Trevor Ng
Heathland golf is a unique style of golf course found in England, Scotland, and Ireland. The term heathland describes the landscape on which the course is built, characterised by low-growing plants like heather and gorse, with scattered trees and areas of bare ground. These courses are known for their strategic design, incorporating natural features like bunkers, mounds, and water hazards. With undulating terrain and firm, fast-running fairways, heathland courses offer a challenging and exciting golfing experience. The region's heathland courses date back to the end of the 19th century and were designed by renowned golf course architects, combining beauty and strategy in a way that showcases the skill of their designers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Terrain | Hilly and undulating |
| Soil type | Sandy, acidic |
| Vegetation | Low-growing plants, heather, gorse, bracken, heathland grasses, herbs, mosses, trees (including Scots pines, oaks, pines, birches) |
| Design | Strategic, similar to links courses |
| Features | Bunkers, mounds, forced carries over sand and heather, ponds, pot bunkers, multi-tiered greens, quirky holes |
| Location | Inland, found in England (Surrey, Berkshire), Wales (Pennard), Scotland (Fife), United States (South Carolina) |
| Course designer | Tom Doak, Dave Thomas, Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, James Braid, Willie Park Jr. |
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What You'll Learn
Heathland golf course characteristics
The words "Heathland" and "Linksland" refer to the type of landscape on which a golf course is built. While links land is characterised by dunes, undulating surfaces, and sandy soil that supports browntop bent and red fescue grasses, heath land is an open landscape dominated by low-growing plants, mainly heather, gorse, bracken, heathland grasses, herbs, and mosses, with areas of bare ground and scattered trees.
Heathland golf courses, such as those found in Surrey and Berkshire in England, often feature trees, particularly tall Scots pine trees. However, due to the sandy and acidic nature of the soil, the turf and design of heathland courses resemble those of links courses, with firm and fast-running fairways, pot bunkers, and greens with multiple tiers and swales. The heather that borders the fairways on heathland courses adds character and presents a unique challenge for golfers.
Heathland golf courses are known for their strategic design and natural beauty. The terrain is typically hilly and undulating, with bunkers, mounds, and forced carries over sand and heather. Occasional water features, such as ponds or lakes, can also be found on heathland courses. The greens on heathland courses are renowned for their smoothness and challenging pin positions.
The history of heathland golf courses dates back to the end of the 19th century, with renowned golf course architects such as Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, James Braid, and Willie Park Jr. contributing to their design. These courses were created as golf gained popularity and designers sought inland locations that replicated the coastal conditions of famous links courses. While heathland locations shared similar soil characteristics, they lacked some of the distinctive features of linksland.
One notable example of a heathland golf course is La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, designed by former Ryder Cup player and renowned course designer Dave Thomas. This par-72 course offers a variety of natural landscapes, including plateaus with views of the Mediterranean Sea and valleys with large lakes and narrow fairways.
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Heathland golf course history
The history of Heathland golf courses dates back to the late 19th century, when golf was increasing in popularity and course designers sought to replicate the coastal locations of St Andrews, Musselburgh, and North Berwick inland. These designers, such as Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, James Braid, and Willie Park Jr., aimed to capture the feel and aesthetics of links courses while moving away from the rugged coastline of Scotland, where the game was traditionally played.
The sandy, acidic soil of Heathland areas was similar to that of Linksland, allowing for firm and bouncy fairways. However, Heathland lacked some of the features of Linksland, such as exposure to sea winds. Trees provided shelter from the wind on Heathland courses, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
The terrain of Heathland courses is typically undulating, with bunkers, mounds, and natural hazards like heather and gorse. The holes are often quirky, dictated by the lay of the land. The turf and design of Heathland courses resemble those of Links courses, with firm, fast-running fairways, pot bunkers, and multi-tiered greens.
The maintenance of Heathland courses can be challenging due to the incorporation of elements from both Links and parkland golf. The natural hazards and understated wild beauty of Heathland courses make them a delight to play and often the most unforgettable part of many British golf tours.
While most Heathland courses are found in Britain, there are also notable Heathland courses in other parts of the world, such as the Legends Resort in South Carolina, USA, and the Melbourne Sandbelt region in Australia. These courses showcase the skill of golf course architects in shaping unremarkable landscapes into strategic and beautiful golfing experiences.
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Heathland golf course locations
As golf became more popular towards the end of the 1800s, course designers sought inland locations with similar soil and ground conditions to the coastal links courses of St Andrews, Musselburgh, and North Berwick. These heathland courses, located in England, Scotland, and Ireland, offered a peaceful ambiance sheltered from sea winds by trees and inland topography. While lacking certain linksland features, designers incorporated "classic" links-style bunkers to their heathland courses.
Heathland courses are characterised by open landscapes dominated by low-growing plants, particularly heather, gorse, bracken, heathland grasses, herbs, and mosses, with areas of bare ground and scattered trees. Well-known heathland courses include Hindhead G.C. and The Berkshire, where holes are set amidst valleys lined with yellow gorse bushes, heather, or pine trees.
The sandy soil of heathland courses, similar to that of linksland, allows for easy water drainage, resulting in firm and bouncy fairways. During hot summers, this soil struggles to sustain growth, causing fairways to turn golden brown and become even bouncier. Both heathland and linksland courses typically feature undulating ground, creating exciting layouts.
While linksland is marked by dunes and a sandy soil that supports specific grasses, heathland soil is also unsuitable for arable farming. This common thread allowed golf to take root in these areas without opposition from farmers, who instead benefited from using the land for their animals to graze during the summer months.
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Heathland golf course designers
As golf became more popular towards the end of the 1800s, course designers were forced to search for suitable golfing terrain inland. They sought to replicate the coastal locations of St Andrews, Musselburgh, and North Berwick, and so heathland locations with similar soil conditions were chosen.
Heathland course designers aimed to create a ""classic" Links feel to their bunker designs. However, they also had to work with the differences presented by the inland locations, such as less exposure to wind and the presence of trees, which created a much quieter and more peaceful atmosphere.
The first heathland course was designed by Dr. Alasdair Mckenzie, a famous golf course architect who also designed Augusta National. This first course was the Alwoodley Golf Club in England.
Another notable heathland course designer is Dave Thomas, a former Ryder Cup player. He designed the par-72 La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, which is set among hills and lakes with views of the sea and Gibraltar.
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Heathland golf course holes
The terms "Heathland" and "Linksland" refer to the type of landscape on which a golf course is built. While linksland is characterised by dunes, undulating surfaces, and sandy soil that supports grasses like bent and red fescue, heathland features low-growing vegetation like heather, gorse, bracken, heathland grasses, herbs, and mosses, with areas of bare ground and scattered trees.
Heathland golf courses are known for their vibrant colours, with the purple heather contrasting against the green fairways, creating a visually striking framing for the holes. The holes themselves can be varied, with some cutting through valleys lined with yellow gorse bushes, heather, or pine trees, while others offer views of rolling dunes or undulating ground that adds excitement to the layout.
The 6th hole at the New Course in Sunningdale is renowned for its beauty, where players drive downhill onto a green runway amidst a sea of heather. Another notable hole is the Par 3 13th, a 240-yard dropping shot from the top of a ridge.
The soil type on heathland courses contributes to their unique characteristics. During hot summers, the soil struggles to sustain growth, causing the fairways to turn golden brown and adding to the bounciness of the terrain. This type of soil is also well-draining, leading to firm and bouncy fairways.
Heathland courses also offer a peaceful atmosphere, as trees provide shelter from the wind, creating a quieter setting compared to the exposed conditions of links courses. Additionally, heathlands support a diverse range of wildlife, including Britain's native species of reptiles, numerous bird species, and mammals such as rabbits, hares, and deer.
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Frequently asked questions
A heathland golf course is built on an open landscape dominated by low-growing plants, mainly species of heather and gorse, as well as bracken, heathland grasses, herbs, mosses, and scattered trees.
Heathland golf courses have firm, fast-running fairways, pot bunkers, greens with multiple tiers and swales, and quirky holes. They also have undulating ground, making for more exciting layouts.
A links golf course is typically characterised by dunes, undulating surfaces, and sandy soil, while a heathland golf course is characterised by low-growing plants, heather, and scattered trees.
Some notable heathland golf courses include Sunningdale, Hankley Common, and Legends Resort in South Carolina, United States of America.
