Golfers have a great passion for the sport, and fans find it exciting to watch them. Part of the excitement is exploring golf courses of different types all over the world. There are types of golf courses that every player, whether amateur or pro, should know about.
A parkland golf course
A parkland golf course often looks like a landscaped park. It is inland and often has a variety of trees, shrubs, and flowers. The fairways need good maintenance, and these courses often have man-made features such as ponds and bunkers.
The Augusta National golf course in Georgia is a typical example of a parkland course. The trees are mature, and the fairways are lush. Water hazards add challenge and beauty to the course. In the spring months, many flowering plants and shrubs contribute to the aesthetically pleasing experience.
The Masters, an annual event golfers look forward to, is held at this course. Betting on The Masters is popular, and betting online is now legal in many U.S. states. This gives U.S. sports bettors who want to bet on who will win The Masters an opportunity to place their bets.
A links golf course
The origin of the word ‘links’ is Old English, and links courses are mostly found in England, Ireland, or Scotland. St. Andrews Links in Scotland is a famous links course. It was where the game of golf started. The old course is situated on a coastal plain and utilizes the natural contours of the land. The sandy soil offers a firm surface, even in wet conditions. These coastal courses often have windy conditions, which can make the outcomes unpredictable. Players who can adjust to the windy conditions often do well.
Teeing up at St. Andrews during the Open Championships is like a dream for many golfers. Golf might never be quite as popular as basketball, football, or soccer, but no golfer or fan ever forgets being at St. Andrews.
Pebble Beach is another famous links-style golf course on California’s coastline. It is open to the public, which isn’t usually the case for courses that host U.S. Opens and PGA Tour events. The 7th hole on this course – a par-3 on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean – is one of the most photographed holes in golf.
Heathland golf course
A heathland golf course combines elements of a park and a links course. These courses are mostly found in Britain. They are also found inland but are less manicured than parkland courses. When playing at a heathland course like Woking Golf Club, the conditions can be unpredictable, but the fairways are firm and fast.
Moorland golf course
Moorland golf courses are usually found at high elevations. They are more rugged than parkland courses but have softer turf than links or heathland courses. Conditions are often blustery on these courses, and players must adapt their play to accommodate these conditions.
Gleneagles in Scotland is an example of a course with a moorland layout. The sloping fairways are a challenge, and it has various natural hazards. The Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is another example, with its exposed layout including open spaces, flat terrain, and bunkers.
Sandbelt golf course
The sandy soil on a sandbelt golf course is good for golfing, with the firm terrain, and the bunkers with steep edges can be challenging. Australia has a sandbelt region, and some of its courses in this region can compete with the best courses in the world. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is one of the best golf courses and often hosts the Presidents Cup.
Stadium golf course
A stadium golf course is specifically designed to enhance the spectator experience during PGA Tour events. These courses prioritize smooth crowd movement and feature thrilling holes that offer excellent viewing spots for fans. TPC Sawgrass in Florida was one of the first stadium courses.
The 17th hole of the stadium golf course is widely regarded by professional golfers as one of the toughest shots in the game. The course is open to the public, and fans can experience a taste of what the current champions have to face. It offers a blend of beauty, prestige, and difficulty that few other courses can match.
