Golf course descriptions use a small set of words that carry a lot of information.
Links
Coastal, sandy, treeless and exposed. The ball runs a long way, the wind decides everything, and the rough is punishing. Wonderful and humbling in equal measure. Bring a lower ball flight and patience.
Parkland
Inland, tree-lined, softer turf and defined fairways. The ball stops where it lands, which suits a higher ball flight. This is the most common style and the easiest to score on.
Heathland and desert
Heathland sits between links and parkland: firm, heather and gorse instead of trees. Desert courses are green corridors cut through scrub, where anything offline is gone.
Executive and par three
Shorter courses, often nine holes, made up of par threes and fours. They take half the time, cost much less, and are the best possible place to learn or to take a child. Nobody will rush you.
Picking for the day you have
Two free hours and a beginner in the group means an executive course. A full day and a strong wind forecast on a links is a proper adventure. Parkland is the reliable middle.
Published September 21, 2026
