On Links Golf

Over the years, I’ve grown obsessed with links golf. If you’re reading this, I have to believe you know what links golf is. If not, I’ll try to summarize what it is. Or, rather, what it is (and what it has become) to me. Without a true understanding of that, it will be difficult for you to understand the point of the rest of what I’ll be writing. Hard to understand the purpose of this endeavor.

I wonder sometimes myself what the purpose is.

LINKS GOLF
When I was a kid and I read the term, ‘golf links’, I remember figuring the origin of the name was in how the holes are ‘linked’ together, as in a chain. Each hole follows the previous, creating, in the end, eighteen linked holes. (That definition makes sense to me, even now.)

But, no, the term ‘links’ (as applied to a golf course), in fact stems from the rolling, sandy landscape at the edge of the sea, primarily in the UK.

(Incidentally, I have always kind of interchangeably used “England”, “Great Britain”, “Britain” and “United Kingdom” to mean the same chunk of land over there, but here’s the scoop:

England is, well, England. A country that makes up about 60% of Great Britain, which is part of the United Kingdom. Great Britain is the island on which England and Scotland lie. (Well, it’s the one big island and about 900 little islands off the coast, the Hebrides and the like.)

The United Kingdom is the, ahem, kingdom that is united under the British crown: England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (and Ireland) lie on a second island (guess what it’s called), just west of Great Britain. It used to be entirely under English rule (as did the United States, India, Hong Kong . . . well, most of the known world at one point.) But the plucky Irish decided they’d rule themselves, thank you very much, and bucked off the English lords.

The British were able to hold onto a bit up north, cleverly known as Northern Ireland. (This is the place that U2 used to sing about. It catches fire occasionally.) So, the United Kingdom consists of Great Britain (England and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. Ireland is not part of Great Britain or the United Kingdom. But it’s right there. Kind of like Canada. End of sidebar. Hope you’re thoroughly confused now.)

As I was saying, the term ‘links’ applies to that sandy, windswept land at the edge of the sea which links (get it?) the fertile farm/pastureland with the inhospitable sand. This creates the perfect environment for springy, hearty turf on top of a sandy subsoil which drains exceptionally well.

The ideal golf terrain.

It is also frequently rolling (as coastal sand dunes get grassed over) and virtually treeless, as there is no substantial soil to support tall trees.

So, what has drawn me to links golf? Hard to say, really. Something in my wiring just predisposes me to old-fashioned, classic THINGS. 1957 Corvette or 2009 Ferrari? I’d take the ’57 Vette. Brand new Ibanez electric guitar or classic 70s Telecaster? The Tele, every time. I use a fountain pen, for cripes’ sake! It’s just how I’m wired.