Home » Blog » Different Types of Golf Courses Explained

Different Types of Golf Courses Explained

Are you looking for the best golf course in Burlington? What kind? Golf courses, after all, are not all the same. Much of their design relies heavily on the natural terrain and ecosystem upon which it is located.

Golf courses can be classified into multiple categories. These include the amount of time it takes to play it, the style of landscape, and the type of access players have to the course.

In this post, we explore different types of golf courses so you can decide which type best suits your playing style.

5 Different Types of Golf Courses Explained

Different types of golf courses have different facilities. Below, we discuss these types to add to your golf bucket list to play in the future.

1. Links Course: The links course is the most famous type. This term refers to a sandy area along a coast and is derived from the old English word hlinc, which means ‘rising ground or ridge’. While many courses claim to be links, true links courses are mostly found in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
This course is built on the coast with sandy soil underneath. Since it wasn’t of agriculture use, people looked for a different use for it. Sandy soil drains remarkably well, keeping the ground firm. This is ideal for a golf course. Links courses are mostly known for their large, slow greens and fast fairways.

Main features of the links course are:

• They are created on narrow sections of sandy land between the coast and farmland.
• These courses feature pot bunkers, as opposed to the larger, sprawling American-style bunkers. Many of them are deep to prevent sand from blowing away.
• Because of the waterfront location and lack of trees, wind plays a huge factor in most links courses.
• Since the sand-based terrain drains rainwater so well, it requires minimal maintenance.
• Most of its greens are approachable from the ground, allowing run-up shots.

2. Parkland Course: : Parkland courses are more common in the United States and Canada. They are built inland and feature dense greenery and abundant foliage. Since parkland courses are well-manicured and full of natural settings, like dug bunkers, ponds, and built-up rough, it feels like you are playing golf in a park. Hence, the name.

They are characterized by narrower fairways enclosed by trees and lush greenery. The trees protect golfers from most of the wind. Many PGA tours take place on these terrain types.

Some of the main features of parkland courses are:

• They are generally wider and flatter, making them slightly more forgiving than other types of fairways.
• Unlike links or other courses, which can be sandy or brown, parkland golf courses are green thanks to regular watering.
• The land is more tailored, so they have clearly-defined fairways and rough.

Because of the natural clay underlay, bad weather can make the ground unplayable more readily than on links courses.

3. Par-3 Course: A golf course with only par-3 holes is called a par-3 course. These are also referred to as pitch & putt courses. They are similar to golf, where holes have much shorter distances and are played with a number of smaller clubs. Distances vary between 40 and 120 meters, and the greens are smaller than in golf.

In most cases, a lack of space is the main reason separating these from stretching out into regular-length courses. These courses are fun and most suitable for beginners, kids, or older golfers.

Main features of par-3 courses:

• Because of its short space, they take up less land and take less time to play. This makes them more environmentally friendly and cheaper to access.
• They require fewer strokes, a lower score, and less time to complete. This makes them perfect for a quick round of golf during your lunch break.
• A par-3 course can be anywhere geographically, and there are generally only 9 holes.

So far we’ve talked about different types of golf courses based on the type of landscape and amount of time they require. Now we discuss golf courses based on their type of access.

4. Private Course: The most important reason to (and biggest benefit of) joining a private course is unlimited golf. A private golf course requires membership. Most private clubs allow members to bring guests. A private course offers limited access, which means that clubs are often less crowded than courses open to the public.

Main features of private courses:

• They require membership to access.
• Private membership can be divided into two categories: equity and non-equity. In the case of equity membership, the member owns a portion of the club along with other members.
• To maintain the high-quality condition of the course, these courses charge higher membership fees.
• These courses often provide additional member benefits, such as dining rooms, spa services, clubhouses, and social events.

5. Semi-Private Course: A semi-private golf course allows golfers to purchase a membership similar to that at a private course. It also allows golfers without a membership to book tee times as they would at a public course.

Main features of semi-private courses:

• They implement both the models of private and public to create a course available to all while also offering memberships.
• They allow you easy and flexible access to the course. So, you just pay for a tee time. If you want more benefits, get the membership.
• Unlike public courses, which can quickly get overrun and overbooked, a semi-private course will be less crowded. This results in a better pace of play and a more enjoyable experience for all.
• You’ll also find better dining facilities.

These are some of the major types of golf courses. If you want to learn more about them, contact us. If you are looking for the best golf academy servicing golf courses in Burlington, contact Learn 2 Golf. We arrange access to semi-private courses with a high-quality and unique learning experience. Our focused attention to every aspect of instruction and practice sets us apart from other academies.