Golf originated on seaside links courses and, as such, the entire essence of the game is based on the key elements of a links such as fast and firm conditions, the ability to play bump and run shots and the prevalence of lots of small, random undulations in the playing area.
At IVGD, we love playing links courses and try to use as many of the typical links characteristics in our new designs as possible. Similarly, we try to achieve links conditions by striving to deliver a lot of closely mown grass around the greens and firm greens, foregreens and fairways as playing surfaces.
Inland golf can never be quite equal in merit to that played on seaside links, but it can be a very good second best.... as regards the construction of artificial hollows, mounds and bunkers, the model should be the natural sand dune country which is found near the sea.
Harry S. Colt “Some Essays on Golf-course Architecture” 1920
Agolf course which merely caters for an everlasting pitch at every hole can never be entirely satisfactory. Any player under a sixteen handicap can play a pitch shot, but few of even the best players can play a run up shot
Dr. Alister MacKenzie “The Spirit of St.Andrews” 1932