Course Management · Lesson
Playing Links Golf: Use the Ground
Part of our course management programs for picking targets, wind and weather. Build a program with it
Links courses are firm and windy. They reward a different game. Use the ground. Off the tee, think about woods and long irons. Around the greens, bump-and-run instead of always flying it high. Practice those shots from different lies with different clubs. In the wind, keep the ball low. Watch wind direction and speed all the time. And use the slopes. Sometimes aim away from the flag and let the ground feed the ball toward it.
Step by step
- Plan to run the ball on firm turf.
- Practice bump-and-runs with several clubs.
- Keep your ball flight low.
- Watch the wind constantly.
- Aim at slopes that feed toward the hole.
Why it works
On firm turf the ball keeps rolling after it lands, so carry distance matters less than where it lands and how it bounces. A low shot spends less time in the air, so wind moves it less. A bump-and-run lands near the edge of the green and rolls out, which removes much of the risk from a mishit high shot. Slopes can steer a rolling ball, so you can use them to reach spots that a straight line to the flag would miss.
Common mistakes
- You judge every shot by carry distance and ignore roll.Pick a landing spot first, then work out how far the ball will run from there on the firm ground.
- You try to hit a high shot to a front or tucked flag out of habit.Choose a lower-lofted club and play a bump-and-run that lands short and rolls to the hole.
- You check the wind once on the tee and then stop.Look at flags, grass and your own ball flight before every shot, because wind speed and direction change.
How you'll know it's working
- Your low shots start under the wind and finish close to your target line without climbing.
- Your bump-and-runs land on the spot you picked and roll out in a consistent way.
- When you aim at a slope, the ball turns toward the hole instead of running past it.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice bump-and-runs on a flat, short-grass area with one club, and pick a landing spot a few paces onto the green.
Harder: Play bump-and-runs from tight, sloping or uneven lies with several clubs, and aim at a slope so the ball must feed toward the hole.
Common questions
What club should I use for a bump-and-run?
Use a club with less loft than a wedge, such as a 7-iron, 8-iron or 9-iron. Less loft sends the ball low and lets it roll, and you can change the club to change how far it runs.
How do you keep the ball low in the wind?
Play the ball slightly back in your stance, take one more club, and make a shorter, smoother swing. Finish with your hands low so the ball stays under the wind.
