Golf Course Types and Their Geography

There is a lot of geography behind golf courses. Whether it is the type of golf course, the terrain, its location and its difficulty, it all comes down to the geographical features surrounding it or even making up the golf course itself. Features include: streams, lakes, slopes, bunkers, trees, plants, islands and more. There are many golf courses based around geographical features such as the coastal-side course of Royal County Down, Augusta National and its many impressive trees and streams as well as St. Andrews with its heavy terrain, bumpy fairways and reoccurring windy weather.

There different types of golf course around the world such as links style, parkland courses, heath-land courses, resort courses, and desert golf courses. Each vary in terrain, vegetation and location.
Links Style
Links golf courses are usually located somewhere between agricultural land and the coast. They are said to 'link' the two together. Typical features of this type is undulating fairways, sand dunes, deep bunkers and trees, but usually very little.
Parkland Courses
The most common type of golf course. Mainly based inland where you will you find a lot of mature trees, well cut fairways and thick roughs. The grass and soil is kept well and looked after frequently on this type of golf course. Examples include Augusta National in America.
Resort Courses
Owned by hotels and resorts, these courses are for anyone, whether they've played all their life or never. This means a lot of land is needed to facilitate this course because there is wide fairways, thinly cut and lakes as well as sand traps. In order to make it a good golfing experience, resort courses often take the scenic route with lakes and great views. A good example of this is Druids Heath golf club in Wicklow, a large golf course with scenic views and wide fairways.
Heath-Land Courses
This type is also generally found inland with gentle rolling fairways. The soil is irrigated often in order for the fairways to be like they are. Generally, there is bushes and shrubs with few large trees. A good example would be Carrickmines golf course in South Dublin.
Desert courses
Often found in places in the middle east and Dubai as well as in the south of the US, desert courses feature long bunkers with caving greens and vegetation such as cacti and palm trees. Huge lakes are often a feature of these courses. A good example is the Emirates golf club.

The flora and fauna of all these golf courses is what makes them unique from one another. Sometimes golf may interfere with wildlife and the vegetation. Did you know a divot and a pitch mark takes up to 3 weeks to repair itself if it is not repaired by you, so if people don't repair pitch marks and divots the terrain will wear down.
In the game of golf, geography plays a big part, from the grass and soil, to vegetation to the geographical features themselves.

Vikings- Their geography

Vikings were intimidating, strong and prepared. They conquered large areas of land and carried out raids dating back as far as 790 up to the mid 1000s. They built impressive settlements on areas where resources were rich and plentiful. These settlements have plenty of geography and history related to them as well as the Vikings raids, choice of settlements and their travels. I am writing this blog about the geography and history behind Vikings

Vikings originated from Scandinavia and took control of most areas of the United Kingdom and Ireland, some areas of Germany and France as well as all of Scandinavia itself. Vikings built various types of settlements in various locations where resources were rich. They had a good range of weaponry too. Their choice of settlement depended on resources and trade links. Many Viking settlements can be found in central Denmark, along the coasts of Sweden, Norway and Finland and along rivers and by lakes such as the Rhine, flowing through France and Germany. A Viking town was called a Thorpe and residents included traders, sailors and smiths. They lived in houses in small fenced plots made from thatched roof and wood.

The areas and lands that the Vikings had did not provide certain resources needed to run everyday life. The Vikings traded and received iron, textiles, metals, wood, bones and leather. Forestry was carried out among vikings as well as cattle farming. They hunted often for meat. Vikings benefited well from the surrounding geographical features and resources.