Golfers throw around terms like links, parkland and heathland as if everyone was born knowing them. If you are planning golf travel, understanding course types matters — each style demands different shots, different clothing and honestly, a different mindset. Here is the plain-English guide.
Links: The Original Golf
True links courses sit on sandy coastal land between sea and farmland — the word comes from the Old English for rising ground. Think St Andrews, Royal Birkdale, Portmarnock. Expect firm, fast fairways, deep pot bunkers, few trees, constant wind and greens that accept running shots rather than high spinners.
How it changes your game: the ground game rules. Learn the bump-and-run, take more club into the wind and swing easier, and accept that a good bounce is part of golf. Waterproofs and a wind-resistant ball flight are worth more than 20 extra yards.
Parkland: The Classic Inland Course
Parkland courses are what most of the world plays weekly: tree-lined fairways, lush grass, softer greens, water hazards and manicured landscaping. Augusta National is the most famous example. Conditions are more predictable and the air game dominates — high approach shots that stop quickly.
How it changes your game: accuracy off the tee matters more than roll-out, and knowing your exact carry distances pays off because the ball lands and stays.
Heathland: The Connoisseur’s Choice
Heathland courses occupy sandy inland soil with heather, gorse and pines — the famous Surrey belt around London (Sunningdale, Walton Heath) defines the style. They drain beautifully, play firm like links but without coastal wind, and many golfers quietly rate them the most enjoyable courses of all. Beware the heather: it looks lovely and eats golf balls.
Desert Golf: Target Practice in Paradise
Arizona, Nevada, Dubai and southern Spain perfected the desert course: emerald fairways ribboning through sand, rock and cactus. There is grass where you are supposed to hit it and desert where you are not — pure target golf. Buggies with GPS are standard, summer tee times are dawn-only, and the ball flies noticeably further in hot, dry, often elevated air.
Resort and Championship Courses
Resort courses are designed for holiday golfers: generous fairways, spectacular photo holes, buggy paths everywhere and conditioning that flatters your game. Championship courses — a marketing term as much as a category — are built to test the best, with length and hazards to match. Playing the correct tees is the difference between fun and frustration; there is no shame in moving forward.
Which Type Should You Travel For?
If you have never played true links golf, put it top of the list — it is golf as it was invented, and it will teach you shots you did not know you had. Pair course types with seasons: links in late spring and summer, desert golf in winter, parkland and heathland in between, and you can chase perfect conditions all year.
Unsure which style suits your game or your group? Our Golf Course Concierge matches course types to handicaps, and the Golf Travel Concierge builds the week around them. Ask the Golf Concierge for recommendations matched to your handicap, budget and travel dates.
Related reading: 10 Bucket-List Golf Courses • Best-Value Golf Destinations in Europe • Choosing a Course Abroad
Quick Answers
What is the difference between links and parkland golf?
Links courses are coastal, sandy, firm and wind-swept; parkland courses are inland, tree-lined and softer underfoot.
Are links courses harder?
Different rather than harder: wind and the ground game matter more than raw length.
Which course type should I try first when traveling?
Match the type to your game and season: parkland in summer heat, desert in winter sun, links when you want the classic test.