Open and transparent shots:

Hearing that our leader made a birdie while the world is trying to escape the enemy seems very troubling.  They tell us that the leader can walk and chew gum at the same time.  A lot of people state that they can do two things at one time; but, from what I have seen – that might be the case in your own eyes – but,  neither are done very effectively and this certainly is the case.  

There are other games similar to golf – like “kolf” which is played in Holland and “chole” which is played in Belgium.  These games existed in medieval Europe.  But golf as we know it today originated on the “linksland” of  Scotland’s east coast.  This linksland are strips of sandy coastal land formed when the sea receded after the ice age.  

Over the centuries, fine grass and gorse bushes covered these areas.  The land was not suitable for agriculture but was generally used as “common ground” by the residents of nearby towns.    A true links course has specific characteristics.  Such as, they are usually close to the sea, exposed to coastal winds.  Design is dictated by nature since almost all were laid out  before the advent of earth-moving machinery and landscape architecture.  The subsoil tends to be sandy, while layouts typical wind their way through, over and around dunes covered with grasses and gorse bushes.  The first nine holes usually head out from the clubhouse or starting point while the second nine come back towards it – hence the terms “outward” and “inward nines.”  In the U.S. your courses always have water hazards; but, water hazards are scarce in Europe’s links courses – but, when they are present they usually take the form of burns that run off to the sea. – one such course is St. Andrew’s Swilcan Burn which  runs in front of the first green.  

Golf on links courses is very different to playing on parkland, desert or mountain courses.  Links golf demands a wide range of shots because of the weather, the undulating terrain, the fine strains of grass usually found on links and the firmness of the soil.  We have visited St. Andrews Course in Scotland but what amazed me were the bunkers – you had to use a ladder to get into them because they are all so deep.  So in this case you need to use “bump and run” shots to stay on the fairway and not try to kill the ball when you tee off so you can stay out of the bunkers.

It is surprising that we have not heard about the leader playing some of these links courses since they are such a challenge. 

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