What’s the most beautiful sport? We think it has to be the game of golf — it became an official sport in 1744, but was enjoyed for hundreds of years before that. With rolling green hills, gorgeous fairways and aesthetically designed courses, golf is a spectacular sport played in gorgeous places throughout the world.
However, how much do you know about the different types of golf courses? There are actually quite a few types, all spectacular in their own way. To learn more, keep reading to find out about the most common golf course types that all players should know about.
Links Course
One of the most well-known golf course types is the links course. This is because links courses are considered to be the purest and first types of courses, found in Scotland and England.
A links course is one that looks very natural, built on narrow areas of sandy land, found between coastline and inland areas. Generally, the soil underneath the course has to be sandy—the land was considered no good for agriculture, but was considered ideal for golf.
You can find a number of these courses in the UK, including the Old Course at St Andrews and the Royal Troon. In the US, Pebble Beach is perhaps the most well-known links course.
If you live and breathe golf, never pass up an opportunity to play on a links course!
Championship Course
Are you an avid PGA Tour fan? If you love attending golf tournaments, then there’s a good chance that you’ve visited a championship, or stadium, golf course.
These are courses designed for professional golf tournaments, with plenty of space and amenities for spectators. Usually, these courses have one strong defining feature and are known for their gorgeous beauty.
Enjoying golf as a spectator can be a very fun day out—plus, watching the pros might give you some tips to improve your own game. Or, if you’re lucky, you might get invited to play on one!
Parkland Course
The parkland golf course is another popular style to consider. This type of course is usually located inland, away from the ocean, and is known for its beautiful trees, manicured grass, and artificial hazards.
These courses are gorgeous, with plenty of effort going into designing and maintaining them. They’re often found in areas where grass and rolling hills don’t come naturally, so they can be expensive to play on, due to the high upkeep costs.
However, because they’re completely designed from scratch, it means the architect has plenty of freedom to create a course that’s both challenging and picturesque.
Georgia’s Augusta National is one of the most famous parklands courses within the US.
Desert Course
Another unique course type to look out for is the desert course. As the name implies, a desert course is found in warm, dry climates.
They also tend to incorporate lots of sand dunes and features, in keeping with the natural landscape. Like parkland courses, the desert course can be tough to maintain, especially when it comes to growing healthy grass and irrigation.
If you typically play golf in the American west or southwest, you’ll find plenty of desert courses.
Course Access
The above courses differ due to their landscapes, but another way to categorize golf courses is by accessibility. Courses can range from free and open to the public to exclusive, members-only places.
Here are some of the access types to know about. Due to the popularity of golf throughout the US, there’s no shortage of courses—you just need to find one that matches your skill level, budget, and preferences.
Municipal
A municipal course is generally one that’s publicly owned by a city, county, or region. They’re open to the public and anyone can play, although there might be higher fees for non-residents versus residents.
Municipal courses are usually very affordable, as they’re designed to be accessible to everyone. These municipal courses are some of the best, as they’re challenging, fun, and often designed by golf experts.
Daily Fee
A daily fee course is also open to the public, but it will be privately, rather than publicly, owned. This means the club will charge a fee to access its facilities, but may also offer annual memberships.
Private
A private, or semi-private, type of golf course tends to be the most exclusive. These are often country clubs that require you to join, paying membership fees.
Some are even invite-only, meaning you can only join if you’re invited by an existing member. While this type of club isn’t for everyone, some members love the networking and social opportunities that come from joining a private club.
Many private clubs also have luxurious facilities, like gourmet restaurants, swimming pools, and meeting rooms.
Understanding These Types of Golf Courses Will Help You Improve Your Game
With so many types of golf courses, use this guide to work out which one is best for you. Of course, part of the fun of golf is playing across a range of different courses, so try out a few types before deciding which course you prefer.
Then, decide if you’d like to join a club as a member or just pay one-off fees each time you’d like to play. Keep in mind that if you plan to play a round every Saturday, it often works out more cost-efficient to become a member.
But whatever you decide, we hope you love the fun of learning more about golf, as playing across various course types is sure to improve your skills!
Was this article helpful? If so, please keep reading to find out more.
