What Is Links Golf?
The word 'links' derives from the Old English hlinc – rising ground. It refers specifically to the narrow strip of sandy, undulating terrain that sits between the sea and the farmable inland ground. This land was considered unsuitable for agriculture, and so – in Scotland particularly – it was given over to golf.
Links courses are defined by their exposure to coastal wind, firm and fast fairways, deep pot bunkers, long wispy rough and complete absence of trees. The ball behaves differently on a links – ground game is possible (in some cases essential), aerial approaches are punished by the wind, and the bounce of the ball can be as important as its flight.
Britain and Ireland possess the world's finest collection of links courses. Royal County Down, St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Birkdale and Royal County Down are all, in the right conditions, the most testing and most rewarding rounds of golf available anywhere on earth.
The Top 20 Links Courses in the UK
Royal County Down
£250—£350Consistently rated the world's finest golf course by numerous publications. The Mourne Mountains provide a backdrop to rival anywhere on earth. The inward nine is as tough and beautiful as golf gets.
Old Course, St Andrews
£320—£385The most famous course in the world and the birthplace of golf. The Road Hole, Hell Bunker and the Swilcan Burn have tested champions for centuries. You cannot call yourself a golfer until you have played here.
Muirfield
£300+The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers owns the finest inland links in golf. The double-loop design is the template from which all great links courses are drawn.
Royal Portrush (Dunluce)
£200—£280Host of the 2019 Open Championship, Portrush was the first links outside Scotland or England to host the Open. The clifftop setting, with views to Scotland and Donegal, is breathtaking.
Royal Dornoch
£120—£190Remote, sublime and widely considered among the top five courses in the world. The elevated plateau greens, the natural bunkering and the benign Highland light make this an unmissable experience.
Turnberry (Ailsa)
£250—£350Host of four Opens. The 9th and 10th holes – around the lighthouse headland – are the most dramatic golf holes in the British Isles. Views of Ailsa Craig and Arran are extraordinary.
Royal Birkdale
£220—£290England's finest links and the most modern of the major venues. Royal Birkdale's willow scrub and sand dunes create natural amphitheatres that make it one of the great gallery courses.
Royal Troon
£280—£340Home of the 'Postage Stamp' – perhaps the most famous short hole in golf. Royal Troon's exposed linksland sits between Prestwick and Barassie on the Firth of Clyde.
Carnoustie
£165—£240Scotland's most fearsome links. Hogan's Alley, the Barry Burn and a brutal finish have produced some of golf's most dramatic moments. It does not forgive the slightest imprecision.
Royal Porthcawl
£130—£200Wales's finest links and host of The Amateur, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup. Every hole has a view of the Bristol Channel. Often overlooked by visitors who bypass Wales for Scotland – a serious mistake.
Royal St George's
£150—£220England's only links host of the Open Championship (outside the Northwest). The rippling fairways and the largest par-3 green in golf make Sandwich unique among English links.
Kingsbarns
£175—£250Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns is the finest new links built in Britain in a generation. Every hole has a sea view. The spectacular clifftop setting near St Andrews makes it essential for any Fife golf trip.
Prince's Golf Club
£90—£140Overlooked in favour of its neighbour Royal St George's, Prince's is a genuine links of considerable quality – and historically significant as the course on which Gene Sarazen invented the sand wedge.
Pennard
£60—£90A ruined Norman castle sits in the middle of Pennard's course on the Gower Peninsula. One of golf's great adventure courses – wild, windswept and utterly Welsh. Exceptional value.
Nairn
£80—£140Overlooked by those who venture no further than St Andrews, Nairn on the Moray Firth is a genuine championship links with outstanding facilities and a warm welcome for visiting golfers.
Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)
£180—£250Host of the 2023 Open Championship. Hoylake's flat but deceptively demanding links sits on the Wirral Peninsula. The out-of-bounds stakes create a constant threat on almost every hole.
Formby
£120—£175A magnificent links through sand dunes and native woodland. Formby's red squirrel population is almost as famous as its golf. A genuine hidden gem on the Lancashire coast.
North Berwick (West Links)
£100—£155Pure seaside fun with one of golf's great holes – the 15th (Redan) has been copied more than any other hole in the world. Booking is essential; the experience is unlike anything else.
Aberdovey
£55—£90Bernard Darwin's favourite golf course. Aberdovey sits where the Dyfi estuary meets Cardigan Bay and offers one of golf's most honest and pleasurable rounds at a price that shames the famous venues.
Gullane No.1
£95—£135A championship links with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth. Often overlooked next to Muirfield and North Berwick, Gullane No.1 is outstanding value and a thoroughly satisfying test.
Links Golf by Country
Scotland
9 of our top 20Scotland's links coastline stretches from East Lothian's Golf Coast to the remote Highland gems at Dornoch and Brora. The concentration of quality is unmatched anywhere on earth.
Northern Ireland
2 of our top 20Northern Ireland hosts two of the world's top five courses in Royal County Down and Royal Portrush. The Giant's Causeway Coast is one of golf's great roadtrip destinations.
England
7 of our top 20Lancashire's Fylde Coast – Royal Birkdale, Formby and Royal Lytham – represents England's finest links concentration. Kent's Sandwich Bay (Royal St George's, Prince's) is the south's equivalent.
Wales
2 of our top 20Royal Porthcawl on the Bristol Channel and Pennard on the Gower are Wales's finest links, but Aberdovey, Harlech and Tenby make a compelling case for a dedicated Wales golf tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is links golf?
Links golf is played on linksland – the narrow strip of sandy, undulating ground between the sea and farmable inland terrain. Links courses are characterised by firm fairways, coastal wind, deep pot bunkers and no trees. The ball behaves very differently from parkland golf: the ground game is viable, aerial approaches are punished by the wind, and the weather is always a factor.
What is the best links course in the UK?
Royal County Down in Northern Ireland tops most credible rankings, with the Old Course at St Andrews and Muirfield close behind. All three are widely considered among the world's five finest courses, regardless of type.
How much does it cost to play links golf in the UK?
Costs vary enormously. Excellent links golf is available from as little as £20 at municipal courses near the sea. Mid-tier regional links run £40—£100. Championship links cost £100—£200. The elite courses (St Andrews Old, Muirfield, Turnberry, Royal County Down) charge £200—£385 per round.
Can beginners play links golf?
Yes – though the exposure to wind and the faster, firmer conditions can be humbling. Beginners should avoid the most challenging championship links for their first experience and instead try a more accessible seaside course. The game played from the forward tees is very different from the championship layout.