is wilder and more unpredictable than manicured parkland rough. The sea is always close — and occasionally in play.
The Freedom
What many golfers love most about links golf is its creativity. When the ground is firm, there are always multiple routes to the hole. You can bump it along the ground, flight it in high, or play a running draw around a bunker. It rewards imagination over brute force.
Links Golf Experience Vouchers
Gift a round at a great UK links course — from championship Open venues to hidden coastal gems.
The UK's Greatest Links Courses
Scotland
Scotland has more world-class links courses than anywhere else on earth.
St Andrews (Old Course) — Rank #1 UK — The original. Played over the same ground for 600 years. The double greens, the Swilcan Bridge, the Valley of Sin. Every serious golfer needs to play here.
Muirfield — Rank #3 — Golf's ultimate fair test. No hidden corners, no blind shots, just links golf at its most rigorous. Open winners read like a who's who of the game.
Royal Dornoch — Rank #4 — Remote, natural, and consistently ranked in the world's top 10. The journey north is half the experience. Tom Watson called it the most fun he'd ever had playing golf.
Carnoustie — Rank #6 — The hardest Open venue in rotation. Barry Burn lies in wait on the closing holes. Finishing Carnoustie is an achievement to talk about for years.
Kingsbarns — Rank #9 — Ocean views from every hole, modern playability, classic links character. The most visually spectacular links course in the UK.
Turnberry (Ailsa) — Rank #10 — The lighthouse, Ailsa Craig in the bay, Open history. One of golf's iconic images.
North Berwick — Rank #11 — Links golf at its most characterful. Old, quirky, brilliant. The Redan hole at the 15th is one of the most copied holes in world golf.
Prestwick — Rank #18 — Birthplace of The Open Championship. Cardinal bunker, the Alps hole, the Himalayas putting green next door. A museum piece that still plays brilliantly.
Western Gailes — Rank #22 — Ayrshire's hidden gem. Between Troon and Irvine, utterly exposed to the Firth of Clyde, and one of the finest natural links in Scotland.
Dumbarnie Links — Rank #28 — Modern links in Fife, opened 2020. Views across the Firth of Forth and a course that manages to feel both new and ancient.
England
Royal St George's — Rank #7 — England's great links. Sandwich Bay, Kent. The closest Open venue to London.
Royal Birkdale — Rank #8 — Merseyside dunes links with some of the most dramatic holes in England. Tom Watson won the 1983 Open here in a monsoon.
Royal Lytham & St Annes — Rank #12 — Unusual links: no sea views, surrounded by houses. But the golf is as demanding as any Open venue.
Formby — Rank #31 — Lancashire links through silver birch and sand hills, offering something between a true links and heathland. Exceptional golf.
Saunton East — Rank #43 — North Devon dunes golf. Long, natural, and remote. Among the finest links outside Scotland.
Royal West Norfolk — Rank #45 — Brancaster. Surrounded by tidal marshes, accessible only at low tide for part of the year. One of England's most atmospheric courses.
Wales and Northern Ireland
Royal Porthcawl — Rank #17 — The finest links in Wales, with Severn Estuary views and an Open qualifying pedigree.
Royal County Down — Rank #2 — Many consider this the best course in the British Isles. Mountains of Mourne backdrop, Dundrum Bay views. Unmissable.
Royal Portrush (Dunluce) — Rank #5 — Host of the 2019 Open and 2026 Open. Antrim Coast setting, brutal finish, outstanding golf.
How to Gift a Links Golf Experience
A Swyng voucher at the right value gives the recipient the flexibility to choose their course and date — no risk of booking the wrong venue or clashing with plans.
For a more personal gift, include a note naming the specific course you had in mind. "I thought you could finally play Dornoch" is more thoughtful than a generic voucher.
See also: bucket list golf courses UK, golf breaks in Scotland, golf courses in Fife, golf courses in Ayrshire.
Browse links golf experience vouchers on Swyng or use our Gift Finder for a personalised pick.
Sandy Grewal
Golf Expert & Writer
Sandy is a lifelong golfer and gifting enthusiast who has spent over 15 years reviewing golf equipment and experiences. From luxury golf breaks to the perfect stocking fillers, Sandy knows what makes a golfer smile.
