Different Types of Golf Courses around the World

A tennis court is always 78 feet and 36 feet wide; a football field is always 360 feet long and 160 feet wide; a ping pong table is always 9 feet long and 5 feet wide. Golf, however, is one of those few ball games that do not need a standardized playing area. The variety of golf courses provides golfers with a unique experience every time. In this post, we are going to take a look at different types of golf courses around the world.

  • Parkland Courses

The most common style in the United States, parkland golf courses are characterized by “lush, well-kept fairways, mature trees, thick rough and bunkers.” They are typically located well inland (Most of the golf courses you see in Pennsylvania are parkland).  Some of the most famous parkland courses include Augusta National Country Club in Augusta, Georgia (where one of the most prestigious golf major tournaments is held annually); Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio; and Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

17th hole at Augusta National Golf Course. http://www.golfcourseartwork.com/12th-hole-augusta-national-golf-print-golden-bell-bridges-print

12th hole at Augusta National Golf Course. http://www.golfcourseartwork.com/12th-hole-augusta-national-golf-print-golden-bell-bridges-print

Murifield Village Golf Club. http://www.nicklaus.com/design/muirfieldvillage/

11th hole at Murifield Village Golf Club.
http://www.nicklaus.com/design/muirfieldvillage/

18th hole at Congressional Country Club. http://congressional-country-club-blue.coursesofamerica.com/

18th hole at Congressional Country Club.
http://congressional-country-club-blue.coursesofamerica.com/

 

 

  • Links Courses

The most common style in the United Kingdom, links golf courses are very distinctive from other categories. “Situated in the thin strip of sand, grass, and dunes that lay between the sea and agricultural land,” links courses literally “link” everything together. Each hole “shares” the same rough because the rough are interconnected. Although there is barely any tree or water hazard, links courses are very challenging because of its undulating firm ground, long rescue grass, deep well-like bunkers and constant strong wind. Therefore, players have to learn to control the trajectory of their shots in order to score well. (Professional players can win British Open by paring every hole, while they usually need at least 10 under par to have a chance to win at a parkland courses). The most famous links course in the world is probably Old Course at St Andrews, where the British Open Championship has been held for 29 times.

Old Course at St Andrews http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/course/index-2.html

Old Course at St Andrews
http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/course/index-2.html

 

Tiger Woods plays from a bunker towards the fifth green during the second round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Friday, July 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/07/american_steve_marino_a_surpri.html

Tiger Woods plays from a bunker towards the fifth green during the second round of the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Friday, July 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/07/american_steve_marino_a_surpri.html

 

Fairmont St Andrew Golf Course https://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/fairmont-st-andrews

Fairmont St Andrew Golf Course
https://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/fairmont-st-andrews

 

 

  • Resort Courses

Resort courses are commonly found in vacation states like Florida, where a lot of luxurious hotels and resorts are located. Usually guest-only, resort courses are designed to be a pleasure rather than a challenge. Therefore, their fairways are usually very wide and the rough are cut short. Those courses also provide golfers with stunning surroundings, such as flowery bushes and mature maple trees.

Reunion Resort Watson Course http://www.teetimesusa.com/orlando_golf_courses/reunion_resort_watson_course

Reunion Resort Watson Course
http://www.teetimesusa.com/orlando_golf_courses/reunion_resort_watson_course

 

  • Desert Courses

Desert courses are very unique. As the name suggest, desert courses are basically oasis of green land in the middle of sands. They are usually located in the Southwestern U.S. Remember the interested iguana and the dangerous cactus from the last post? They are some interesting features of a desert course.

Desert Canyon Golf Course http://fineartamerica.com/featured/desert-canyon-golf-course-gary-whitton.html

A typical desert course 
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/desert-canyon-golf-course-gary-whitton.html

 

One of the most famous desert courses is the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, where the Waste Management Phoenix Open is held every year.

TPC Stadium Course. http://golftodaynw.com/tpc-scottsdale-stadium-course-accolades-for-the-course-with-a-roar/

TPC Stadium Course.
http://golftodaynw.com/tpc-scottsdale-stadium-course-accolades-for-the-course-with-a-roar/

 

16th hole at TPC Scottsdale https://www.mygolfconcierge.net/arizona-golf-courses/tpc-scottsdale-stadium-course/

16th hole at TPC Scottsdale
https://www.mygolfconcierge.net/arizona-golf-courses/tpc-scottsdale-stadium-course/

 

Work Cited,

“What Are the Different Types of Golf Courses?” Golflink. Web. Sep 19. 2015

One thought on “Different Types of Golf Courses around the World

  1. All of these course are so pretty! I can get why people like to play golf. They get to spend time around nature that is so pretty. I know it takes a lot of time to get the courses that pretty and well maintained. How would you be able to keep the desert courses so green? That is perplexing to me. Its so neat how every course looks so different.

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