Not all golf courses are the same. The course on Merion Golf Club is different from Pebble Beach Golf Club. They vary in certain categories such as the landscape style, length of play, course access, etc. Read on to find out the different kinds of golf courses you can find today:
Architecture and Style of Landscape
Many golf courses use the natural setting elements of the landscape into their designs. How the architect reshapes or incorporates the natural terrain determines the course’s landscape category. Most golf courses you can find in the US fall into either of these 3 types:
1. Links Course
Golf started in Scotland so it’s no surprise that the links course has its roots in this country as well. These courses are built on narrow sandy land sections between farmland and coast. They incorporate the land’s turns and slopes, and the fairways usually have natural rolls.
2. Parkland Course
A parkland course is a manicured golf course with lots of green grass and trees. The fairways are smooth, and the course itself is far from the shore.
3. Desert Course
Desert courses are usually deemed an oasis of green amidst the sandy and dry landscape. They incorporate natural sand dunes and many of the desert features but abundant grass is not natural and they have to set up irrigation.
Length of Play
Golf, unlike other sports, does not have a regulation field size. Each course has different hole length and challenges which means that some courses take less play time than others.
1. Executive Course
An executive course has holes that you can complete within a short time frame. It’s best suited for busy individuals who don’t have all day to play golf. These courses often have par-3 holes with only a few par-4 or 5 holes. They can also have 9 or 18 holes but the 18 hole is often no higher than par 65.
2. Regulation Course
Regulation golf courses are considered championship courses, and they have excellent playing surfaces, usually with par-72 courses. But standard or official championship courses are often par 70 or 71.
Course Access
Every golf course comes with a fee to play. However, some will charge you for every visit while others have upfront fee for monthly or annual access.
1. Municipal Course
These are owned by a city and you pay a fee each visit. Sometimes, municipal courses are the cheapest options.
2. Daily-fee Course
A daily-fee course is open to the public and will require a fee with each visit however it is owned by a private entity and not the government.
3. Semi-private Course
With this kind of course you can pay to play or you can buy a membership. You may receive unlimited access or preferred access to tee times. It’s somewhat like a full private membership except that the amenities aren’t as great. There is also an option to pay per entry as in the case of a resort with a golf course.
4. Private Course
Golf clubs and country clubs have private golf courses. You need to become a member and pay an initiation fee plus annual fees so you can get unlimited access to the course, clubhouse and facilities. These private courses usually have additional perks for members, such as dining rooms, social events, swimming pools and others.