Reading the Wind on a Links Course

There is a particular sound a links course makes when the wind gets up: flags cracking, marram grass hissing, and your playing partners quietly zipping up their waterproofs. If you have only ever played parkland golf, the first windy links round can feel like a different sport. The good news is that it is a sport you can learn to enjoy. The wind is not an inconvenience to be endured; it is the chief architect of the course. Learn to read it, and you will stop fighting the conditions and start using them.

Before you pull a club, look at the tops of the flags, the direction of the smoke from the clubhouse chimney, and the movement of the grass. Check the trees on the horizon if there are any. On a true links, the wind often changes direction slightly through the round, so make a habit of reassessing on every tee. A simple rule: if the wind is into your face, it will knock the ball down and exaggerate spin. Downwind, it will carry farther but stop less. Crosswinds are the trickiest, so pick a target and trust it.

Club Choice: Take More Than You Think

Into a strong wind, most golfers take too little club. The ball climbs, stalls, and drops short. Take two or three more clubs than you would in calm conditions, and swing smoothly. A three-quarter swing with an extra club will keep the ball lower and reduce spin. If you normally hit a seven iron 150 yards, into a 20mph wind you might need a five iron and a gentle fade. Downwind, do the opposite: take one or two less clubs, because the wind will carry the ball and the fairways will run.

• Into wind: two to three extra clubs, ball slightly back in the stance, choke down an inch.
• Downwind: one to two less clubs, accept that the ball will release and run.
• Crosswind: aim into the wind and let it bring the ball back, or hold the face open and use the wind to fade or draw.
• Uphill into wind: treat it as a club and a half more than you first think.

Ball Flight: Low, Boring and Running

The classic links shot is low, boring, and full of run. To hit it, put the ball back in your stance, keep your hands ahead, and make a shorter, more controlled swing. Do not try to scoop it. Instead, feel as though you are punching the ball into the wind. A low fade is often the safest shot because it holds its line and lands softly. A low draw can run for miles, but it is harder to control in a crosswind.

Use the ground. Links turf is firm and fescue fairways are fast, so a well-struck low shot will run like a rabbit. That means you can often hit a five iron from 180 yards and watch it roll onto the green. It also means you must think about where the ball will finish, not just where it lands. Aim at the front of the green and let the wind and the turf do the rest. If you are short-sided, take your medicine and play to the fat side.

Dressing for Wind and Weather

Wind chill on a links course is no joke. Even a mild spring day can feel like winter when you are walking into a 25mph gust. Dress in layers you can remove or add as the round goes on. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer, add a mid-layer, and finish with a windproof and waterproof outer layer. Avoid loose clothing that flaps and distracts you. A secure hat is essential; a cap that blows off on the first tee is a bad start.

• Base layer: thermal or moisture-wicking, not cotton.
• Mid-layer: fleece or thin quilted top for warmth.
• Outer layer: windproof waterproof jacket and trousers.
• Extras: winter mitts, a towel clipped to your bag, and a dry ball in your pocket.

Keep your hands warm and dry. Cold hands cost you shots around the greens. A pair of mitts between shots and a spare glove in a waterproof pocket can make a huge difference. Also, remember that windburn and sunburn are real even when it is cloudy, so a little protection on your face and lips is sensible.

Putting and Short Game in the Breeze

Putting on a windy links green is a test of nerve. The wind can move a ball on an exposed green, especially if it is gusting. Keep your stance wide, your stroke short, and your head still. Do not fight the wind; allow for it. A crosswind putt will drift, so aim slightly upwind. If the wind is strong enough to move your ball at address, mark it and wait for a lull.

Around the greens, keep the ball low. A bump-and-run with a seven or eight iron is often better than a lofted wedge because the wind cannot get under it. Use the contours of the links to feed the ball towards the hole. If you must hit a high shot, open the face slightly and make a committed swing. A half-hearted chip into wind will be blown off line.

Course Management and Club Life

Course management in wind is about patience and realism. Pick targets that take the wind out of play. If the fairway bunker is into the wind, aim away from it. If the green is exposed, aim for the middle and take your two-putt. Bogey is not a disaster on a par four played into a gale. The golfers who score well on links are the ones who accept the conditions and play within themselves.

Finally, enjoy the club life. A windy links round is best followed by a hot drink and a bowl of soup in the clubhouse. Chat to the locals; they will tell you which way the wind usually blows and where the safe misses are. Links golf is a shared experience, and the wind is part of the story. Embrace it, adjust your game, and you will find that a blustery day on the coast is one of the most rewarding rounds you can play.