The Open Championship links courses and the Coachella Valley deserts in California are very different.
Desert golf is a form of target golf. Large lakes and bunkers protect large greens that are surrounded by houses on both public and private golf courses. Desert golf courses can still be green and play fast, even in times of drought.
The Open Championship links golf courses, like Royal Liverpool, last week, are largely devoid of lakes and water, with the exception of an occasional burn. Since there are no irrigation system, the courses can look green or brown depending on the weather patterns of the past few months. Weather conditions, and not course design, are responsible for the firm and fast conditions.
On a links course, the large bunkers in the desert are replaced by tiny pot bunkers which seem to draw a ball from 20 yards. Links courses have massive putting surfaces, even if the greens are huge in the desert.
The Open Championship, and The American Express are two different types of golf. Seven players have won the Open Championship and the desert title since 1960, when The American Express tournament was first played. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller are some of the obvious names. Phil Mickelson, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, David Duval, Bill Rogers, Justin Leonard, and others may not be as obvious. Some names, such as Justin Leonard and Bill Rogers might not be so obvious.
The Open Championship (yes you can call it British Open) is so popular among American golfers because of its unique links golf style.
The Open Championship is a completely different game. It offers different designs and a new take on golf.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake in England. A view of the first hole on the par-4 course for the Open Championship 2023 (plays as hole 17 for club routing). (Photo: David Cannon/R&A/R&A through Getty Images).
Links Courses Fight Back
Links golf is still a great way to encourage players in an age of power golfers and super-powered clubs and balls. Links courses are no less relevant than the old, great courses of this country. They still find a way to fight off technology.
The weather is the best defense against a links course. The conditions that would stop a PGA Tour tournament or send recreational players to the clubhouse do not stop golf in the United Kingdom. Royal Liverpool golfers were unfortunate to have some of these conditions during the 151st Open. Augusta National may not tolerate wind and rain that could be described as tropical storms, but they were the norm during this year’s Open Championship.
Links golf requires more patience than a typical American course. Links golfers are guaranteed at least one bounce they don’t understand in every round, or an unfair lie in a bunker or a drive that goes into a place where it would take a team of searchers to locate the ball. If you let it frustrate, anger, or even get you down, your round can unravel. You can still play well if you accept the unfairness or unpredictability.
Last weekend, golf enthusiasts were glued to their televisions to watch Royal Liverpool. They got to see a type of golf not available in the United States.
Even casual viewers who may not be familiar with the game of links should also watch these events.
The links game may not be “real” to American golfers but it is as close as you can get in the sport.
Larry Bohannan writes about golf for The Desert Sun. You can contact him at (760) 778-4633 or at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook at @larry_bohannan.
