Types of golf courses
Famous Examples of Types Of Golf Courses
Well-known venues make course types easier to picture, even if your local version is smaller.
The examples teach the style
St Andrews is the classic reference for links golf: firm ground, wind, pot bunkers, and strange bounces that are part of the test. Augusta National is often discussed as parkland-style tournament golf with elevation, angles, and exacting greens. Desert golf is easy to picture in places like Scottsdale, where playable turf is separated from native desert.
What to borrow from famous courses
- From links courses: land the ball where it can finish well, not where it looks pretty in the air.
- From parkland courses: shape position off the tee to open approach angles.
- From desert courses: respect forced carries and avoid casual misses into native areas.
- From mountain courses: treat elevation and wind as part of the yardage.
Practical takeaway: You do not need a famous course to use famous-course thinking. Identify the main defense, then plan around it.
Watch the architecture, not only the leaderboard
The most useful lesson is often where good players aim when the pin looks tempting. Course type explains why the smart target may be 25 feet from the hole.